The hope is that the Albanian side will “make its contribution” so that the signing will take place. Joint venture Athens – Tirana to submit a demarcation dispute Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) said the Prime Minister yesterday at the International Court of Justice in The Hague Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The prime minister described the existing dispute as “an ongoing discussion between our two countries with many legal complexities” but expressed confidence that “significant progress” had been made in recent months.

Mr. Mitsotakis mentioned the “understanding” between him and his Albanian counterpart. Andy Rama. Despite the political agreement between the leaders, the co-promissory note appears to have yet to be passed before it is approved. Albania. In the previous months, Athens had asked Washington and Berlin to mediate Tirana so that the matter could proceed, with no impressive results as there was no meeting at the technical level. It remains to be seen if the latest contacts in Tirana could kick-start the joint bail issue in the coming months. It should be recalled that in 2009 the issue collapsed when Tirana backed down, citing some constitutional impediment that – variously – still exists.

Mr. Mitsotakis mentioned discussions “with many legal complexities”, but he assessed that “significant progress” had been made.

Mr. Mitsotakis was also scheduled to visit ethnic Greek minority villages in southern Albania today, but that leg of the trip was canceled as weather conditions were announced to prevent the helicopter that was supposed to take him there from landing. Government sources said that this trip to areas where members of the Greek minority live will take place. Mr. Mitsotakis also did not fail to note that his visit is “the first visit of a Greek Prime Minister to Albania since 2009, and this in itself testifies to the fact and the desire of the Greek government, as well as the Albanian government, to put our bilateral relations on a new trajectory even closer.”

The Prime Minister also stressed that Greece supports the European perspective of Albania and the Western Balkan states. Indeed, at yesterday’s meeting, E.E. – in the Western Balkans, this has also been the main agenda that Berlin is advancing with great zeal. “Greece will continue to support the European perspective of all Western Balkan countries, including, obviously, Albania. I am particularly pleased that the European family has taken the approach of the Western Balkans closer to Europe with due geopolitical importance,” added Mr. Mitsotakis.