The unknown "X" of Albania in the Balkans and the Mediterranean!


Alexander Turks
Episodes against the Greek national minority and the Orthodox Church of Albania, although limited compared to other seasons, recall the unpredictability of relationships Athens - Tirana and-always-existent risk of destabilization in the Balkans.

Fluctuations of bilateral contacts in the last 25 to 26 years are rarely discovered between European countries: In August 1987 the then Minister of Foreign Affairs and current President of the Republic Kar. Papoulias lifted the embattled regime as incentive (no response) to improve the living conditions of the Northern, while in December 1989 the then head of Greek diplomacy and current Prime Minister Ant. Samaras predicted (causing political storms) the fall of the Stalinist regime and the abolition of the live wire on the border. 's rich help of 1991-1993 the government Mitsotaki to the then president (and now outgoing Prime Minister) Sali Berisha "rewarded" with violence and litigation against executives of Concord in September 1994. The Greece stood financial and military supporter of Albania at the discretion of "investment pyramid" of March 1997 and March 1999 adopted a pragmatic attitude on the eve and in the aftermath of the war in Kosovo. And the support of the Greek Presidency of the EU in 2003 benefited Tirana for several years, and facilitating the negotiations, as in April 2009, the agreement delimiting the maritime areas of the Ionian Sea. As we know, the deal ultimately was not ratified because of 'technical problems' which discovered the Constitutional Court of Albania. The 2009 agreement is important because (among other things) based on the principles of "midline" engraved and full influences of the islands during the delimitation of maritime zones, as that would be very useful to repeat the Aegean and throughout the SE Mediterranean. Moreover, the importance of the agreement is self-evident, given that the crises in Libya and Egypt postpone similar Greek consulted, while Lebanon against the EEZ Israel - Cyprus. 's unfinished Athens - Tirana enough (owned and minority education , support the Church, etc.), but the more pressing issue is the validity of the 2009 agreement. Although the Balkans conspiracy theories are common, this volume is reasonable to arouse suspicion and concern, because, first, the episodes occur in the transition period from the delivery Berisha the winner of the elections of 23 June Edi Rama, who will take the prime minister's office in about 15 days. And because, secondly, Greek and foreign diplomatic sources confirm the suggestive statements by Mr Rama for the review of the agreement, we will certainly become more difficult tension. The government has a national obligation to support minority and the Church, but requires maximum attention. Careless movements would be the occasion for new obstacles to agreement of maritime zones and cause concern among potential investors, as exemplified by the pipeline TAP. Source: " Democracy "