Ambassador Alexandros Mallias at the Hudson Institute

The future of southeast Europe and Kosovo’s final status were discussed by Ambassador of Greece to the United States Alexandros Mallias at the Hudson Institute on January 22, 2007, a day after parliamentary elections in Serbia.

Consistently supported by Greece, the European prospects of Balkan countries – highlighted by recent Bulgarian and Romanian membership in the European Union – are the strongest motive and soft-power mechanism in securing peace, stability, and prosperity in that region, Mr. Mallias stressed.

There should be no humiliation or triumph in connection with Kosovo’s future status, regarding which proposals are expected from special United Nations envoy Martti Ahtissari, while fundamental preconditions of stability require EU consensus, close collaboration between the EU and the US in the Balkans, and the engagement of Russia.

The message that Europe represents the future was sent to multiple recipients by Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in his visits to Balkan capitals, the Greek ambassador stressed in a follow-up discussion moderated by Hudson’s Center for Eurasian Policy Director Zeyno Baran.

After the event, Mr. Mallias was interviewed by the Voice of America Serbian service and television correspondents from Azerbaijan and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.