The European perspective of the Western Balkans “passes through the path of law, the European acquis, democracy, the rights of minorities and of course, the observance of the agreed, including international agreements and International Law as a whole“, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis in his statements after his meeting with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg, who is visiting Athens.

“Can’t comply with the International law to be selective,” she said. “Actions that indicate a redemptive mood and that undermine, rather than strengthen, good neighborly relations and the European perspective, are not acceptable, they do not contribute to the path to the European family.”

As he underlined, Greece was and will remain faithful to the basic principle that the Western Balkans they belong to the European family and will make every effort to make this happen.

“Although 21 years have already passed since the Agenda of Thessaloniki, which set exactly this necessary perspective of the Western Balkans towards the European family, the admitted truth is that there has not been much progress, despite the effort we are making.”

He noted that it is Greece’s desire and it is our common desire with Austria to see that in the future the required conditions are met, so that these states can join the European family.

“It will be in the interest of the stability and prosperity of the Balkans, but it will also be in the interest of Europe itself. This path should also be linked to the fulfillment of the clear obligations set for the member states”.

As he pointed out, there are three demands, namely the full implementation of the European acquis, the observance of the principles of democracy and the rule of law, and the faithful and unconditional implementation of international agreements and International Law in general.

“Stability and prosperity in our region and in the world also passes through our own region, an area of ​​common interest to Greece and Austria, which is the Western Balkans. The European course of the Western Balkans undoubtedly contributes to unity, stability and prosperity in our region”, he stressed.

He reminded that this course that started in Thessaloniki in 2003 and continues with undiminished dedication until today.

“Greece is one of the countries rushing to enable the states of the Western Balkans to join the European family and for their people to have a better future.”

In this long-term effort, he added, the great initiative of Austrian origin, for the establishment of the “Group of Friends of the Western Balkans” in June 2023, is very important.

Unfortunately, as he underlined, “recently we have experienced clear violations on the part of the political and state leadership of North Macedonia regarding the Prespa Agreement”.

“With regard to the capital of the name of the country, which is foreseen without any deviation at all and without any possibility of modification, it should be North Macedonia before everything, both inside and outside”, he underlined and added that “there is absolutely no ambiguity on this issue. A person who holds an institutional role is not understood in his public presence to be referred to by a name other than that provided for in the agreements”.

Serious issues with Albania’s census

“We expect Albania to do the obvious,” said Mr. Gerapetritis, referring to the Beleri case. “To respect the European Law, which imposes the possibility of the elected member of the European Parliament, to assume his duties and participate fully”.

He even expressed the reservations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in relation to the integrity of the census in Albania.

“The first results highlight serious issues with the census process, which cast doubt on the results themselves. The members of the Greek ethnic minority have already testified and referred to them”.

As the minister pointed out, “modern security challenges in the wider region and worldwide prove that stability in the world is extremely fragile and changeable. And it brings us in front of the great responsibility to do the right thing, what we owe to history, what we owe to future generations”.

Referring to the Middle East, it is necessary to advance the peace process, to immediately and unconditionally release the hostages, who are still being held, to provide uninterrupted humanitarian aid and to prevent further diffusion of the crisis.

To crack down on illegal immigration

With reference to immigration, he pointed out that Greece and Austria agree on the need to protect our borders, the European borders, but also to create new legal migration routes for controlled population mobility.

He pointed out that due to the improvement of Greek-Turkish relations, the flows of irregular immigrants from Turkey have decreased, while many cases of arrest of traffickers have been recorded.

“Where we have to aim in the case of irregular immigration, is precisely to strike at the root of the evil, which are those who exploit human suffering in order to make money. So thanks to this good cooperation, we have developed those channels to be able to strike the evil at its root”.

He noted that Greece is under pressure not only from Turkey, but also from the Middle East and North Africa, especially from the region of Libya.

“The Hellenic Coast Guard, always respecting the rules of International Law, ensures that there is legal surveillance of the Greek borders which are also European borders”.

