An amendment for the “immediate release of the mayor of Heimarra, Fredis Beleris” and for the “protection of the properties of the Greek National Minority”, is submitted by the European People’s Party in the Report on Albania’s accession to the EU, which is expected to be voted on in the Plenary of European Parliament next Tuesday, July 11.

According to the relevant announcement, the EPP, “with the absolute support of the MEPs of the ND and the assistance of the president of the KO of the EPP, Manfred Weberand the coordinator in the Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael Galler, unanimously adopted the proposal of (ND and EPP MEP) Manolis Kefalogiannis for the immediate release of the elected mayor of Heimarra, Fredis Beleris, and the protection of the properties of the Greek minority”.

Specifically, with the amendment, expresses “the deep concern” of the European Parliament “about the arrest of the elected mayor of Heimarra Fredi Beleris on the eve of the municipal elections in Albania and his continued pre-trial detention, which violates the presumption of innocence and prevents him from assuming his duties as an elected mayor.” Also, in the amendment it is emphasized that the specific matter “is absolutely connected with the respect of fundamental rights, with the property issue of the Greek ethnic minority in the Municipality of Heimarra and the accusations of illegal expropriations by the Albanian authorities”.

The amendment follows “both the visit of Manolis Kefalogiannis to the remanded mayor of Heimarra in the prisons of Tirana and the initiatives he has undertaken in the European Parliament after his (Mr. Kefalogiannis) meeting with the president of the EP, Roberta Metsola, for the immediate release of Fredis Beleris and the assumption of his mayoral duties”, as reported.

It is noted that, according to the official website, the Parliamentary Group of the EPP is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 177 MEPs from all member states.