GREECE: HISTORIC RE-OPENING OF GRECO-ALBANIAN BORDER POINT OF KAKAVIA, CLOSED SINCE 1940.

Record ID: 566011

  • Title: GREECE: HISTORIC RE-OPENING OF GRECO-ALBANIAN BORDER POINT OF KAKAVIA, CLOSED SINCE 1940.
  • Date: 14th January 1985
  • Summary: 1. GVs PAN Border with crowd gathered. (2 SHOTS) 0.28 2. GV PAN Folk dancers performing in traditional dress from both countries. (3 SHOTS) 0.51 3. SV Albanian Foreign Minister Reis Malile 0.53 4. SV PULL BACK Greek Foreign Minister Carolos Papoulias. 1.01 5. GV PAN & SVs Crowd applaud as ribbon is cut opening border. (2 SHOTS) 1.14 6. SV Both Foreign Ministers amid celebrations. 1.30 InitialsJMS/JRS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th January 1985 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KAKAVIA, GREECE
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5LBRL3RBWAUTX787RCOP3YC47
  • Story Text: KAKAVIA, GREECE

    The Greco-Albanian border point of Kakavia, one of the coastal areas of the Ionian Sea, which has remained closed since 1940, was opened on January 12. The occasion, attended by Albanian Foreign Minister Reis Malile and Greek Deputy Foreign Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carolos Papoulias, together with national defence under-secretaries and mayors from the surrounding areas, marked a rare ministerial contact between the two countries, who only renewed diplomatic relations in 1971. The official reopening of the main highway between Albania and Greece at Kakavia, which has remained closed since Italian armies used it to invade Greece in 1940, marks one more step in closer Greco-Albanian relations. Last December, both countries signed five co-operation agreements, covering road transport, postal services, telecommunications, culture, scientific and technical matters. There was strict security throughout the ribbon cutting ceremony opening the border. Papoulias hailed the occasion as symbolising the start of a 'lively and substantial' dialogue between the two countries that would benefit the Greek minority in Albania. The Kakavia highway goes through the heartland of Albania's Greek minority. Greece hopes that by renouncing on old territorial claim of southern Albania (north Epirus) that country might allow greater contact between Greece and its compatriot minority in Albania, estimated at 200,000.

    <strong>Source: REUTERS - TRANSEAST ATHENS</strong>
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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