A similar case to the Radika River is happening this time with Greece. A
Greek private company wanted to deviate one part of the River to the
Iannina lake to exploit it for energy production. Nine Greek ministries
have approved the request of the private company, but it has been
opposed by three municipalities in Greece that are influenced by the
deviation, and also by environmentalists.
The debate has ended up to the Supreme State Council, which has a similar effect with the Albanian Constitutional Court. Their decision is expected ni the weeks to come. Regardless the decision, the question is if the Greek Ministries have given permit for a study plan without any approval from the Albanian authorities.
The agreement of 2003 and a series of international conventions oblige Albania and Greece to decide together on waters that go across the borders. The defending party said in Court they have updated our Foreign Ministry when it was led by Aldo Bumci, but unless it has been made orally, no official document has been sent for this issue by the Greek government.
The Albanain side has started reviewing this project only after the power rotation, since the relations of the DP with Greece did not get better after the Constitutional Court rejected their decision for the maritime borders.
The Greek Foreign Minister has urged his Albanian counterpart during his last two visits in Tirana to return the discussion of the maritime broders. This was followed by a reactivation of a joint commission for the management of waters, which was held on January 2015, in which the Albanian side was asked to give information about the issue.
Although Greece insists to consider this just an idea project, the Albanian side has advanced by sending an official note.
The Ministry of Bushati requests information from the Greek side for this issue by reminding them to implement the joint agreements. Besides this, the Albanian Foreign Ministry expressed the conviction that this plan affectst he deviation of the Vjosa River, by admaging the inter-border water regime. The quickest response by the Greek party might come after the visit of the Greek Foreign Minister in Tirana, after a few days.
Despite this, Tirana guarantees to keep study the case and avoid the practices of the past, for which, in the best case, there has been silence in front of the requests made by the neighbors and that damage the country.
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