The loan to Albania, the lost Greek island and the EEZ!

The PASOK government of Simitis, was then rushed to help the Albanians to rebuild the economy and the state, thus contributing to the restoration of stability in our neighborhood, without, however, to achieve strategic agreement like Italy in 1992 and Turkey in 1997.

 - While Greece in 1997 had lent 20 billion drachmas in the devastated Albania, today the "begging" to accept the demarcation of the EEZ between us. 

by Costas Chardavella

Turks and Italians enabling the sharing of strategic partner with Albania ...In 1997, the "crisis of the pyramids" that broke out in Albania had forced the Albanian government to seek financial assistance from foreign countries to be able to rebuild the state. Greece, Italy and Turkey were among those who lent it to the Albanians huge amounts, with one important difference: the Turks and the Italians were able to ensure consideration of strategic importance, with the first to take control key military bases in Albania and the second to ... buy an Albanian-island once belonged to Greece! -, whose position makes "regulator" for the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone in the region.In contrast, Greece, in 1997, had lent about 58 million destroyed in Albania today, fifteen years later, the "begging" to accept the delimitation of the EEZ between Greece to go prospecting for oil in the Ionian Sea. Although the public has cultivated the idea that the large "thorn" in our country is the EEZ in the Aegean scholar-sovereign claims put forward by Turkey, the reality is quite different, and the EEZ of the Ionian Sea in the air . 

The situation in the northern Ionian Sea, where start direct investigations of the Norwegian vessel Nordic Explorer, is extremely complex, since it is the point of a 'clash' of many different interests: the ever increasing demands of Albania Albanians strategic alliance with the Turks and constant pursuit of Italy to exercise influence and control are the key points of a problem that our country is called upon to face.As revealed by "Current" Greece could have gained the lead in the North Ionian if there were strategic planning and political vision in the recent past.

The EEZ Greece - Albania and in the background the ... TurksAlready prospecting for oil in the North Ionian have caused reactions in the Albanian Parliament, with the opposition parties to ask the Government of Albania does not allow Greece to make! The issue of delineating the Exclusive Economic Zone between the two countries is on the air since 2009, and the agreement was signed by then Greece and Albania was annulled by the Constitutional Court of Albania "for technical reasons" - led by Turkey of course !While we are discussing whether and how dare we question hydrocarbons in the Aegean, the Turks have been ... fighting positions and the western side of the country, affecting virtually decisions of Albania's Ionian oils. In this context, Turkey did not see any good eye on the Greek-Albanian agreement on the EEZ and continental shelf acknowledging the outlying Islands, the islands in the northwest of Corfu consists of three inhabited islands and uninhabited islets-eight, which would {undesirable for the Turks) earlier in the Aegean.The official position of our country, however, is that the decision of the Albanian Justice to annul the EEZ is unfounded and is an internal problem of the Albanians, because once signed intergovernmental agreement can not be renegotiated. 

Former Greek island was sold to ItalianAs to their heterosexual neighbors maritime our EEZ in the Ionian, the Italians, the issue is not as "neat" as they want to show the Greek government. Although Greece has delimit the continental shelf with Italy since 1977-in fact this is the only maritime area we have set-information saying that Italians do not intend to rest in thatagreement. So, can Greece be assured that the EEZ with Italy will hacked by six points among the shelf, but the Italians are looking to claim a larger piece of water.In this respect, Italy has not hesitated to "buy" a whole island Albanian particular strategic importance in exchange for providing loan to Albania in 1998. The tragic irony is that the small island, which may play a catalytic role in Greek EEZ delimitation of the two countries, once belonged to our country.The island Sason (Sazani for Albanians) has an area of ​​4.5 square kilometers and is located outside the entrance to the Bay of Vlora, in the Strait of Otranto. Although it is a small rocky piece of land, the location is such that makes the military significance of the highly critical. In Chart 1, the islet is located within the red circle. 

