Athens sends new message to Tirana

There is currently no mention of Albania as a European Union candidate country in the Enlargement chapter of the latest draft of the forthcoming European Council, which starts Thursday.

The development is related to the issue of detained ethnic Greek mayor Fredi Beleri, especially after the Special Court of Tirana rejected on Monday his plea for a limited leave of absence to be sworn in as mayor of Himare.

Athens had warned in good time of consequences in the case of there being any deviation from the very clear conditions set out and linked to respect for the rule of law. 

Greece has already submitted a written statement which accompanied the European Council's letter on the opening of negotiations with Albania, setting three basic conditions for the promotion of Tirana's accession. These are the swearing-in of Beleri, his fair trial and respect for the...