Amidst the recent tensions that have gripped the relations between Albania and Greece, the arrest of Fredi Beleri just days before the local elections on May 14th was not the sole trigger. It was merely the tipping point of an escalating situation that had been brewing for some time.
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| Rama, Erdogan, Beleri and Mitsotakis (photoshop montage) |
The genesis of this tension can be traced back to the autumn of 2022 when Edi Rama and Kyriakos Mitsotakis were nearing an agreement on the maritime border issue at the Hague Court. Rama entrusted a group of high-profile British and American lawyers, led by Cherie Blair, wife of Tony Blair, to handle the matter. Additionally, Albania had Turkish expertise from the Republican Military Academy regarding cartography, further bolstering their position.
This situation was unfavorable for Athens. Micotaqis proposed a strong counter-move. He offered Rama a preliminary agreement or declaration, suggesting that both parties approach the International Court not for resolving a disputed matter but for an equal partition. Initially, Rama accepted this proposition, and there was much talk about this "Preliminary Agreement" in Tirana. However, it never materialized. Erdogan intervened, advising Rama against going to the Hague as agreed upon, warning that it would be considered a treaty.
Rama tactically delayed his response, aiming to wear down the Greek Prime Minister, who at one point demanded a clear decision. This intervention by Erdogan escalated the longstanding tensions between Greece and Turkey, now playing out within Albanian territory.
Micotaqis found himself entangled in Rama's web, invited to campaign in Himara, meeting Fredi Beleri and holding rallies, even promising a bust of Beleri's father in Dropull. Meanwhile, Athens seemed to be extending olive branches, with positive write-ups about Rama, a rare occurrence. Rama even participated in an event in Athens, engaging in serene discussions with Dora Bakojanis, the architect of the infamous sea agreement with Albania.
At this juncture, Athens made a bold move, uniting Beleri as a joint candidate of Sali Berisha and Ilir Meta. This maneuver, dreamed by Rama, positioned both Berisha and Meta unfavorably in the eyes of Western powers.
However, Athens has yet to reap the fruits of its actions. Erdogan, offering tales of sultans and horses, orchestrated the Turkish intelligence to expose Athens' maneuvers, trying to undermine them before they took root.
The conflict between Rama and Micotaqis and Athens is far from over. Greece is prepared to finance and influence any means to swiftly oust Rama from power. In the days to come, Greek intelligence is expected to inject damning information against the Albanian government, applying pressure on Rama. As Babloku warned, we haven't seen anything yet. Nevertheless, more than an Athens-Tirana conflict, it's an ancient clash between Greece and Turkey, playing out in our territory.