Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met today with the jailed member of Albania’s ethnic Greek minority, Fredis Beleris, who was elected last month to the European Parliament, at the Maximos Mansion. 

"I hope that very soon you will be out of jail for good, so that this painful chapter for all of us will be closed, so that we can move on and look ahead," the Prime Minister said, addressing Mr. Beleris. 

At the same time, the Prime Minister stressed that Albania is moving closer to Europe, as long as it adheres strictly to its European commitments.

"I believe that the country where we live does not take for granted the rule of law, the right to vote, and the right to be elected. Frentis Belleris sent the message, "I want to help in this."

It will be recalled that early this morning, Frentis Belleris passed through the prison gates with in his hands the five-day leave he had requested in order to travel to Strasbourg to take the oath of office as a Member of the European Parliament.