Greece pressures Albania to show ‘way out’ of bilateral crisis

Greece is blocking a letter from the 27 member states to the EU Commission on opening up the first five chapters of the accession process, a source confirmed to Euractiv, adding that Athens is pressuring Tirana to show “creativity” to sort out an ongoing bilateral crisis.

Tensions between Greece and Albania have simmered since May when the Albanian ethnic Greek mayoral candidate, Fredi Beleri, running under an opposition banner, was arrested two days before the local elections on suspicion of vote buying.

He won the elections in Himara in southern Albania by a handful of votes but has been unable to be sworn in as mayor due to his incarceration and despite appeals to be allowed to take the oath or be downgraded to another security measure.

Athens has repeatedly called on Albania to allow him to take the oath, calling it politically and ethnically motivated. The Albanian government has said it cannot interfere in judicial proceedings, and the justice system must take its course.

Over the weekend, rumours swirled that Athens had refused to back a letter asking the Commission to open the first five chapters of negotiations. An EU Council source close to the matter confirmed to Euractiv that this is true.

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According to the source, Athens emphasises several issues regarding the rule of law, such as the case of Beleri and the implementation of some laws related to Albania’s Greek minority, such as property rights.

The same source pointed out that there is also an issue in the census currently being carried out, as there were reported cases where members of the Greek minority were not asked about religion or language.

Albania is doing its first census in nearly 12 years by tablet. The process is always controversial, with various groups claiming they are not asked about religion or language, However, Euractiv has confirmed first-hand that these questions are present on the census tablet app and must be answered before they can progress to the next question.

“Athens is not closing the door [to the EU accession], but there are some issues that need to be settled. With the way things have been for three weeks now, the process cannot proceed.”

The source emphasised that the Albanian side must show “creativity” to solve the crisis concerning Beleri.

Athens is asking that he be allowed to be inaugurated as a major as it is an administrative decision that could be taken by the Albanian government […] it is not a judicial one – and then the independent judiciary to make its decisions.

Other oath-swearing measures such as marriages, declarations, and agreements can be taken by a notary or competent official in the prison facilities or by the individual being escorted to the institution’s premises under police guard.

Sali Berisha, former president and prime minister and currently under criminal investigation himself, said that the police and prosecutor staged Beleri’s arrest and trial.

He implied that Rama was behind the case, which has “led us into a confrontation with our neighbours” about the sharp deterioration in relations.

In a recent interview, Rama reiterated that he has no hand in the situation and cannot interfere in any way.

“I believe I have done my part in explaining this. It is not a debate between the government of Albania and the Greek government because it is about justice …it is in the hand of the justice system.”

He added, “At the end, whatever anyone says will not solve a problem that can only be solved in the path of justice”.

When asked about letting Beleri swear his oath, Rama said, “There are different theories on it, but the point is, anyhow, this must be defined by the court of law,” adding so far, there was no concrete indication of how this can happen.

Last but not least, critics in Athens have said there is a business motivation behind the situation, hinting the government wants to retain control of building permits issued in Himara, a popular summer destination with a lucrative real estate market.

Therefore, Beleri, representing the Greek minority and the Albanian opposition, is seen as a political threat, something Tirana denies.

Some 0.9% of Albania’s population identify as ethnic Greek and although the real number is questioned by some in politics and civil society, Greeks are recognised as an official minority.

While several communities in the south of the country, including in Himara, speak Greek and some roadsigns appear in the Greek language, Albanian nationalists say they simply identify as Greek to get Greek (and de facto EU) passports and money from Athens. A census is currently underway, the first in 12 years which will take stock of the size of Albania’s minorities.

(Alice Taylor, Sarantis Michalopolous| Euractiv.com)