Greece’s foreign ministry urged Albania to respect the rights of its ethnic Greek minority, framing this as a crucial step for Albania’s EU membership aspirations.
Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on Albania to uphold the rights of its ethnic Greek minority, reiterating respect for these rights as a fundamental requirement for Albania’s European Union accession process.
The statement followed comments by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama during a visit to Thessaloniki, where he met with members of the Albanian community. Rama noted that protests held by nationalists, involving slogans and pamphlets about “Northern Epirus,” had taken place, yet he dismissed the term as outdated. “Northern Epirus is a dead term,” Rama said, referring to the historical concept used by Greek nationalists to claim regions of southern Albania as ethnically Greek.
Greece’s foreign ministry emphasized that while the “history between the two countries remains unchanged,” Albania’s full respect for the ethnic Greek minority’s rights is essential. The ministry reminded that the requirement aligns with a unanimous EU decision by its 27 member states, taken on October 11, to support Albania’s candidacy only if specific rights-based conditions are met.
Greek news outlet Protothema reported that members of nationalist groups protested outside One Salonica mall, opposing Rama’s presence in the city. Protesters accused the Albanian government of “systematically violating” the rights of the Greek minority in Albania, which remains a sensitive issue between the two countries.
Rama’s visit comes as Albania continues its push for EU membership, a goal supported by both nations in principle but marked by underlying historical and minority rights tensions. (Tir-Fax)
