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Greece blockades Albania, "Kathimerini": Not only Scholz, but also the Spanish presidency pressures Athens

Politiko 2023-11-29 09:33:47

Greece blockades Albania, "Kathimerini": Not only Scholz, but also the

The case of Fredi Beleri has caused tension in the diplomatic relations between Greece and Albania. Official Athens agreed on a joint letter of the 27 member states of the European Union addressed to Albania for the opening of the negotiations of the first package of membership chapters.

Immediately after this action, Germany was the first to refuse to repair the absence of the firm from the Greek side. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stated through diplomatic channels that the membership process should not be a bilateral issue.

However, Spain has added to Germany's pressure on Athens. According to a European official, writes Kathimerini , the Spanish presidency of the EU is particularly irritated with the attitude of the Greek side.

Intensive diplomatic consultations are said to be underway to get Greece to agree to send a letter on behalf of the European Council to Tirana so that Albania can begin negotiations on the first set of EU membership chapters.

The relevant discussion is expected to take place at the meeting of permanent representatives in the EU (Coreper) on Wednesday, after Albania successfully completed the first phase of EU membership negotiations (the review process) last Friday after 14 months of consultations. 

Against this background, Greece cannot, said diplomatic sources, continue blocking the letter in question for a long time after the completion of Albania's review process. Because of this, and in case it finally decides to send the aforementioned letter from the European Council, Athens is considering the scope for "blocking" the next stage of the relevant process, which includes a report describing all the standards for what it has or should have met Tirana (permanent membership ratio), as well as calling a relevant intergovernmental conference.

Greece has pledged to block Tirana's aspirations to the EU until the case of the mayor Fredi Beleri, imprisoned since May, in Albania, is not resolved, stressing that his human rights are being violated. 

In response to the accusations aimed at Greece to make the issue bilateral, State Minister Stavros Papastavrou emphasized that Athens' position is related to the protection of European principles.

"The Beleri issue is deeply European, it is not bilateral. It is about respecting the rule of law," said Papastavrou. 

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