Gerapetritis: Greece's position on so-called Kosovo remains unchanged

BELGRADE - Greek FM Giorgios Gerapetritis, who is visiting Belgrade, said on Friday Greece's position on the so-called Kosovo remained unchanged, and that his country strongly supported Serbia's EU perspective and recognised the significant progress it had made in meeting in its accession commitments.

"The Greek foreign policy remains anchored in international law, principles that we shall continue to uphold, including in our capacity as non-permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations," Gerapetritis said at a press conference with Serbian FM Marko Djuric, noting that Greece supported the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

"A central focus of our discussions was Serbia's European perspective, which Greece regards as a geopolitical imperative for the stability of the region, but also for the prosperity of Europe altogether," he said.

Recognising Serbia's progress, Gerapetritis noted that it was important to accelerate ongoing reforms in the country.

"We place a lot of hope on Serbia for the future of our region's peace and prosperity. Greece, as you know, has been a strong supporter of the European prospects of Western Balkans, based on the principle of conditionality and own merits, without diverging from the obligation of all interested parties to respect the European acquis, the principles of the rule of law international law, and good neighbourly relations," he noted.

"Having championed the Thessaloniki agenda back in 2003, Greece continues to lead efforts in support of the European integration, firmly believing that the enlargement towards the Western Balkans constitutes a strategic investment in peace, security, and stability across the European continent.

In this context, the signing of the Delphi Declaration in Athens last April underscores in the clearest possible terms that the path towards European integration is irreversible. EU enlargement must regain momentum and, thus, credibility.

Thus, in view of Greece's forthcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2027, we are committed to placing the region's European integration high on our agenda and to working towards tangible progress," Gerapetritis said.

"Economic cooperation between Greece and Serbia continues to demonstrate remarkable dynamism. Bilateral trade has reached record levels. While prospects for further growth remain highly encouraging, we need to achieve these upsides as soon as possible.

At the same time, we attach particular importance to connectivity projects that will further strengthen the links between economies and our peoples.

The development of the Thessaloniki-Skopje-Belgrade railway corridor remains a strategic priority with the potential to transform the region into a major transportation gateway to Central Europe.

In the energy sector, initiatives such as the Vertical Gas Corridor and the natural gas interconnections linking Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia contribute significantly to energy security, diversification, and resilience while strengthening our collective ability to withstand external threats," he said.

Noting that Greece would be participating in EXPO 2027 Belgrade, Gerapetritis wished Serbia "every success in hosting this landmark international event."

"Greece supported Belgrade's candidacy from the outset, and three months ago, Greece's official agreement to participate in the exhibition was signed," he said.

"We consider that this exhibition is going to be a significant benchmark to echo the willingness of Serbia and its people for the European path," the minister added.

He also said he had taken the opportunity to extend condolences over the tragic death of a Serbian UNIFIL peacekeeper in southern Lebanon last week.

"Greece calls for respect of international law in all its applications, including international humanitarian law, by all parties involved, and emphasises that efforts towards diplomatic solutions must continue unabated," Gerapatritis said.

"I would like to stress that the peoples of the Balkans understand better than most the value of peace, dialogue, and cooperation. We continue to draw inspiration from the timeless vision of Rigas Feraios for cooperation among nations of the Balkans and work together towards a region defined by stability, prosperity, and shared progress," he said.