Heimarra is a coastal area of ​​Albania, located 16 nautical miles (30 km) north of Corfu, directly opposite the Diapontia Islands. Due to its special natural beauty and especially tourist prospects (the length of its beach is 60 km), it has become the object of major economic interests. In addition, the European Commission, in a report on Albania for 2022, states that a lot of “black” money circulates in the country, mainly from drugs. This tends to be “blurred” also through investment in tourism.

Ownership should theoretically be a barrier to such investment. Under communism, all private property was transferred to the state. Despite the fact that 32 years have passed since the fall of the regime, the vast majority of the old owners still have not received their final titles of ownership. It was only with Law 7501 of 1991 that plots were distributed (not necessarily to pre-communist owners) solely for cultivation, and the land remained in the hands of the state.

The control of the municipality of Heimarra is crucial to overcome the problem of a chaotic property regime. As a rule, potential investors buy the right to grow granted plots in accordance with Law 7501/1991. Many times they also exaggerate the scope by falsifying relevant documents. The municipality of Heimarra then confirms that the land is not agricultural, declassifies it and authorizes its redevelopment. Even better with individual permits is the decision of the government, which calls the investor strategic, in which case the declassification of the land automatically follows. The role of the municipality is not limited to this. The mayor’s signature is needed to define the boundaries of the waterfront, to create a new spatial and urban plan that will allow the construction of large hotel complexes, to consider an area of ​​low or medium disturbance or with a high degree of commercial use.

A typical example is the “Resort” built in the location “Draleos” in the northernmost part of Heimarra beach in the Palas area. Until 2011, the site was classified as a wooded area. With the signature of the municipality, the area has been declassified and now there are 154 apartments and 94 villas built in front of an exclusive 1 km long beach. To date, 7 more permits have been issued for the respective “Resorts” throughout Heimarra Beach. …

The control of the municipality of Heimarra is crucial to overcome the problem of a chaotic property regime.

The Himarriots, who are also members of the Greek ethnic minority living in a neighboring country, are in despair. However much they want to exploit their land, they cannot with the documents of Law 7501/1991. The only way out for them is to sell the right to grow for a lentil board. In addition, they often see their ancestral lands or communal lands being encroached upon and the municipality resigned itself to such a situation. Among those who appear as investors, there are relatives of the first persons of the state.

This is also the reason why for many years there has been this terrible conflict between the people of Himarria and the government over control of the municipality of Himarras. OSCE ODIHR observers have reported in their reports on all municipal elections since 2000 systematic attempts to falsify and intimidate the people of Himarra. No other region in Albania has had a similar sighting since 2000. It also explains why the Chimarriotes have rallied around Freddy Beleris this year. Prior to the election as mayor of Beleri, he was a member of the ruling Socialist Party of Albania, Gerki Gorosh, continuously since 2011.

The presence of Hellenism in the region favors the government of Rama. The latter accuses those who speak of a major “laundering” of black money with land in Heimarr as traitors who want to “Hellenize the region”. It is turning into a so-called national question, mostly associated with intricacies and huge financial interests. From what has surfaced since the arrest of Beleris, there are serious political issues regarding the independence of the Albanian judiciary (which is of particular interest to the EU) and violations of the rights of minorities (which is primarily of interest to Greece, but also in the EU.).

Mr. Angelos Sirygos is Professor of International Law at Panteion University. Deputy N.D. in A’Athens.