Igli Hasan's candidacy for OSCE Secretary, Turkey and Greece block Albania

Prime Minister Edi Rama, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met together during the proceedings of the next meeting of the European Political Community, which took place in Budapest, Hungary.

The photos of the three leaders were first published by Turkish and Greek media and then circulated online. The images were accompanied by articles that the topic of the conversation between Rama, Erdogan and Mitsotakis was the deepening of cooperation between the three countries.

But where can this deepening start? First from the OSCE, where Turkish and Greek stubbornness are blocking the Albanian candidacy of Igli Hasan to be elected Secretary General of the Organization. The last vote that was held in Vienna showed that Albania's candidacy had the support of 39 out of 56 countries of the organization, 9 others abstained and 9 voted for the joint candidacies of Turkey and Greece.

The two countries have engaged in an unusual alliance at the OSCE, proposing Turkish candidate Feridun Sinirlio?lu for OSCE Secretary-General, an experienced diplomat and Erdogan confidant with a controversial past on issues related to democracy and freedom; As well as Maria Telalian, the low-profile Greek candidate for ODIHR Director.

Since its launch in August, the package has been aggressively blocked by Turkey and Greece, which in a series of strong diplomatic moves in Vienna and across the capitals, aim to overturn the results and leverage their influence and negotiating power against Malta. as Chairman and Albania, which as smaller countries have limited scope and negotiating power.

This stubborn stance in the bloc of Ankara and Athens has been blamed by OSCE analysts, diplomats and experts as the main reason why the organization does not yet have a Secretary General, even though the candidacy of Igli Hasan, with experience in this organization, has received approval of the majority and the neutral attitude of the rest.

In this part, Hasani is penalized by the fact that for the election of the Secretary General of the OSCE, he requires the unanimous vote of all member countries.

While Turkey in this process is clearly showing its power and seeking a more influential role in international organizations, the big loser in all this is Greece, which as an EU country should not choose to be supportive in shadow of Turkish maneuvers, just to gain an undeserved position in an international organization. 

A position, which she could have won even without being part of a botched agreement, which ultimately will not contribute to the improvement of her relations with Turkey. Greece is acting differently from the other EU countries that have clearly positioned themselves in favor of the current package proposed by the President, but instead positions itself alongside Turkey (albeit as an unequal inferior partner), Central Asian countries with strong influences from Turkey and perhaps silently also alongside the Russian Federation.