“As far as the part of population movement is not concerned, there are very specific rules that govern these issues”, he noted. “Greece is very strict in these rules. We are also in constant cooperation with the Austrian authorities. And we will always be at the disposal of anyone to provide relevant assistance, so that we can manage a big problem. But we must be able to manage the issues that arise in relation to the mobility of populations at their root.”

“I attach particular importance to the full, timely implementation of the Migration and Asylum Pact, which was concluded in the previous term of the European institutions. And the next European institutions should ensure, like the member states, for its full implementation”.

Referring finally to the economic cooperation between Greece and Austria, he pointed out that the direct electrical interconnection between Greece, Austria and Germany, the “Green Aegean Interconnector”, will have multiplier benefits both for Greece and Austria, and overall for Europe’s energy security.

He also pointed out that Greece looks forward to strengthening cooperation in the context of Greece’s participation as a non-permanent member of the Security Council in 2025-2026.

“The active Greek diaspora in Austria, the remarkable Austrian Archaeological Institute which has been active in Greece since 1898, the departments of Classical, Ancient, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies in the great universities of Austria are tangible examples of the solid basis of cooperation between our countries, on the of which there can be even more actions”, he pointed out.

“Just as the Austrian people are historically gifted for the ‘beautiful arts’, as the Austrian national anthem mentions, so Greece is proud of its ancient and modern culture. And in this context, we constantly bring back the ecumenical demand of Greece for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptors in their home in Athens”, he emphasized.

Austrian Foreign Minister: We must protect Greece’s external borders because they are also European borders

“Greece is important because it is at a critical geostrategic point. It is a state that has helped in the case of crises,” said the Austrian Foreign Minister.

As he pointed out, Greece has played an essential role in helping Ukraine, while Greece and Cyprus are in the front line of fire in the Middle East as well.

“We have a common policy, we are going in the same direction, we want this war to stop,” he pointed out.

“If suddenly a fire starts that we won’t be able to control, we don’t know what will happen,” he stressed and added: “Lebanon is only 200 km from Cyprus, Hezbollah has missiles that reach 500 km. It is not possible to see these missiles moving against a member state.”

Referring to the Western Balkans, he pointed out that “it is not the European backyard, it is the center, it is the inner personal yard of all of us, because there are European states all around”.

“It is very important that we set the agenda for the next institutions of the next European Union,” he added.

He stated that “there should be no further bilateral difficulties regarding the Western Balkans and I expect Athens to support this proposal”.

“20 years ago in Thessaloniki we heard that all these states will be able to belong to the EU. But 20 years later we only heard words”, he said.

“Politics does not like a vacuum. Either we will be able to have stability and export it or we will have insecurity exported to our own states. Either these states will enter the European data or we will see alternative solutions and proposals”, he emphasized.

“Twenty years after Thessaloniki, the old thoughts have failed. We must move towards a gradual accession and for the new legislative period have a new road map. We will not expect all these states to cover everything”, he underlined.

Regarding Immigration, he pointed out that last year Greece, Cyprus and Austria had the biggest burden in proportion to population, even though Austria is not on the front line.

“We must protect Greece’s external borders because they are also European borders, therefore also Austrian,” he pointed out and added: “We in Austria will continue to provide the necessary financial resources. We should do much more to support Greece because your security is our security as well.”

“We must be realistic and stop wishful thinking. How many more cases will it take to tell Europe that we need to be more realistic with immigration,” he said.

“When we have social issues that undermine our social structure and the economy, some cannot say it does not concern me,” he stressed and added that hundreds of thousands of people try to cross borders, often by force, and states must have the right to defend themselves.

“It is not possible for us to veto the Schengen enlargement so that everyone understands what is happening”

“Since 2015, Greece has been able to save 250,000 people at sea,” he added, adding that Europe should stop having ideological problems.

Finally, regarding tourists, he pointed out that Greece is a favorite tourist destination for Austrians and thanked the Greek authorities for the cooperation. He addressed a request to all Austrians who will come to Greece to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to be able to react more quickly in the event of an emergency or fire and to respond to whatever the Greek authorities may ask of them.