Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ statements following their meeting with Deputy PM and Foreign Minister of Serbia, Ivica Dačić (Belgrade, nineteen. 12. 2022)

We discussed our very close relationships and again thank you so much for all those these references to Corfu, my home island. This holds a very special place in Serbian history. And let’s take a agree that our next meeting, as in the past with the Internal Ministers, will take place there. I have to state, also, that we wish to observe Serbia continue its training course in the fundamental fields according to the European acquis. And we will be ready to help as much as we can. We are grateful that I am here today with you, but We are also making a promise: I will come back on the 16th of November 2023 on St . George’s Day. Because you may already know, I have two names, Nicolas and Georgios. So , I am going to make it a tradition that so long as I am able to, I will be arriving at Belgrade [on St. George’s Day]. Allow me to thank you for your very comfy hospitality and for the kind invites to come to Belgrade the afternoon that you celebrate Sveti Nikola, the patron of a lot of Serbian families, also my name day. And also thank you for the honour to visit President Vučić at his house the day of the Protector Saint. It’s an honour for me. It’s an honour pertaining to Prime Minister Mitsotakis, but additionally, allow me to say, it’s an honour for the Greek people. I have to say that our close cooperation, the particular cooperation, not only between the Federal government, but between ourselves plus between President Vucic plus Prime Minister Mitsotakis, is essential for the region’s stability. Portugal is committed to further strengthening our strategic relations in most fields. I’m accompanied these days by Ambassador Sofia Grammata, who is our Special Charge for the Western Balkans. Allow me to underline a clear message. That will Greece has always been and will regularly be in favour of the European Union membership viewpoint of Serbia and of Traditional western Balkans. We believe that Serbia is an integral part of Europe and the European Union is where Serbia belongs. And we will continue assisting Serbia towards that path. Also, we must keep the inspiration of the region’s path to the accession process and we should never allow third parties to consider advantage of delays. We believe that all in the Balkan peninsula must have a common future. As well as a future we should shape together.   And I have to say that I am stressing this not to you, my friend, not to President Vučić just, not to the Serbian Govt only, but to Serbian society, to our brothers, the Serbian people. We have to become optimistic about the common future and we have to see ahead 20 years from now because the whole region belongs to the EUROPEAN. We noted that half of Serbia is celebrating today. And am am so proud and so happy to be part of it. Once again thank you for your gift. St . Nicolas is protecting myself all my life. He always has a place, not only in my office but , if you allow me to state, in my house with my loved ones and, most of all, in my cardiovascular. But I would like to say from here, Belgrade, openly, that Greece will continue to defend its sovereignty and sovereign rights within the context of International Legislation and International Law of the Sea. And we will spare simply no lawful means to defend individuals rights.     Thank you so much for your kind hospitality. Also, we talked about Kosovo. I reiterated our own position on Kosovo. We all fully support the extension of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, with a view to reaching a extensive, legally binding Agreement. The implementation of what continues to be agreed between the two sides – the signature will there be – is important. And as we always say, “pacta sunt servanda”. As I told you, We are in Pristina tomorrow and am will repeat exactly what We are saying here in Belgrade. Again, in that framework, I want to thank you, here in Belgrade, for your statements in Athens last month. And also, for the interview with Kathimerini newspaper regarding Greece’s sovereignty and sovereign rights. Also I would really prefer to express our gratitude for the clear position on the Cyprus issue. And I was therefore happy, thanks to you, approach my friend Želimir Obradović who was in Belgrade today. Allow me to say, we miss your pet, we miss his coachship in basketball. I think Želimir Obradović is one of the most valuable coaches in basketball today on earth. And we were so lucky to have him. Unfortunately, my dear Ivica, we are not living in calm times. I am also speaking about revisionism which coupled with Neo-ottoman aspirations and dangers of war is something that Greece has to face everyday, in Türkiye’s irrational narrative. My beloved Ivica, We talked about how to promote our local cooperation. This is of extreme importance. We discussed regarding two trilateral schemes: a single between Greece, Serbia and North Macedonia. And a different one between Greece, Serbia plus Albania. Again, my dear Ivica, Our bilateral relations furthermore cover [other] issues: energy, communications, tourism, trade, renewables. There are a lot of details we can do together. But additionally, it was so important to underline our will to enhance this very close relationship.

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