Athens Raises Pressure on Tirana: Fredi Beleri Case Continues to Strain Greece-Albania Relations
In an unprecedented move, Greece’s State Minister, Stavros Papastavrou, visited Tirana on Tuesday to meet with Fredi Beleri, the incarcerated mayor-elect of Himare in southern Albania. This visit carries a strong message to the Albanian government, signaling Athens’ stance on Beleri’s ongoing detention on charges of voting fraud. Interestingly, Papastavrou made a conscious decision not to meet with any Albanian officials during his trip.
Papastavrou’s visit comes as Greece intensifies pressure on Tirana, even threatening to block Albania’s EU accession talks due to the Beleri affair. The Greek Minister expressed concern over the situation, stating, Himare is the only municipality in all of Europe where the defeated mayor continues to exercise power, while the elected mayor is deprived of his democratic right to be sworn in. Translated, his message is clear: the principle of popular sovereignty has not been upheld in Himare.
Demonstrating solidarity with Beleri, Papastavrou emphasized the importance of a fair trial and the presumption of innocence. He stressed the need for a just solution that adheres to European standards of law and good neighborliness while restoring democratic normality in Himare. During his visit, Papastavrou also met with Greek Ambassador Konstantina Kamitsi and various members of the Greek minority, including Vangelis Doules, the president of the Greek Minority Unity for Human Rights Party (known as KEAD in Greece).
This latest development follows Greece’s recent decision to block a joint EU letter to Albania, effectively hindering negotiations on crucial accession chapters. This maneuver underscores Greece’s unwavering determination to halt Tirana’s EU integration until Beleri is officially sworn in as the mayor of Himare. Beleri’s arrest, which took place just prior to the municipal elections in Himare, has fueled this ongoing dispute.
However, there is speculation in Tirana that Greece may eventually succumb to pressure from its US and EU partners. These allies advocate for immediate enlargement in the Western Balkans, a stance that contradicts Greece’s current position. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Greece and Albania will resolve their differences and what impact it could have on wider regional dynamics.
