The continued temporary detention of Fredi Beleris and the rejection of his request, so that he can be sworn in and assume his duties, which the people of Himarra gave him, was raised with the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis, as he stated after his visit to Tirana.

“This continued rejection constitutes an obvious deviation from the European rule of law and certainly from the presumption of innocence,” Mr. Gerapetritis emphasized in his statement. He further stated that he discussed with Edi Rama issues concerning bilateral relations.

Earlier, Mr Gerapetritis met with his Albanian counterpart Igli Hassani.

During his stay in Tirana, the Foreign Minister had the opportunity to meet representatives of the Greek diaspora, as well as the Archbishop of Albania. “I was informed both about issues concerning the diaspora, such as above all the requirement that there be integrity in the census process that is currently developing in Albania, as well as, of course, about the great educational, pastoral and cultural work carried out by the Archdiocese, which will to be supported by the Greek state as it has done in previous years” the Foreign Minister underlined in his statement.

Before the end of the visit, Giorgos Gerapetritis visited the Greek embassy in Tirana.

It is noted that Mr. Gerapetritis participated today in Tirana in the Summit of Foreign Ministers of the Berlin Process for the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union, the rotating presidency of which is exercised by Albania. This is a process that Greece initiated when in 2003 the European path of the Western Balkan states was defined in the Thessaloniki Agenda. “This is a Treaty for the well-being and peace of the wider region, under the conditions, of course, which the European Council has set,” pointed out Mr. Gerapetritis.