Answering to reporters about Greece’s reaction after the Special Anticorruption and Anticrime Court convicted the Himara mayor-elect Fredi Beleri to two years in prison for buying votes, Foreign Minister Hasani said that Albanian government respects court rulings.

“Albania will continue to fully respect court rulings. Albania will continue to support work on justice system reform and deliver on all its obligations regarding the EU accession process,” Hasani stated.

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Asked by journalists at a press conference whether an administrator would be appointed to the Himara municipality, the government head noted that “the court has already made a decision fully confirming what we have said since day one: we have no competence of whatsoever to allow someone take office as mayor after having been caught red-handed and standing trial on vote-buying charges.”

PM Rama noted that only the first instance court ruling has been made to date and a final judgement on the case should be made before the government makes a decision.

“After that we will explore ways how to operate based on that court decision, because this is the very first time, there are no previous precedents, and the government, according to the law, is entitled to appoint an envoy to the helm of the municipality. However, we have to read the court’s final judgement and only then we would act based on that concept. We are not in haste and we can wait,” Rama added.

The government head underlined that the process on holding the second intergovernmental conference with the European Union was underway and it was just a matter of setting a formal date for the conference to take place.

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The Premier said that his government has not acted to dismiss the Himara mayor-elect, Fredi Beleri, although he has yet to take oath of office, because he is standing trial on vote buying charges.

The government head answered to the reporters’ interest in the Beleri case and the Greece threats to block Albania’s EU accession negotiations unless this is issue is solved beforehand.

“We haven’t set the government in motion to fire the Himara mayor-elect, although he has failed to take office, under circumstances of impossibility to do so,” Rama told reporters.

As far as the Greece warnings and pressure to block the EU accession talks, the Premier said he had repeatedly expressed his opinion and can’t comment on the matter anytime he is asked to do so, because he doesn’t want to “lead a debate where the government is not a party.”

“We have nothing to do with this story. It is about an individual who has been arrested after having been caught red-handed while buying votes and he is now awaiting trial at the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime,” he said.

According to him, the government hasn’t any role to play in this issue.

“Can Greece block the negotiations? Yes, it can do so. You would learn about my opinion once this happens, because I can’t comment on something that hasn’t happened yet. I have stated that it would not be serious that Albania, a country perceived completely different by the overall international opinion be blocked for an issue that has nothing to do with the EU integration or the negotiation framework,” Rama said.

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Asked about Greece’s decision to block a letter from the 27 member states to the EU Commission on opening up the first five chapters of the accession process for Albania because of the so-called “Beleri” case, PM Rama said that this barrier could not last long.

“I don’t want to engage into this debate. I sincerely think this decision to block the process won’t last long, because it wouldn’t be serious. On the other hand, Beleri case is a matter for the judiciary. If you are to look at the Progress Report, Albania is highly praised for the justice system reform. I am very happy because Albania is the country that has progressed most in the region regarding these issues,” he added.

The government head stated that Greece and Albania share strategic relations and that the barriers set up by the neighboring country to Albania’s EU integration could not last long.

Asked about the effect of the Kosovo-Serbia recent developments on the region’s European integration, Rama said “this is perhaps an additional reason for the region to integrate in the European bloc.”

“In geopolitical terms, it would be a political suicide if the European Union excludes the region or certain states. It should do quite the opposite by including and united, because it is the only way to achieve final long-lasting peace in the region,” he said.

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“Beleri case is well-known to everyone, it is clear and there is no room for any other reaction, but the fact that it is a matter of justice,” PM Rama said told a TV talk show this evening.

Rama said that the government has no power and it doesn’t even think about using the competences of the executive power to influence the country’s justice system.

“As far as I know, the request for him to take oath of office is a subject to trial process,” Rama said.

Asked about reaction by Athens, PM Rama said that “steps are being taken in Brussels and there is still time until December to address the matter.”

“I very much believe this issue won’t become an obstacle to Albania,” he said.

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In a statement on Twitter, Foreign Minister Xhaçka reiterated that the case of Beleri is a matter for the judiciary, not the Albanian government.

“There is no way that our Greek friends and neighbors are always the only ones who are right, when they insist on a request dismissed by the Albanian courts and clear to other friends and partners who say that this is a matter for Albanian justice,” Xhaçka said.

“Albanian new justice bodies have spoken clearly through their decisions and the Albanian government has also spoken clearly: the issue whether the Mayor now detained by justice would take oath of office is a matter for the judiciary, nor the Albanian government or the Greek government,” Xhaçka went on saying.

“I told my Greek counterpart, whom I respect a lot, that this issue should not be based on Greek law but on Albanian law. And according to Albanian law, there is no political will to release Mr. Beleri or send a public notary in prison for him to take the oath as mayor,” Xhaçka said.

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