The parliamentary representative and responsible for the KTE Foreign Affairs of PASOK-Movement for Change Dimitris Manzos, sharply commented on the decision of the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, to hold a “pre-election rally” in Athens – for the Albanian elections in 2025 and a few days before the European elections – and even on the day of the one-year anniversary of the arrest of Fredis Beleris, laying clear responsibilities to the Greek government and personally to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

“It is a provocative move with obvious symbolism and clear messages both for the case of the elected mayor of Heimarra and his inclusion in the New Democracy ballot, as well as for Greek-Albanian relations as a whole,” Mr. Manzos said in a statement.

He emphasized how “the Greek government and the prime minister cannot and are not allowed to downplay the event, talking about an “unnecessary choice” (terminology he also used in the conversion by the Turkish President of the Monastery of the Country into a mosque) and “private visit”, as not to be a head of government, but rather of a neighboring country with which relations have recently been strained”.

He added that “Mr. Rama’s actions, combined with yesterday’s reference by the representative of the European Commission to “bilateral issues”, instead of fundamental issues of Albania’s accession path to the EU, prove the adverse consequences of the Greek government’s pernicious related choices” .

“New Democracy and personally Mr. Mitsotakis, who acted not as prime minister but as a party leader, bear full responsibility for the above developments”, concluded the responsible PASOK-KINAL department head.