Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ statements following the talks with the Foreign Minister of Albania, Olta Xhaçka (Tirana, 21. 12. 2022)

Because we believe that this path is actually our sole option and is of utmost importance at the current juncture, in which revisionist forces possess emerged and wish to return to other times, other eras, as well as other perceptions. These revisionist makes are attempting to approach the Traditional western Balkans with the ultimate objective, I fear, not of cooperation, but of creating spheres of influence that are not really in line with the European acquis, the particular European perspective, or European values.
We furthermore discussed cooperation between our own countries in the field of environmental protection, particularly in the case of the lake Vjosa, or Aoos, as we call it. We have already decided, I believe, in principle, on the protection program. It will be announced later, in 2023, simply by our two Prime Ministers. I believe it is quite significant and also a very typical example that may also promote environmental understanding, especially among the younger generations.
Afterwards today I will have the recognize to attend a lunch managed by Prime Minister Edi Rama. I thank him for this kind gesture. It is a testament to our close relations.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you once more for the very good level of cooperation we reveal in the field of UN candidacies.
Dear Olta,
Will you allow me, dear Olta, to refer at this stage to Albania’s European viewpoint. I would like to reiterate that will Greece has always been a strong supporter of this perspective. It also highly supports, as I stated earlier, the particular accession perspective of all the Traditional western Balkans; of course , in the framework of a fair conditionality, rigid but fair.
It is a great pleasure to be in Tirana again today. Following your visit to Athens earlier in December and, of course , following the Ancient greek Prime Minister’s visit to Tirana a few days ago, I’m meeting you again. My arrival in Tirana today represents my last stop, following my meeting with our friend, Bujar Osmani in Athens and my trip to Belgrade the day before yesterday and to Pristina yesterday. This shows the high priority that the Ancient greek government, the Mitsotakis federal government, attaches to Greece’s neighborhood, a region of great importance in order to us. And I want to be clear: stability, prosperity, and relaxing coexistence as well as the European perspective of the Western Balkans are usually our top priorities. It is a great challenge that we should address successfully.
Undoubtedly, our meeting today falls inside the context of our frequent plus constructive contacts. Today there were the opportunity to discuss our bilateral relations, as well. We talked about a very important issue at the politics level, namely the speeding of the dialogue – based on the existing political agreement within principle that we reached within Tirana two years ago : in order to reach a compromise that will allow us to send the special agreement mentioning the issue of the delimitation of the EEZ and the continental rack to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Throughout our meeting, we also discussed the role from the Greek National Minority here in Albania, as well as the Albanian community in Greece. They serve as bridges between our 2 peoples. And I consider these types of bridges to be a valuable hyperlink between our two countries. Besides, tomorrow’s visit by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will contribute to this path.
I believe that the quality of this issue, the quality of the state of battle, and the two other agreements on the prevention of border incidents and the maintenance of the border pyramids, will send a note to the international community that will International Law and the Global Law of the Sea are the basis for resolving just about all inter-state differences. But Also i believe that this significant strategy will open a new, excellent chapter in our excellent, mutual, common relations.
Thank you once again for your comfy hospitality. It is a pleasure to be in Tirana, and I look forward to our own next meeting soon. I hope I will have the opportunity to host you in Athens.
I would also like to point out that the timing of this message is certainly remarkable. Because, unfortunately, revisionist tendencies and disregard designed for International Law have emerged in various parts of the world, even though we are in the 21st century. And the most obvious is the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Aside from that, both of us emphasized the need to deepen our trade and investment cooperation.
This is where we believe we can help. I mean in dealing with it. Because the European edifice has guaranteed progress, stability, prosperity, plus cooperation in most of European countries for many decades; with strong foundations, new principles, Worldwide Law, and respect to get human rights.
And, naturally , we agreed that there is suitable for farming ground in Albania to get more Greek investment.
There’s a very concrete action that lies ahead: we must achieve a de-escalation of stress in northern Kosovo. Everyone should demonstrate pragmatism, and also a constructive attitude, in order to take those actions required. In my conferences both in Pristina and in Belgrade, the need to continue the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue with the aim of reaching a comprehensive solution was underlined.
Dear Minister,
As expected, we all discussed energy. As a result of the particular Russian invasion of Ukraine, the problem is enormous. But the cooperation between Albania and Portugal in the electricity sector is a wonderful example of good neighborly relationships.
Thank you.
Therefore , I reiterate for the third time that the European perspective of Albania and the Western Balkans is a one-way street.
Beloved Olta,
I will visit the Arsakeio Greek-Albanian College, along with the Protagonists School here in Tirana later on. I believe that the operation of these schools is yet another proof of the close ties in between our two countries in neuro-scientific education as well.
This is the message I communicated to Belgrade, this is the message I conveyed to Pristina, as well as to our colleague, the Foreign Minister of North Macedonia. And I would like to reaffirm, from here in Tirana, my country’s absolute readiness to supply any accession assistance to Albania in any area deemed useful.

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