TIRANA, May 2 – Greek media reported Albania and Greece are expected to reach a new maritime border agreement by the end of this month.
Negotiations restarted on Monday in Tirana, with the first round of talks developing in what Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati called a “constructive and cooperative climate.”
Based on the new maritime border agreement Greece can set an Exclusive Economic Zone, which remains of great importance to official Athens.
The group of Albanian negotiators is led by foreign ministry representative Armand Skapi and Commander of the Marine Fleet.
Other negotiation group members come from the ministry of defense, ministry of justice, the institutes of geography, archeology and geographical space, as well as the Police Deputy Chief Aida Hajna and other high officials.
Greek media Skai also reported the negotiations will be ongoing during the following weeks, while Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has made it clear one of the most important open-ended issues for Albania – the Cham issue – is out of the table for discussion.
Expert-level negotiations were postponed as the country’s President Ilir Meta refused to authorize Bushati’s request two times in a row.
“There was delays due to the internal situation and the need for a better reconciliation on our side. Next week expert-level negotiations will be held concerning the agreement, or the text for an agreement. Meanwhile, we keep working on all other fields,” Bushati told the Voice of America.
After their meetings in Korca and Crete respectively, both Bushati and Kotzias have agreed the new maritime border agreement will be reached using the middle line principle to divide the naval space.
Agreements have already been reached with Greece on building cemeteries for the Greek soldiers who died in Albania during WWII, the apostille stamps, while the abrogation of the War Law with Albania is still expected by Athens.
Another reason for reaching a new maritime border agreement with Greece is Albania’s aspiration to open accession negotiations with the EU as soon as possible after receiving an unconditionally positive recommendation by the European Commission.
In this context Greece, which is part of the member states that unanimously need to approve the opening of negotiations for Albania’s EU bid, could put up barriers over the pending maritime border agreement to delay any opening of talks as a way to pressure Albania to speed up or become more flexible on the border issues.
