Andoni: Greece-Albania problems will not affect the Kosovo issue

Analyst Ben Andoni from Tirana says he doesn't believe that the current problems Greece has with Albania can influence the Kosovo issue. He thinks that the Greek-Albanian dispute over the case of the Greek mayor of Himara, Fredi Beleri, will not affect Athens' position on the non-recognition of Kosovo.

Beleri, an ethnic Greek, was elected as the mayor of Himara in southern Albania, where a Greek minority lives, on May 14th. He was arrested two days before the elections on charges of buying votes. Greek authorities consider his arrest politically motivated, and the dispute escalated with Greece refusing to support a letter to the European Commission requesting the opening of the first five chapters in EU accession negotiations for Albania.

"The issues between Albania and Greece are something that affects only the relations between our two countries, from the time we established diplomatic relations, then during World War II, in the post-war period, and up to today. I don't believe that the problems Greece currently has with Albania can affect the Kosovo issue. We are talking about two completely separate issues," Andoni says for Kosovo Online.

He believes that Greece actually wants to play a mediator role between Kosovo and Serbia, but without recognizing Kosovo.

"Greece is doing this to gain more significance in the eyes of Serbia. I believe this is valid in all aspects. Firstly, in the economic aspect. Secondly, in building bridges of cooperation with Serbia, as Greece wants to play the role of a mediator with EU countries that have a pragmatic position towards Kosovo. Thirdly, Greece wants to demonstrate its negotiating potential to major geopolitical powers in the East, primarily Russia, but also to China and India," Andoni says.

According to our interlocutor, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has used Greece's engagement for domestic purposes.

"Kurti has used this clever move by Greek diplomacy for domestic purposes, which is why the Greek president, Greek prime minister, and the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs have had to show their position on Kosovo so many times and have been categorical that Greece will not recognize Kosovo," Andoni says.