Water assets cannot be exploited arbitrarily

“The principle of absolute territorial integrity, the principle of absolute territorial sovereignty, the principle of water community and the principle of limiting the absolute territorial integrity and sovereignty. According to each principle of integrity, rivers should not be touched at all, but should be left in their natural flow and it is a right of only the final state that owns the delta to exploit that part. According to the sovereignty principle, a state can do whatever they like within its borders, but both theories that are brought unanimously in the international right suggest that the states cannot act arbitrarily in the water exploitation matter”, Zaganjori declared.

What have the European countries done in similar situations?

“If we see the agreements finalized after WWII, the fourth principle is the one that has been respected, and that is the limiting of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries where fresh waters go through. The international practice has dozens of examples, or even hundreds. But especially in Europe there is a consolidated practice, such as the agreements between Sweden, Norway, France and Belgium, which show the fact that waters can never be used arbitrarily”, Zaganjori declared.

The professor of international law explains that the agreement between Albania and Yugoslavia remains still valid, although Yugoslavia has now turned in several other countries.

Zaganjori also gives some other options for resolving a possible stalemate between Albania and Macedonia, always based on the international laws.

“The agreement of 1956 foresees the creation of a joint commission with experts of both areas, and then it could pass to the governments of both countries, so that they can discuss about the profits or damages that are caused by a concrete project of the other side”, Zaganjori declared.

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