Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday that Greece supported Serbia’s bid to join the European Union and would back Albania’s accession efforts as long as the rights of the ethnic Greek minority are respected.
Attending the EU-Western Balkans Summit held in Brussels on Wednesday, Mitsotakis stressed that accelerating Serbia’s accession process was critical for the stability and security of the wider region.
“It is absolutely crucial to accelerate Serbia’s progress toward joining the European Union. As the largest country in the Western Balkans and a pivotal stabilizing force in the region, the time has come to demonstrate to Serbia and its citizens that our commitment is genuine: We want Serbia as a part of the European family,” he said.
Last year’s arrest of ethnic Greek politician Fredis Beleris during a mayoral election campaign in the southern Albanian municipality of Himare led to tensions between Greece and Albania. Last June, Beleris was elected into European Parliament running with Mitsotakis’ New Democracy party.
“Greece has consistently endorsed the EU accession aspirations of all Western Balkan nations,” Mitsotakis said, adding that Albania would need to fully meet accession criteria which included respect for and protection of Albania’s Greek ethnic minority.
“Ensuring the protection of the Greek national minority, safeguarding their property rights, and recognizing their right to self-identification are no longer bilateral issues; they are now central to Albania’s relationship with the European Union,” Mitsotakis he said.
