TIRANA, May 30 – President Ilir Meta reacted after the statement of the Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, who has recently told the Greek media that the Albanian head of state had not given authorization to send the case to The Hague Tribunal.
“There has never been a request for authorization from the prime minister on this issue,” Meta replied.
“The most active institution regarding this issue has been the Presidency,” the head of state said.
Meta revealed that the Greek side had not requested any meeting of Minister Dendias with the President in the framework of his visit to Tirana on May 23, 2022.
Minister Dendias, among other things, said that it was agreed to refer the case to the Hague Tribunal. This did not happen, said Minister Dendias, as the President did not give the relevant authorization. This will happen after 2-3 months when the new President is elected.
“I want to clarify that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. (Ditmir) Bushati, through the document dated 13 February 2018, submitted the request for the establishment of the negotiating group. After the submission of additional information by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs to issue, according to the criteria, the final power for the draft agreement on the designation of the delimitation line and the delimitation of the continental shelf. Albania’s negotiating team has been authorized to reach an agreement on the definition of the maritime zones. Apart from other tasks, only the negotiating group is the only authority,” Meta said.
President Meta said that the Parliament should take a stand on the issue of the sea, while adding that it will be available to it at any time, until July 24.
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