Constitutional Court freezes ratification of maritime deal with Greece

TIRANA, Nov. 30 – The Constitutional Court suspended the ratification procedures in parliament regarding a treaty with Greece that delineates the continental shelf between the two countries in the Ionian Sea.
The deal was signed between Prime Minister Sali Bearish and his visiting former Greek counterpart Costas Karamanlis. The move sparked loud voices in the country saying the government had given for free some land to the Greeks. Later there was talk that Albania was forced to let a gas pipeline pass there in exchange for support during the elections. Many people voiced their concern for the lack of transparency in the process.
The court ruling late last week followed an appeal by the opposition Socialist Party to review its legality.
The court took on the issue last month, when opposition parties filed a claim arguing that the agreement harms Albania’s interests.
Various associations and military experts have denounced the deal, saying Albania would lose about 225square kilometers of territorial waters if parliament ratifies the measure. The government insists the agreement, signed in April, is in the interest of both countries.
On December 8 the court will decide whether or not the agreement is constitutional.