Albanian Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi has been in Athens since Monday (June 8) on an official visit, coinciding with Greece’s renewed diplomatic initiative to accelerate the European Union accession process of the six Western Balkan countries: Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia.

The visit comes ahead of a regional tour by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, who will begin his Western Balkans trip in Serbia on Friday.

Visit Comes After Minority Rights Dispute

Peleshi’s visit follows a recent incident in Svernitsa, Albania, in which a Greek citizen was injured. In response, Greece’s Foreign Ministry issued a strongly worded statement emphasizing that protection of the rights of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania remains a prerequisite for Albania’s EU accession.

The carefully planned visit by Peleshi, who originates from Korçë, is widely viewed as an effort by Tirana to ease recent tensions in Greek-Albanian relations and restore the positive momentum that had developed between the two countries.

Focus on Bilateral Relations and EU Integration

In an article published in Ta Nea, Peleshi said the core objective of his visit is to strengthen ties between both countries and their peoples.

“We are united by geography and history,” he wrote. “We share a common Mediterranean bond and a mutual desire to value what we build together.”

Peleshi also stressed Albania’s commitment to:

• Completing EU accession negotiations by 2027.
• Achieving full EU membership by 2030.

He expressed appreciation for Greece’s consistent support for Albania’s European path and noted that the visit marks the first official bilateral visit by an Albanian parliamentary speaker to Athens in nearly a decade.

Reference to the Greek Minority

Peleshi devoted particular attention to the ethnic Greek minority in Albania, describing it as:

“An integral part of our society and a living bridge between our two nations.”

He said Albania remains committed to protecting minority rights in practice, citing the country’s 2017 Law on National Minorities and subsequent implementation measures.

Greece as Strategic Partner

Peleshi also highlighted the broader strategic relationship between the two countries.

According to him:

• Greece remains a close neighbor, friend and strategic partner.
• 2026 marks 55 years since diplomatic relations were restored.
• Greece has played a key role in supporting Albania’s EU aspirations.
• The two countries cooperate closely within NATO, including Greece’s contribution to NATO air policing over Albanian airspace since 2009 and participation in the KFOR mission in Kosovo.

Meetings in Athens

During his visit, Peleshi is scheduled to:

• Visit the Acropolis of Athens.
• Meet Greek Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis.
• Attend an official luncheon.
• Host an evening dinner in Plaka with diplomats, members of parliament and other guests.

On Wednesday he will also hold meetings with Greek parliamentary committee chairs and members, including Ioannis Plakiotakis, Dimitris Kairidis and Stathis Konstantinidis.

Greek Diplomatic Activity Intensifies

Following Peleshi’s visit, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou will represent Greece at a Ukraine-focused summit in Tirana on June 12. The meeting is being co-organized by the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Albania and will focus on security in Southeast Europe.

On the same day, Gerapetritis will officially launch his Western Balkans tour, beginning with Serbia. Visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are planned for June 19, while dates for trips to Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia are expected to be announced later.

Speaking recently in Parliament, Gerapetritis said Greece is pursuing an active foreign policy stretching from the United States and North Africa to the Western Balkans, where Athens has taken a leading role in accelerating the region’s European integration.