Top Channel pretends that has learned by diplomatic sources in Athens that the new sea agreement envisages the division of the maritime space between Albania and Greece with the principle of the middle line .
In the area between the two countries, which is 1.8 nautical miles, 0.6 miles belong to Albania, 0.6 miles to Greece and 0.6 miles to international waters. In other parts, the middle line is applied, including a space for international sailing, the distance based on the International Sea Convention.
According to the extension of 12-mile in favor to Greek sovereignty, as Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said, this will be done by both countries at the same time.
In the agreement between the two countries, completed in Crete, but detailed finally in Korca, is explained that the calculation of 12 miles will be made from the last inhabited island in 1913, when the two countries assigned an approximate boundary line.The 12 Greek miles will be applied by the island of Otonto and Mandraki and not the last lighthouse in the North as in the 2009 agreement. The agreement will be based on international sea law on the use of lighthouses according to which the cliffs, or the islands where they are built, are given for administration to the country that build them.
The territorial status of these lighthouses and the waters surrounding them does not refer to starting points of 12 miles, or midway line, as set out in the 2009 agreement, with the Bakreta Rock in the Strait of Ksamil, giving Greece 3/4 of marine space. The Greek side says that with the new metering mode and reference points set by Bushati and Kotzias in Crete, Albania reasserts the sovereignty of that part of the sea that was lost with the 2009 agreement.
Between the two countries will be redefined the exclusive economic zone. Albania will expand it towards the West to "Joni 1" and "Joni 2" blocks, which under the 2009 agreement were taken by Greece.
Geological studies carried out in 1960s by Russian and Albanian geologists, as well as research carried out in 2013-2015 by Norwegian companies, confirm that there is oil and gas there, as a continuation of Patos-Marinëz-Vlore oilfield.
The sources said Greece wants a quick solution to the issue, as wants the application of the maritime decree precedent with Albania to be used as a basis for the final phase of negotiations on the definition of the exclusive economic zone with Israel, Cyprus, Libya and Egypt.
This precedent can be used politically by it in a possible negotiation for the maritime border with Turkey to establish Greek sovereignty in the Aegean.
As is well known, Greece has the control of the islands in almost all the Aegean based on the Lausanne Treaty, which has recently been contested by Turkish President Erdogan.
It is precisely the "fear" that Athens has of the influence of the Turkish President in Albanian politics that makes this agreement even more urgent, emphasized Top Channel sources in Athens.
This agreement means a starting point to work on the land border. Greece and Albania do not yet have a defined borderline since 1914, when the existing line was apointed by Great Powers.