After the statements of Prime Minister Edi Rama that the so-called "Vorio Epirus issue has died in time", the Greek government reacted through the spokesman Pavlos Marinakis.
He reminds Albania of the path of integration, once again establishing as a condition the full respect of the rights of the Greek minority in Albania.
"It is possible that for Mr. Rama, Vorio Epiri does not exist, but I believe that it is something certain that exists, the Greek minority living in Albania and its rights. The respect of these rights and in general the respect of the Greek national minority is an essential condition for the integration of Albania in the European Union, as the 27 EU countries unanimously emphasized at the meeting of foreign ministers. In short, Albania's road to Europe passes through Athens, it passes through Greece, and there is a precondition that no one can overlook, which is the respect of the Greek national minority in Albania ," said the Greek government spokesman.
The majority and opposition MPs have taken the same stance, calling Rama's stances in Thessaloniki provocations.
"We cannot ignore this provocative behavior since he says something like that inside Hellenic land. Then it is clear that Mr. Rama wants to provoke and we must respond. For us the term Vorio Epiri is in our souls in our heart and if Mr. Rama says that he is dead, it means that it bothers him, because he knows that those territories are Vorio Epiri ", said Thanos Plevris, deputy of Nea Demokratia.
"Mr. Rama should become aware that Albania's path to EU integration goes through respecting the rights of the Greek minority in Northern Epirus," said Giannis Sarakiotis, Syriza MP.
The Greek newspaper, "Protothema" writes that the Albanian Prime Minister's comments came after some people, whom he described as "ghosts of the past" protested his presence, using leaflets and slogans related to the Vorio Epirus issue.
Greek media say that Prime Minister Rama is preparing another rally, this time it is expected to be organized in Crete.