Bushat says maritime agreement with Greece is sometimes more favourable than in 2009

So Ditmir Bushati, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, said on TV Klan on Tuesday evening.

Speaking of negotiations with Greece, Minister Bushati stopped talks within the framework of the maritime border between the two countries. The Albanian “Pala in the explosive discussions it has made on the issue is initiated by several principles -- first international law, second the Constitutional Court's decision. These are red lines for us”, Bushati said.

Given the principled talks with the Greek side, Bushati said the result for the Albanian side would be several times better than the 2009 one. The Agreement is in full respect for the Constitutional Court's decision-making and international law. The 2009 agreement is made on the basis of the principle of interdependence, this will be done on the basis of the principle of equality, but organised in line with geography”, Bushati said.

According to him, it is discussed in principle for red lines beyond which the Albanian side cannot come out. The agreement will be several times more favourable than the agreement that was reached in 2009. Experts will sit at the table and finalise the agreement. Anyone who violated the Constitutional Court's ruling would take a risk on”, Bushati added.

If expert talks at the level move on the right track, he voiced conviction that “contained all possibilities for a new deal to be closed within 6 months”.

This agreement, according to Bushat, will include the recognition of the 1925 Florence Protocol, where great powers have established this limit that we have between two countries. Bushat said that the agreement is also being negotiated for border pyramids and the management of incidents at border”.

The question is and will continue to be at the negotiating table

Regarding the question of the rift, Bushati recalled that the Albanian Parliament has adopted a resolution by which it makes the issue part of the diplomatic file. By 2013 this issue has been a constant part of discussions. This does not mean that during these four years we have had the same attitude or agreement on this matter”, Bushati said.

The Greek side, according to Bushati, has a major concern as far as the possibility of the discussion is followed by territorial claim”. “We have made it clear that we have no claim on Chamber's territories. We have considered it a matter of basic human freedoms and rights”, Bushati said.

He said the Albanian side has, among other things, asked for determining a memorial for victims, the issue of access or freedom of movement of citizens, examining access to property rights, etc.

This key is on our desk. It will absolutely be there as an issue that will continue to be at the negotiating table and does not close with spring”, Bushati said.

Negotiations with Greece are being conducted for a package that, according to him, Minister Bushati, resolves 70-year agreements between Albania and Greece.

Repowering war law, Albanians are recognised property rights denied by 1940 decree

Stopping to abolish the war law, Bushati said that “this law would be abolished but with an internal act equivalent to Greek law”.

In conflicting statements by various Greek officials, on whether or not to the war law, Bushati said “Albania has a 1999 document under which official Athens confirms the Albanian Embassy in Greece the existence of this 34x1> law.

“During this three-year process of discussions with Greece we have discussed how the law of war will be abolished. We have stressed that we do not feel threatened at all by the existence of the war law from a political or military standpoint, but its complete abolition must be done with an internal act of Greek law. The Greek side has considered the existence of the war law to be a relic, but there are legal consequences from this law, such as the property issue. We have made a preliminary discussion on a draft package the Greek government will hand over to the presidency, which has the same legal value as the 1940 royal decree. It is a decree that is countersigned by cabinet members and signed by Greek President”, Bushati clarified.

According to Bushat, abolishing this law has been constantly required by Albania since diplomatic relations were established in 1971.

The whole package, according to Bushat, forms within the first six months of 2018.

Greek soldiers' locations in Bularat and Kulqiqill

Another issue that is being discussed with the Greek side concerns implementation of the 2009 agreement on Greek falls in Albania.

Bushat said the dig will be conducted in some areas, but there will be only two cemeteries, as the 2009 agreement predicts. One in Bularat and one in Kulquillure.

The executions on this issue have been starting since '73. Until 1989, the then regime's stance has been that you can take the bones, but the cemetery is not built in Albania. The Greek side has called for an obelisk, and Albania's stance has been rejecting. After the year, the position of official Tirana has changed. In 2009, it is agreed that 2 seats will be built. In two and a half years, we have been working on implementing protocols of this agreement”, Bushati said.

According to him, a joint commission of military and experts has been established and the mode of identification has been established, while the process is also assisted by a US expert.

Albania-Greece, discussions even on stamps, patents and references to textbooks

Greece is the only EU member state that does not recognise Albanian state documents. Bushat said it has agreed that within spring reservations will be lifted for the stamp or style, and Albanian citizens will not pay additional costs.

Regarding recognition of patents or driving permits, according to him, round of expert discussions are under way.

Issues related to recognition of Albanian contributions living in Greece are also on the negotiating table, but according to Bushat these are financial issues dealing with Greece's ability to pay.

Regarding references to textbooks, one group of experts has been created to remove any kind of reference in textbooks.