Albania’s EU hopes may be blocked over Beleri
Athens is reportedly open to the possibility of making a recommendation in the EU’s report on the accession countries that as long as the issue of ethnic Greek mayor-elect Fredi Beleri is not resolved, the opening of chapters for Albania will not proceed.
Beleri has been detained since May for alleged vote buying, after being elected mayor of the predominantly ethnic Greek city of Himare in Albania.
The trial is scheduled to begin at a special anti-corruption court in Tirana on Tuesday.
Greece wants the temporary release and swearing-in of Beleri as mayor while Albania insists the decision is down to the “independent judiciary” alone.
If he is acquitted, he will appear vindicated and Prime Minister Edi Rama will be exposed as a plotter, as the Greek side has been claiming. If he receives a sentence, however small, his political future will be placed in doubt to the detriment on Greek-Albanian relations.
