Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos represented Greece today at the UN High-Level meeting on rule of law, which is one of the main issues on the agenda at this year’s UN General Assembly
Within the framework of the debate, Mr. Avramopoulos met with the Foreign Ministers of Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, with the aim of, among other things, underscoring the importance of the European perspective of the entire Western Balkan region towards European and Euroatlantic institutions.
Following his meetings, the Greek Foreign Minister made the following statement:
“Within the framework of my meetings here, I continued today with meetings with Foreign Minister of the region of Southeast Europe, with my Serbian colleague and the Foreign Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The main issues we discussed had to do with security, stability and cooperation in the wider region.
More specifically, with the Foreign Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the meeting took place at his request and was, of course, a meeting of introduction. Beyond what we said in this unofficial meeting, it is important to stress that things might have been different and even better in the relations between us if the neighbouring country showed more respect on historically and culturally sensitive issues that are of particular importance to Greece.”
In his meeting with Mr. Poposki, Mr. Avramopoulos stressed the content of the Greek Prime Minister’s recent letter to his FYROM counterpart, in which Mr. Samaras described precisely the framework within which the relations between the two countries are developing, so that a solution might be reached on the name issue. Having noted once again that Greece has done its part in the effort to reach a solution, Mr. Avramopoulos stressed that the time has come for the leadership in Skopje to do its part, as well. He also pointed out the dangers posed to the stability of our region by the cultivation of nationalism and populism, which so often in the past have caused instability in the Balkan region.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Delavekouras’s response to FYROM news media claims
Foreign Ministry spokesman Gregory Delavekouras said the following in commenting on FYROM news media claims that the Greek Foreign Minister recognized that FYROM does not have territorial designs against Greece:
“This is inaccurate and this view was never expressed. In the meeting between the two Ministers, which took place following a request from the FYROM Foreign Minister, and which was in the nature of an introductory courtesy meeting, attended by high-level Ministry officials from both sides, no such statement was made. This is probably just the well known tactic of Skopje: to create a sensation for domestic consumption, confirming the assessment that they do not show a sincere willingness and intention for a solution to be found. Mr. Avramopoulos described the situation in our bilateral relations with FYROM, in the framework set out by Prime Minster Samaras’s letter to his counterpart in Skopje, underscoring that nationalism and populism can provide temporary political benefits, but always lead in the end to disasters and conflicts. In the Balkans in particular, experience of the past makes imperative a different approach that is vital to the achievement of a solution on the name issue, because the propaganda being sustained by Skopje – regardless of whether or not it can really raise an issue of territorial claims – is a threat, because it poisons public opinion and begets irredentism. The Foreign Minister’s message to Mr. Poposki was clear: “Show in practice that you really have the will to contribute to the finding of a solution to the benefit of the relations of the two countries and the stability of the region.”
September 24, 2012