The violent incidents that erupted during Saturday's protest in Zvërnec have now moved beyond a local dispute, drawing official reactions from Athens and adding a diplomatic dimension to an already controversial issue.
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| The Greek Foreign Ministry in Athens expressed "strong concern" about the May 30 clashes in Zvërnec, demanding clarification of the injury of a Greek citizen and linking the protection of minorities and property to Albania's EU accession process. |
The statement went beyond the injury itself. Athens also called on Albanian authorities to provide a full clarification of the incident and stressed the importance of protecting the rights and properties of members of the Greek National Minority in Albania. At the same time, the Greek Foreign Ministry linked the issue to Albania's European integration process, emphasizing that respect for property rights, minority protections and environmental standards forms part of the obligations expected from countries seeking membership in the European Union.
The reference to the Greek minority immediately attracted attention in Albania, as the clashes in Zvërnec were initially reported as a conflict between protesters and private security personnel employed by a company involved in a tourism investment project. Several protesters claimed they were opposing construction activity in an environmentally sensitive area near the Narta Lagoon, while authorities have argued that the project follows legal procedures.
From an Albanian perspective, the government's position has been that the incident should be treated as a matter of public order and law enforcement rather than as an ethnic or minority issue. Prime Minister Edi Rama has strongly rejected attempts to portray the events as evidence of discrimination against the Greek minority, arguing instead that misinformation and political narratives are transforming an isolated incident into a broader diplomatic controversy.
The Albanian government has pointed to the measures taken immediately after the clashes. Authorities arrested private security guards allegedly involved in acts of violence, launched investigations, revoked the operating licence of the security company involved and removed the director of the Vlora Police Directorate from office. Albanian officials say these actions demonstrate that state institutions reacted swiftly and transparently.
The reaction from Athens nevertheless reflects a longstanding sensitivity in Albanian-Greek relations. Issues involving property rights, local development projects and the Greek minority in southern Albania have periodically generated political debate between the two neighbouring countries. While relations between Tirana and Athens have generally improved in recent years, such incidents continue to attract attention because they touch on historical and political questions that remain sensitive on both sides of the border.
What is particularly notable in the Greek statement is the emphasis on the European Union accession process. By referring to compliance with the European acquis, Athens is effectively reminding Albania that progress toward EU membership is assessed not only through economic and institutional reforms but also through the protection of minority rights, property rights and environmental standards.
As investigations continue, the focus will now be on the findings of Albanian authorities. Whether the incident remains a local dispute over a tourism project or develops into a wider diplomatic issue may depend largely on the results of those investigations and the political reactions that follow in both Tirana and Athens.