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The arrest of Ilir Meta has caused a sensation in many international media, especially in Greek ones. Although almost two weeks have passed since his arrest, the Greek newspaper "Documento" published today a long article dedicated to Ilir Meta's lobbying in the USA. The article is also accompanied by documents, which according to her show the involvement of a Greek lawyer, who was used by the former Albanian president to hide large payments in the USA.
Excerpt from the article
The Albanian authorities, while investigating the activities of the former president of the country, Ilir Meta, encountered a major international scandal that also affects Greece, as the lawyer, Heraklis Fidetzis, is involved.
It is said that he is Meta's "hand" in the contracts he signed with a lobbying firm to gain "friendship" with America. It is about a gray personality, who in the past was sued by the businessman, Dimitris Kontominas, for a Hollywood fraud from which the late owner of the Greek channel had lost tens of millions of euros, but he was declared innocent.
Why does it matter?
"Documento" reveals details of contracts that show the bargains of powerful lobbyists who build political careers behind closed doors and without barriers.
Ilir Meta, former president of Albania and chairman of the Freedom Party was arrested for corruption, money laundering and concealment of income. Examining all his activities, the Albanian authorities became aware of an international scandal affecting Greece.
As it was revealed, the Greek lawyer, Iraklis Fidetzis, who was written about in the past for defrauding the big businessman, the owner of the "Alpha" channel, Dimitris Kontominas, was Meta's connecting link with the American president and Congress. Fidetzis was the person who made a deal with a lobbying firm, the McKeon Group, so that Meta could have dealings with the US government.
However, this is only the tip of the iceberg in a system of political imposition and manipulation, as the domino of lobbying in favor of Meta does not stop there. Fidetzis as the owner of the company "Dorelita Limited" gave $600,000 to the "McKeon Group" for the benefit of a hidden partner.
Who was he?
Fidetzis as the owner of the company "Dorelita Limited" gave 600 thousand dollars to the "McKeon Group" for the benefit of a hidden partner who according to all indications was Ilir Meta.
"Documento" brings to light these secret agreements that once again show the betrayal behind political campaigns and negotiations.
On January 20, 2017, Ilir Meta shared a photo of himself and Albanian MP Petrit Vasili in Washington for the inauguration of then US President Donald Trump. At that time, Meta announced that he was invited to the official ceremony of the Republican leaders of the US Congress and Senate. In fact, the Albanian media friendly to Meta's party reported that "the presence of Meta and Vasili at Trump's inauguration proved the "old" acquaintances of the highest officials of the LSI with the highest officials of the new administration of Donald Trump" .
However, the truth was completely different. Meta's presence in Washington opened "Pandora's Box" and raised the alarm in the Special Prosecution Against Corruption (SPAK) of Albania, as a result of which an investigation was launched, which finally brought to light very serious evidence.
Hidden behind Meta's presence were thousands of dollars for a lobbying firm to lobby Washington on behalf of LSI and Meta before the Albanian parliamentary elections in June 2017.
Lobbying may not be illegal, as it is a legal and institutionalized activity, but it appears to serve large business and political interests through it. Without transparency mechanisms, this activity can lead to the exercise of unfair influence, unfair competition or even corruption.
However, the strange parts of Meta's relationship with Washington do not stop here, as the scandal is not limited to the Albanian borders, but also affects Greece through the presence of a "grey face" who had occupied the Greek news for an impossible case by defrauding the businessman of then powerful D. Kontominas. / Pamphlet
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