In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges Albania “to return to a direction of progress rather than of regression in order to see its accession course to proceed.”
The announcement refers to the “condemnable approaches of the last period that aimed at the annulment of the candidacy of the chairman of “Omonia” in Chimera, F. Beleri, in the upcoming municipal elections.”
It points out that “as it is clear in the relevant report of the European Commission, the respect for the rights of the Greek National Minority is directly related to the European perspective of Albania and forms an integral part of the five (5) Main Priorities for the start of the country’s accession negotiations with the EU, the fulfillment of which will be exclusively dealt with by the European Council.”
In this context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that Greece expects “the absolute assurance of the right of the minority’s self-identification throughout the Albanian territory, a measure that Albania pledged to adopt by May 2018, as well as the application of the property law, so that members of the minority can acquire the property rights they are entitled to.”