PM: Beleri case clouds relations with Albania

Tirana's handling of the case of Fredi Beleri, the ethnic Greek elected mayor of Himare in southern Albania, has adversely impacted bilateral relations with Greece, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Skai TV in an interview on Tuesday.

"We have expressed our strong reservations about the fact that he was not allowed to be sworn in while in custody and whether it was a fair trial. We will continue to insist that there is no final decision but a first instance decision," Mitsotakis said, essentially confirming the deadlock that has arisen between Athens and Tirana after the first instance decision on the conviction of Beleri last week by the Albanian judiciary on vote-buying charges.

His comments echoed the conditions set by Greece in order for Albania's accession negotiations with the EU to proceed without problems - namely that Beleri be allowed to be sworn in...