TIRANA, Albania — A very positive chapter has opened in Greece-Albania relations, said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama after his meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias at Tirana on Tuesday.

The joint statements came after the two countries agreed to refer their maritime zones issue to the International Court at The Hague.

Rama referred to Greece as Albania's strategic partner, and stressed that Greece never stood in the way of Albania's EU accession process. He also mentioned Greece's crucial input at the EU's Coronavirus Global Response Pledging Conference held earlier in the year, and called Minister Dendias a friend of Albania and all Albanians, particularly after Greece's aid when a devastating earthquake struck his country.

Speaking on the rights of the Greek minority in Albania, he said his country intends to move forward with the completion of the necessary legislation for the full implementation of the law on minorities in Albania.

EU welcomes Greece-Albania agreement to refer maritime zones issue to The Hague

BRUSSELS — The European Union welcomed the agreement reached on Tuesday between Greece and Albania to refer their maritime zones issue to the International Court at The Hague.

The European Commission's Enlargement, Neighbourhood & International Partnerships spokesperson Ana Pisonero wrote on Twitter: "EU welcomes announcement by Albanian and Greek governments on the way forward on their maritime dispute. Issues related to delimitation of borders are indeed best addressed through dialogue, in accordance with International Law and in pursuit of the principle of good neighborly relations."