Athens Condemns Destruction of Greek Fighter’s Monument in Albania

The Greek Foreign Ministry has expressed “horror and concern” over the destruction of a monument dedicated to early 20th-century Greek fighter Thymios Liolis in the village of Krania in southern Albania.

According to the Foreign Ministry’s announcement, issued on Tuesday evening, the statue was blown up at around dawn on Tuesday.

In strongly condemning the action, the foreign ministry also repeated its long-standing position that “provocations counter to the Greek ethnic minority and, ultimately, to Greek-Albanian relations, must be immediately investigated and resolved, with those responsible brought to justice.”

The Liolis monument as it originally appeared, in Krania, Albania

The defaced monument on the morning of July 23, 2019.

Athens expects the nation of Albania to take all necessary steps to restore a sense of security for its ethnic Greek minority as soon as possible, the Foreign Ministry added.

Their announcement stated, “The foreign ministry and Greek Embassy, as well as our consular authorities in Albania, are closely following this case.”

Source: Greek Reporter