Latest News from Albania
The illegally appointed mayor of Himara, Gjergji Goros, has been arrested
It came after a complaint by the elected mayor of Himara Fredi Beleris – Albania hopes the presence of another member of the minority will appease Greece
EU leaders agree to open membership talks with Bosnia
EU leaders on Thursday agreed to open talks with Bosnia on joining the bloc, though negotiations will only begin in earnest once the Balkan country has passed more key reforms.
"Congratulations! Your place is in our European family. Today's decision is a key step forward on your EU path," European Council head Charles Michel wrote on X, as leaders met at a Brussels summit.
Beleris: They told me to resign as Mayor of Himara in order to set me free
Andreas Loverdos visited him stating, “the conviction to two years in prison is tangible evidence that the rule of law does not exist in Albania”
What comes after the conviction?
Things are judged by results, and in the case of Fredi Beleri, things have not gone at all well. The mayor-elect of the predominantly ethnic Greek town of Himare in southern Albania is to remain in prison until September 12, 2024. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's goal is for the appeal trial to be finished by September too, so that Beleri can be convicted once and for all and disqualified.
Beleri imbroglio freezes prospects of bilateral deals
Greece's decision to block Albania's EU accession process in the wake of mayor-elect of Himare Fredi Beleri's prosecution and sentencing will inevitably impact Greek plans to reach an agreement on the delimitation of maritime exclusive economic zones that Athens hoped would serve as a blueprint for the more important negotiations with Turkey.