Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias met today, on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York City, with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Messrs. Isa Mustafa and Hashim Thaçi.
The Kosovo officials thanked Mr. Kotzias for his recent visit to Kosovo and for the consistent position Greece maintains on Kosovo despite its not having recognized Kosovo. They then briefed the Greek side on the latest developments in Kosovo and the course of the reforms, the agreements and the dialogue with Serbia. They renewed their request for Greece’s support for Kosovo’s efforts to join international organizations. Finally, they expressed their government’s commitment to combating religious fanaticism, to participating in the struggle against ISIS, and to ensuring the protection of and funding for repairs to and restoration of Christian monuments and churches.
Mr. Kotzias stressed the need to consolidate stability, security and peace in the region, as well as the great importance of building networks and cooperation in Southeast Europe, with the participation of all of the countries of the region and with the support of Greece and the EU. Mr. Kotzias invited his counterpart to visit Athens and expressed Greece’s support for Kosovo’s efforts to join international organization, based on international law and to the benefit of stability in the region, highlighting that the common goal is the future integration of the whole of the Western Balkans into the European Union. Finally, they agreed to strengthen cooperation on both sides and to set up working groups of experts on European acquis issues.
September 28, 2015