Top Channel's reporter banned from Greece. Ministry reacts
Top Channel TV

The Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked explanations from the Greek Embassy in Tirana regarding the prohibition of Top Channel’s journalist from entering Greece, claiming that he was a threat for the national security of our neighboring country.

In absence of the Greek Ambassador, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned a representative of the Greek Embassy in Tirana. Mr.Evangelos Tsolkas, who met with the General Secretary of the Ministry, Gazmend Turdiu.

After the meeting, the Foreign Ministry says through a press release that they have followed with great concern the mishap with Mr. Marin Mema, who was stopped at the border and was not allowed to enter Greece.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that the blocking of free movements are against the will expressed by both parties in their mutual relations, and it gives a non positive signal.

Turdiu asked the Greek Embassy representatives why journalist Marin Mema is considered unwanted in Greece.

Ylli Rakipi, from the Albanian Journalists’ Union, condemns Mema’s prohibition from entering the neighboring country by saying that Greece has major problems to solve, rather than following such “medieval” methods.

“It’s regretful what has happened. Before being a protest by the Albanian journalists and the public opinion, it’s a very regretful thing because we don’t want to return back in time. We know the values of democracy, which are the free movement. And a journalist cannot be stopped from speaking; he cannot be told that he must not speak. The Albanian authorities must press hard on this case that sounds ridiculous, but in fact is very serious. The Albanian authorities must stop this acting of the Greek counterparts”, declared Ylli Rakipi, chairman of the Albanian Journalist Union.

Top Channel’s journalist Marin Mema was banned this Sunday noon from entering Greece, at the Qafe Bota border checkpoint. The Greek police told him that he was a danger for the national security of their country.

This biased decision of the Greek side might be coming as a pure and unjustifiable revenge, since Marin Mema has realized news reports regarding the heritage of the Albanian Chams in the Greek village of Margellic, Gumenica and Filat. He has also realized a report dedicated to Kristo Negovani and his successors at the Negovan village, inside the Greek territory.