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Greece expands maritime border to the West, DW: Albania as a solution provider

Politiko 2021-01-19 13:01:10

Greece expands maritime border to the West, DW: Albania as a solution provider

Illustrative Photo

The Greek Parliament decides to expand the water territory of Greece in the Ionian Sea, from six to twelve nautical miles. This step was preceded by a preliminary agreement with Albania.

On Tuesday (January 19th), parliament in Athens decides on the twelve-mile zone in the West. It is about the sea between Greece and Italy. The approval of parliamentarians is considered secure. Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias explains that it is an inviolable sovereign right for Greece to expand its territorial waters - this does not require negotiations with other countries. Dendias would also like to declare the twelve-mile zone in the Aegean. But neighboring Turkey threatens war. Greek Interior Minister George Gerapetritis assures lawmakers that the sea border will be extended to the Aegean "when the time is right". The fact that Greece is now expanding its sovereign rights in the West, six days before resuming talks with Turkey, should be understood as a message to Ankara as well.

Under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, each state is essentially allowed to designate territorial waters of a maximum of 12 nautical miles. In addition, there is an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) up to 200 nautical miles. Important exception: In case of disagreements or unclear demarcations, interested parties must reach a bilateral agreement. UN jurisdiction is the final instance. The principle seems clear, but its application in the Aegean is not easy. The situation becomes even more difficult due to the fact that Turkey does not recognize the UN Convention, nor does it accept the prevailing legal opinion, according to which these regulations reflect the applicable international custom and as such are mandatory even for those countries that do not have signed the agreement of 1982. The situation is complicated.

Albania as a solution provider

This step would not have been possible if Greece and Albania had not settled their differences. Although even here the situation is not entirely clear. However, after a visit to Tirana in November 2020, Foreign Minister Dendias stated for the first time that the two neighboring countries are ready for the International Court of Justice to clarify any dispute over the maritime border line. At the beginning of 2021, the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, paid a quick visit to Athens. It seems to be working. Athens and Tirana signed an agreement on the designation of their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in 2009, but this was never implemented. Why? "The Greek-Albanian agreement was based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and was exemplary from the perspective of international law." says for DW Aristotelis Tziampiris, professor of international relations at the University of Piraeus. But the compromise with Athens met at that time with great political resistance in Tirana, he adds. It was Edi Rama who severely criticized the opposition leaders in Tirana for these attitudes. Shortly afterwards, the Supreme Court of Albania suspended the agreement.

Tani duhet të shikojmë drejt të ardhmes. Sipas njoftimeve të medias, diplomacia e Greqisë po përpiqet të krijojë një raport më të ngushtë me presidentin shqiptar Ilir Meta, i cili është tepër skeptik për afrimin e mundshëm. Koha po kalon, beson Angelos Syrigos, profesor i shkencave politike dhe deputet i partisë konservatore në pushtet ND në Athinë. "Zgjedhjet parlamentare do të zhvillohen në Shqipëri në prill, e deri atëherë duhet të bëhet kërkesa jonë e përbashkët për të shkuar në Gjykatën Ndërkombëtare të Drejtësisë", paralajmëron Syrigos në një shkrim të tij për gazetën Kathimerini. Eksperti politik Tziampiris e sheh këtë si një çështje jo tepër të rëndë. Ai nuk dëshiron të ndërhyjë në politikën e brendshme shqiptare. E të shkosh në GJND është një çështje që kërkon kohë. "Është e vështirë të thuash nëse do të kemi qartësi deri nga zgjedhjet parlamentare në Shqipëri. Por unë nuk mendoj se çështjet e tilla do të vendosin zgjedhjet", beson shkencëtari politik.

Prova gjenerale për një kompromis me Turqinë

Në parim ka pak pika grindjeje midis Greqisë dhe Shqipërisë në këtë fushë. Më së shumti arkipelagu i vogël përreth grupit të ishujve të vogël Erikousses, në veri të Korfuzit, mund të shkaktojnë kokëçarje. Bëhet fjalë për një total prej njëmbëdhjetë ishujsh dhe zona të vogla në Detin Jon. Në verën e vitit 2015, kryeministri i atëhershëm Alexis Tsipras kaloi madje edhe pushimet atje. Sipas kërkimit nga e përjavshmja e Athinës Proto Thema, marrëveshja Greko-Shqiptare e vitit 2009 rregullon statusin e arkipelagut më shumë në frymën e Greqisë. Mbetet të shihet, nëse pala shqiptare do ta marrë si shkas që të kërkojë përmirësime.

In any case, it is important not to make a decision that causes controversy and for the issue to be resolved through a legally binding trial, says political scientist Tziampiris. He believes this would also facilitate a possible future compromise solution with Turkey. The Greeks hope the decision will be in their favor - both in the Ionian Sea and in the Aegean Sea. But this is not certain. As an example, he cites the recent agreement on the name dispute with Northern Macedonia./ DW