The Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Denidas has touched upon once again the maritime issue with Albania, stating that consultations are ongoing and how close the two countries are to the agreement.
Asked if the expansion of the coastal area in the Aegean and the Cretan Sea to 12 nautical miles will continue in an interview with “Parapolitika” on Saturday Dendias stated that “Greece has the inalienable right to extend the country’s territorial waters to 12 nautical miles across the Ionian Sea where it did so last February, whenever deeming fit to promote its interests. As it was announced, the relevant technical work has already started for some areas.”
Regarding the talks with Albania on signing a joint petition for an appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague and whether they are close to an agreement, he said as following: “The political agreement on referring the issue of delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone between Greece and Albania at the International Court of Justice in The Hague has been reached since last October. As for the technical part, a compromise should be found. The competent authorities of both countries are in direct consultation for the drafting of this text.”
Albania and Greece agreed a year ago that the resolution of the issue of maritime borders and the definition of the Continental Shelf and Exclusive Economic Zones be entrusted to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The announcement was made during the visit of Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias in Tirana at the end of the meeting he had with the Albanian Prime Minister and the then Foreign Minister, Edi Rama. /argumentum.al
