Albania's accession path is only possible "if there is full respect for the minority's property rights", Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis disclaimed from the plenary step, responding to a topical question by independent MP Michalis Hurdakis about developments in the Greek minority regions of Albania. He assured that Athens is "in full vigilance", noting that "there should be tangible results, so that the funds concerned will be closed".
Greece, he said, "has the key" to the future of the Western Balkan states, closely monitors the issue of property rights and has made it clear to his Albanian counterpart that there will be no progress in the accession process without respect and tangible results in accession funds.
After the events of the last few weeks, Mr. Gerapetrite made it clear that formal legislative compliance is not enough: 'The regulatory compliance is necessary, but not sufficient. There should also be compliance with things," he said.
In the same context, he pointed out that there should be a full return on property rights and not only digital entries on the Land Register. The pressure mechanism, as he explained, passes through the veto to closing funds: "The closure of funds requires unanimity, so the speech passes through Greece again".