The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis, made a statement after his participation in the Summit of the Berlin Process for the Western Balkans, stressing that “the European course of the Western Balkans is important in order to be able to establish peace in our region”.

The statement of the Hellenic Foreign Minister in detail:

“We are present today at two extremely important meetings, which are taking place in Berlin, the Conference on the Western Balkans and in Luxembourg, the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, concerning the Middle East and Ukraine.

The two issues are connected. In the midst of two wars that threaten our region, that threaten global security, the European course of the Western Balkans is important to be able to establish peace, prosperity in our region, to avoid nationalisms, to chart a course, which will be compatible with Europe.

Greece has already made its position clear. This position was prescribed twenty years ago, when with the Thessaloniki agenda in 2003 Greece was a pioneer in the integration of the Western Balkans into the European family. This should be done with full respect for the European acquis, with full respect for international law, with full respect for the principles of democracy and the rule of law.

And we will be the ones who will speed up this process, always under the condition of respecting the fundamental principles of the European Union, so that our region can have the peace and prosperity required in these difficult times”.