Sakellaropoulou: Pressure does exist, but our stance on Kosovo remains unchanged

BELGRADE - Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who is on an official visit to Serbia, said on Tuesday the Greek stance on non-recognition of the self-declared independence of the so-called Kosovo remained unchanged and that Greece was consistently implementing a constructive policy aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the Western Balkans.

Sakellaropoulou said this after a Belgrade meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, in response to a reporter's question whether Greece's position on the issue had changed and whether Western pressure on Athens to recognise Kosovo had increased.

"I would like to remind that EU accession of the entire Western Balkans is our strategic objective. Greece is ready to provide support to Belgrade and Pristina in the implementation of what has been agreed in Ohrid - the implementation annex," she said.

Speaking about Western pressure, Sakellaropoulou said it always existed at diplomatic level but that Greece's position remained unaffected by it.

It is very important that Pristina, too, meets its commitments as that would help overall efforts aimed at maintaining security and stability in the Western Balkans, she said.