FLASH NEWS
The scandal with the Greek "terror" against journalists, Euractiv echoes the incident in Kapshtica
2024-11-02 20:35:22 / AKTUALITET
"Euractiv", the media platform specialized in the "online" publication of articles focused on politics in Europe, has dedicated an exhaustive article to the scandal that occurred today at the border crossing point of Kapshtica, where for three hours the Greek side prevented the passage of teams of A2 CNN and TV Klan in the direction of Thessaloniki, where they will attend the meeting of Prime Minister Edi Rama with Albanian immigrants.
The well-known media echoes the live reports from the border of the A2 CNN journalist, Fjorela Beleshi, who raised her voice demanding a solution to the situation through the intervention of the Albanian authorities, and even asked the Greek MEP Fredi Beleri and the Ministry of Foreign in Athens in telephone communications.
"Euractiv" ARTICLE :
Tensions between Tirana and Athens have been simmering for months. Greek authorities have prevented Albanian journalists and TV crews from crossing from Albania to Greece to travel to Thessaloniki, where Prime Minister Edi Rama will hold a large gathering with the Albanian diaspora.
News crews from TV Klan and CNN's Tirana branch, A2, reported that they were held for three hours at the Kapshtica border crossing. Klan journalists told Euractiv that Greek police told them they needed a special permit because they intended to use a van equipped with live broadcasting equipment.
"We've been here for three hours. They said we need a permit," a journalist on the ground told Euractiv.
Local authorities said that this permission must be obtained from the Greek Foreign Ministry. They added that, alternatively, they could continue to Greece, but would have to leave the cameras and equipment behind.
Journalists on the scene told Euractiv that during previous trips to Greece in recent months, the same journalists with the same equipment were not asked for additional permits.
Journalists reported that during the three-hour standoff, Greek authorities took their passports, but they were eventually returned at around 5:05 p.m. The journalists then told Euractiv that they were allowed to enter Greece shortly afterwards.
"When we were in Greece in May with operators and cameras, we were not stopped and we were not asked for authorization, because a private media does not need authorization from the Ministry of Greece if it has all the relevant documents," said A2 CNN journalist Fjorela Beleshi. via live broadcast from the border.
Rama will address the Albanian diaspora in Greece on Sunday in the city of Thessaloniki. The city is home to around 500,000 Albanians, many of whom are seasonal workers. The visit follows a similar rally in Athens in May and a trip to the US, where he met his compatriots in New York.
But his visit to Thessaloniki has been accompanied by threats of protests from several political groups, including the far-right National Front. They declared that Rama is not welcome in Greece, listing the recent arrest and imprisonment of Fredi Beleri as one of the reasons to protest.
"Declaring pride for Albania and for the Albanians living in Greece, Edi Rama comes again with the government's permission to organize a rally in Thessaloniki. His politics and those who support him are absolutely undesirable", states the press release of the National Front.
Beleri, an ethnic Greek Albanian was arrested in 2023 for buying votes in the municipality of Himara. He was sentenced to a year in prison and prevented from becoming mayor. He was later elected to the European Parliament as a Greek MEP.
During a visit to Tirana last week with other MEPs, he was pelted with eggs after a meeting with government officials.
As for the previous rally in May, Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis had described it as "excessive".
Relations between the two countries have been cold for some time, not only because of Beler. In a 2022 interview with Euractiv, Rama said that Greece obstructed the EU membership process, resulting in a diplomatic row ahead of the Western Balkans Summit and an apology from Rama to Mitsotakis.
The Greek and Albanian governments have not publicly reacted to the news of keeping the journalists at the border until the moment of publication. (A2 Television)
Unpredictability, proof of the independence of justice
Nga Blendi Kajsiu
ideas
top
Alfa recipes
TRENDING 
services
- POLICE129
- STREET POLICE126
- AMBULANCE112
- FIREFIGHTER128