ALBANIA AND GREECE
Will the situation normalize?
Today more than ever Albania needs a measured, serious, and wise policy
After the tension created in the first days between the two Balkan countries, the two countries are now sitting down at the negotiating table. It seems that the normalization of the situation will be a difficult process that requires patience and restraint.
The return of serious accusations by officials from both countries has pushed the ordinary citizen even further away from the real problems of the emigrant. But no matter how much the situation is sought to be aggravated, the talks will not stop. And this is because the interests of both countries will strongly compel the governments to return to cooperation. The crisis has been even stronger, but things have calmed down. This was seen especially immediately after the statements of the officials, when the latter made it clear that, regarding the problems of Greeks in Albania, the unfounded accusations and the denigration of the neighbor would not continue with the harshness of the first days. It seems that behind this tactic lie the interests of both countries in entering as soon as possible into a new stage in Albanian-Greek relations. The difficulties have still not been fully overcome. They will also be present in the coming days, but it is clear that the Albanian side has made it understood that Athens will no longer act in favor of the extremists of TYSH and OMONIA, who in recent months have stretched the situation to the limit between the two countries. This situation has also been served until today by the carelessness of the Albanian state, which has not been firm in its stance toward the organs of the neighboring country, allowing the Greeks to play a double game toward both sides. Lately, the Albanian government has been making sincere efforts for a serious dialogue with Greece. This seems to be becoming clear in these days, since even the Greek ambassador in Tirana has denied his government’s statements, adding that for the Albanian government there exists not even an order for the expulsion of Greek emigrants from the country, which accused Europe otherwise. The beginning of high-level contact and official talks between the two states proved the Albanian government’s stance on resolving the conflict. If senior Greek officials intervened on behalf of Albanian emigrants, even to the point of stopping them, they should have maintained the same stance toward Greeks brought in with weapons. As for the latter, moreover from a friendly country, to give up.