Former President Ilir Meta, currently in detention, has reacted again regarding the negotiation process for defining the maritime border with Greece, accusing the government of a lack of transparency and actions that, according to him, could harm Albania's national interests.
In a lengthy social media post, Meta emphasizes that he has been following the issue closely for 13 years, from the position of Foreign Minister to the position of President of the Republic. He warns that the 2020 decision to refer the entire issue to the Hague Court risks nullifying the agreements reached in 2018, including the straight baseline and about 40 km² of maritime area recognized at that time.
Meta describes the maritime border issue as "a national interest much deeper than the Ionian Sea itself," denouncing the government's lack of transparency and the interruption of institutional communication during his time as President.
According to Meta, in 2018 the parties reached several important agreements, such as:
recognition by Greece of the straight baseline of Albania, with effect on 40 km² of maritime area,
the inclusion of the Florence Protocol of 1925 as a legal basis,
determining the principle of equal distances, corrected by the principle of equity.
He states that these achievements are at risk of being lost if Albania goes to The Hague for the entire package, as the baseline could be contested, referring also to the warnings of the report by the British law firm "Omnis Strategy", which according to him was paid 3 million euros for the assessment of the case.
Meta raises a series of public questions for state institutions, seeking clarification on whether:
The President, the Assembly or the parliamentary committees have received the full report of "Omnis Strategy",
there is a draft of a special agreement proposed by the Greek side,
negotiating groups have been established and are functioning according to the Constitution,
Will Albania go to The Hague "for the entire issue" or only for the points where there is no agreement?
He emphasizes that the Prime Minister's decision to refer the case to the International Court of Justice is, according to him, outside constitutional competence, in the absence of special authority and without the establishment of a legitimate negotiating group.
At the end of the reaction, Meta calls on the government and institutions to act with transparency and professionalism.