The node Ionian - Otranto - Adriatic allows access to the Mediterranean and Black Sea, controlling essentially three continents. This, as is easily seen, making it invaluable in the event of military operations in the region. If all of these added that in 1951 produced in collaboration with the Soviets, underground facilities for nuclear submarine of the Soviet fleet, the importance of the islet increases even more.How we lost island SasonThe Sason was given to Greece by the Treaty of London (1864) together with the Ionian Islands, but not the nominal reference to this: "The islands of Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Lefkada, Kythera, Ithaca, Paxos and accessories these were combined with the Kingdom of Greece "is the exact wording. According to historical studies, this "vague" description was the fatal mistake of the then Greek leadership, leading to permanent loss of the islet.After the First Balkan War was decided by the Great Powers of the concession of the island Sason even nonexistent state of Albania together with Northern Epirus.

 The government of Eleftherios Venizelos, retreating to stress, have facilitated the granting of voting in 1914 a special law (Law 272) "conferring islet of Sasonos to Albania state" and had ordered the owned interim Greek kingdom under the second article of the conferring of the Ionian Islands from the Treaty of London. "It was the first time the national territory assignment was an Act of the Greek Parliament ...The Turkish company "encirclement" of GreeceIn 1997 the political impasse of the International Monetary Fund in Albania had "spawned" known "pyramids", which offers interest up to 100% with the blessings of the state were plundered the savings of desperate people. The violent social upheavals that followed have led both the total collapse of the Albanian state, the destruction of hundreds of other military installations. Greece was then rushed to help the Albanians to rebuild the economy and the state, thus contributing to the restoration of stability in our neighborhood, without, however, to achieve strategic agreement like Italy in 1992 and Turkey in 1997.Because while Greek taxpayers gave 58 million to support the Albanian economy, the Turks seize the opportunity with 'vehicle' IT finance reconstruction damaged military units had established its strategic influence in Albania.  

With the key "return" the naval base of Vlora ("Pasha Port"), a company "encirclement" of Greece had just begun! In Chart 2 the Bay of Vlora marked with a green dotThe loan of 20 billion drachmas provided by Greece in 1997The government of Costas Simitis, in order to assist the economic recovery of Albania, I had progressed to 997 provide a loan of 58,694,000 euros (20 billion drachmas). The terms of the package, as mentioned in the original text is written in the English language, specify the duration of the twenty-five years, with a grace period of seven years and the repayment in monthly installments. These funds, while intended primarily for Greek enterprises in Albania had been damaged, with the agreement of the Greek government had finally broken down as follows:a) 14.7 million (5 billion drachmas) programs for social infrastructure of the Albanian stateb) 14.7 million (5 billion drachmas) for housing projects in Albania;c) 14.7 million (5 billion drachmas) to support the private sector, with priority given to Greek, Greek-Albanian interests and businesses, which were damaged during the riots of 1997 in Albania and wish to continue their activity thered) 8.8 million (3 billion drachmas) to support the balance of payments. Especially for the amount, which was paid out immediately, the agreement provided that the Albanians in Greece would pay only the interest every six months and the "principal" will be returned after twenty years (ie 2017). 

The Protocol on Economic Cooperation and Loan Agreement between the Republic of Albania and the Greek Republic, signed in Tirana on 15 October 1997 and 24 February 1998 respectively, subsequently ratified by the Greek Parliament and published in the Government Gazette 274/3- 12-1998.The Turkish financial help and "return"At the same time, Turkey rushed to help Albania, giving the financial assistance, but had a very specific purpose: the modernization of the Albanian Armed Forces and the reconstruction of military facilities affected by the riots.  

The first Turkish aid money, namely a line 7 million dollars were released for the repair of the former submarine base "Pasha Limani" in the Gulf of Vlora, which separates the Adriatic Sea from the Ionian Sea, which had suffered extensive damage followed by the reconstruction of the naval yard of Durres.The formal agreement between Turkey and Albania was signed in March 1998, just weeks after the Greek-Albanian agreement to provide a loan of EUR 58 million.How the Italians gained control of the island SasonSix months later, in November 1998, the Italians in Albania offer financial aid of 217 billion lire (167 million euros), in exchange for the right to use the base of the island Sason the Italian forces, with the excuse that it will be used "to tackle illegal immigration."

 The agreement provided that the Italians would finance the program of EUR 167 million in the form of lower loan interest, realizing Albania actions on security, justice, defense and development.The Greek government had scarcely time to the subject, leaving the Italian diplomacy to succeed with ease a move checkmate, which gave her control top strategic point in the Adriatic. ■Epikaira Magazine