Photo credit: IBNA The Greek Foreign Ministry condemned the provocatively irresponsible behaviour of the Albanian government, saying it will not tolerate "behaviours that are inconsistent with the European spirit of peaceful coexistence and co-operation, and are grossly violating the fundamental principle of good neighbourly relations, one of the basic conditions for Tirana’s European course".
In particular, according to the announcement, the conviction concerns the placement of stones in the renovated central Tirana Square, which originate from different regions in the Balkans, including the Greek area of Filiates. The name of their area of origin has been marked on each stone and the work as a whole symbolises the "unity of the Albanian lands".
An "obvious act by the state that cultivates and conceals irredentism", stressed the Foreign Ministry in its announcement, pointing out that it is "another challenge on behalf of the Albanian government, which openly undermines good neighbourly relations" since " it supports the central notion of irredentist trends towards Albania’s neighbouring countries as the names of regions from various Balkan states are explicitly mentioned. "
The Foreign Ministry, has “undergone and is performing all necessary actions, by informing friends, partners and international organizations", and notes that “due to respect for the electoral process in the neighbouring country it has not made any public announcements, until today, that could be misinterpreted and distorted as interference in the pre-election process. "
This, it notes, "does not mean that we will tolerate behaviours that are inconsistent with the European spirit of peaceful coexistence" and concludes:
"Unfortunately, even today, dangerous and outdated attitudes of the past century undermine the progress and prosperity of the region and create a barrier to Albania's European future."
Source: IBNA
In particular, according to the announcement, the conviction concerns the placement of stones in the renovated central Tirana Square, which originate from different regions in the Balkans, including the Greek area of Filiates. The name of their area of origin has been marked on each stone and the work as a whole symbolises the "unity of the Albanian lands".
An "obvious act by the state that cultivates and conceals irredentism", stressed the Foreign Ministry in its announcement, pointing out that it is "another challenge on behalf of the Albanian government, which openly undermines good neighbourly relations" since " it supports the central notion of irredentist trends towards Albania’s neighbouring countries as the names of regions from various Balkan states are explicitly mentioned. "
The Foreign Ministry, has “undergone and is performing all necessary actions, by informing friends, partners and international organizations", and notes that “due to respect for the electoral process in the neighbouring country it has not made any public announcements, until today, that could be misinterpreted and distorted as interference in the pre-election process. "
This, it notes, "does not mean that we will tolerate behaviours that are inconsistent with the European spirit of peaceful coexistence" and concludes:
"Unfortunately, even today, dangerous and outdated attitudes of the past century undermine the progress and prosperity of the region and create a barrier to Albania's European future."
Source: IBNA
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