Albania sea deal in doubt, sparks political dialogue

TIRANA, Oct 26 – A deal signed earlier this year between Greece and Albania that aimed to settle the two countries’ maritime borders has increased the political fire in the country, especially after the main opposition Socialists and smaller political groupings asked the Constitutional Court to decide whether that was in line with the country’s Constitution.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ilir Meta said Monday that the agreement was in line with the country’s laws and that should not be exploited for political purposes from the opposition, thus damaging the bilateral ties with the neighbor where just fewer than one million Albanians reside as immigrants.
He said that some fake experts should not be exploited for xenophobic purposes.
The agreement was signed in April by then visiting Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and his Albanian counterpart Sali Berisha.
It must yet be ratified by the countries’ parliaments before it comes into power.
The Albanian parliament postponed it to leave space to the Constitutional Court.
The Socialist opposition said the deal, which enforces a clear delineation in the Ionian Sea, lacks transparency and damages Albania’s sovereignty. Six parties filed an appeal with the country’s Constitutional Court asking it whether that was in line with the Constitution.
There has been no direct reaction from Athens, now with a new leftist government that is an ally of the Socialists in Albania.