 |
| Nikos Kotzias and Ditmir Bushati |
The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs stated on Tuesday evening that the delimitation of maritime spaces between Albania and Greece is in the interest of both countries.
The Albanian Foreign Ministry published a statement emphasizing that is necessary the final determination of the borders for the exercise of sovereignty and sovereign rights in these areas, as well as for their economic exploitation.
The official Tirana declaration comes in response to reports in the Greek press that Greece will benefit 12 miles of sea from Albania.Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias acknowledged this announcement during an interview on Greek television ERT.
According to the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the discussions between the two governments started five years ago.
"In the absence of an agreement between them, since 2013, the parties have conducted a series of exploratory discussions to find a viable solution to this issue" - said Albania's foreign ministry.
According to the statement, the Albanian side in these discussions until the conclusion of an agreement on the delimitation of maritime areas will be based on the principles of the Convention on the Law of the Sea, where both States are parties, in the international practice, the Constitutional Court's decision and domestic legislation .
"This stubborn attitude is the starting point for experts who will negotiate with the Greek side on this issue. Any other interpretation by political actors is a malicious stance that aims to relativize, or worse, deny the gross mistakes of the past," said the Albanian Foreign Ministry.
She called as unfounded the current reactions over the discussions with Greece, especially those on the issue of the delimitination of the marine areas.
The story of this issue started about 10 years ago, where the government of the Prime Minister Sali Berisha signed an agreement with the Greek side in Tirana.
This agreement on the separation of maritime space between the two countries was filed by the Socialist Party as unconstitutional to the Constitutional Court, and the latter rejected it.
Political parties in Tirana are discussing in the MPs and are coming up with different reactions.
The Democratic Party in the parliamentary group meeting, contended that it would be against unfavorable agreements for Albania.
Even SMI representatives, former Minister of Integration Klajda Gjosha and former Justice Minister Ylli Manjani expressed their suspicions over the course of talks with Greece on the sea agreement. The opposition has asked more transparency and accuracy relating to the talks with the Greek side.
But Prime Minister Edi Rama responded to critics through social networks that they were speculating on this topic.