Pacolli sues Albania in arbitration: Vlora Airport is being taken to hand it over to Ron Yeffet, Mabco claims

Mabco, the company owned by Behgjet Pacolli, has claimed before the Arbitration Court that the Albanian government is seeking to take control of Vlora Airport and hand it over to Israeli businessman Ron Yeffet.

The claim is part of a lawsuit filed by Mabco with the Arbitration Court in London, in which the company is seeking an interim measure to prevent the Albanian authorities from terminating the contract.

It is unclear what evidence the Pacolli company is relying on to support the accusation. Nevertheless, the contents of the document were confirmed by two confidential sources within the State Advocate’s Office and the Ministry of Infrastructure, who said they had read it.

According to the same sources, Pacolli’s legal representatives argued before the court that Ron Yeffet is a businessman with close ties to the Albanian government.

For its legal battle with the government, Mabco has hired the renowned US law firm Patton Boggs. Its lawyers arrived in Tirana several days ago and took part in a joint meeting involving Mabco, VIA, 2A Group and the Ministry of Infrastructure.

The meeting was the first attempt to reach an agreement between the parties following the government’s announcement that it had initiated proceedings to terminate the concession.

So far, Mabco, VIA and 2A Group have not initiated arbitration on the merits against Albania to seek compensation. VIA and Mabco have only opened proceedings in London, through which they are seeking an interim measure that would require the government to halt the process of terminating the concession contract.