Albania, Greece to cooperate in overcoming pending issues: minister

Visiting Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzia affirmed on Wednesday that Albania is part of Europe and the Balkans, calling the country "a strategic partner and ally."

"Our two countries and people live in this area and we need to become more creative," Kotzia told a joint press conference with his Albanian counterpart Ditmir Bushati.

"We want to contribute creatively to Albania's preparations for joining the EU and all projects in the Balkans, from energy to communications networks, (and this process) must include Albania," Kotzia added.

Greece's foreign policy chief praised the presence of Albanian emigrants and students in Greece, as well as Greek minority as a bridge linking Greece and Albania.

"We are fortunate to have such fellow citizens, who are people with the culture and spirit of cooperation like the Albanian emigrants," Kotzias said.

He stressed the need for the two countries to play a stabilizing role in the region.

"We live in the middle of a triangle of conflicts, with Ukraine at the top, Libya on the lower left, and the Middle East on the lower right. Therefore we need to stabilize this area," he said.

The cooperation between Greece and Albania is of great importance to not only themselves, but also the entire Southeast Europe," Kotzias said.

Referring to the agreements and the memorandum of understanding on advancement and support of Albania's EU integration process, Kotzias said that other important agreements will be signed in the near future, including a revised memorandum of understanding, which will include all networks from energy to telecommunication.

"We discussed the existing agreements, including that on the text books. We also talked about how we will resolve issues that have to do with International Law and Law of the Sea," Kotzias said.

He noted that problems will be resolved and his visit will mark an important step towards friendly cooperation between the two peoples and states.

For his part, Bushati said the issues left from the past can only be overcome through dialogue and by the principle of international law.

According to the Albanian Telegraphic Agency, the two ministers focused their discussions on regional cooperation, road towards the European Union, Greek economic crisis, energy security and radical extremism.

In response to questions on the unresolved issue of continental shelf, Bushati said both sides have not only presented their respective positions, but also talked about possible solutions."

He said if the two countries fail to reach a satisfactory settlement of their disputes, international law may be invoked to find a definitive solution." Endi