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"The issue of Beler is fundamentally European, not bilateral. It is about respecting the rule of law," said Papastavrou
The Minister of State of Greece, Savros Papastavrou , has stated that the imprisonment of Fredi Beleri, the elected mayor of Himara, is not only a bilateral issue between Albania and Greece, but a European issue.
"The issue of Beler is fundamentally European, not bilateral. It is about respecting the rule of law," Papastavrou said in an interview with Skai radio.
" If Beleri was not a member of the Greek ethnic minority or any minority, it is clear that Greece might not have expressed the same level of interest. However, as far as the EU is concerned, this should be seen as a European issue. If an executive authority in any country has the ability to refuse to swear someone in based only on personal preferences, this constitutes a problem for Europe ", he stressed.
The Greek minister, who last week visited Beleri in prison, hinted that the lack of progress on the matter could have consequences for Albania's EU membership aspirations.
" It is clear that Greece consistently and unwaveringly supports the European integration perspective of the Western Balkans, " Papastavrou said, noting that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated Athens' support at the Berlin Process Summit held in Tirana last month. .
"We all benefit from Albania's European perspective, especially the Greek national minority. However, this integration path has some conditions and criteria", he said.
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