Greek Deputy FM meets with K. Albanian leaders

Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas said that Greece is ready to support cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo. Droutsas, who left Belgrade for Pristina after meeting with official in Belgrade over the last two days, met with Kosovo Albanian President and Prime Minister Fatmir Sejdiu and Hashim Thaci in Pristina. Greek Deputy FM meets with K. Albanian leaders “I believe that Greece has a special role in the talks between Pristina and Belgrade,” Droutsas said at a joint press conference with Thaci. “We are part of the region and we think that we can play this role, taking into consideration the consequences and responsibilities, of course,” Droutsas said. Asked about the possibility of Greece recognize Kosovo in light of the International Court of Justice’s opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s independence, Droutsas said that it is up to every country to decide on that individually. “It is most important to work on the integration of the Balkans into the EU,” he said. Droutsas said that the future of the Western Balkans is in the EU, adding that he is convinced that Greece can play a vital role in that process. “Our main message to Belgrade and Pristina is that we must see a future in the EU. Greece can and will play a special role in this process,” Droutsas said. Thaci said that talks can be held with Serbia, but only as two independent states. “We expect inter-state cooperation with Serbia, and there will not be any talks, under any circumstances, regarding internal question in Kosovo,” he said. Thaci said that the ICJ’s decision means a lot to Kosovo and the region, adding that Kosovo is ready to talk with Serbia as an independent state. He said that Kosovo wants to contribute to stability in the region. Speaking of cooperation with Greece, the Kosovo prime minister said that there is cooperation in many fields. “We have bilateral cooperation in many fields which are yielding results for the consolidation of Kosovo. We talked about topics of bilateral interest, but also about regional cooperation and the spirit of European integration,” Thaci said.

Greek Deputy FM meets with K. Albanian leaders

“I believe that Greece has a special role in the talks between Priština and Belgrade,” Droutsas said at a joint press conference with Thaci.

“We are part of the region and we think that we can play this role, taking into consideration the consequences and responsibilities, of course,” Droutsas said.

Asked about the possibility of Greece recognize Kosovo in light of the International Court of Justice’s opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s independence, Droutsas said that it is up to every country to decide on that individually.

“It is most important to work on the integration of the Balkans into the EU,” he said.

Droutsas said that the future of the Western Balkans is in the EU, adding that he is convinced that Greece can play a vital role in that process.

“Our main message to Belgrade and Priština is that we must see a future in the EU. Greece can and will play a special role in this process,” Droutsas said.

Thaci said that talks can be held with Serbia, but only as two independent states.

“We expect inter-state cooperation with Serbia, and there will not be any talks, under any circumstances, regarding internal question in Kosovo,” he said.

Thaci said that the ICJ’s decision means a lot to Kosovo and the region, adding that Kosovo is ready to talk with Serbia as an independent state.

He said that Kosovo wants to contribute to stability in the region. Speaking of cooperation with Greece, the Kosovo prime minister said that there is cooperation in many fields.

“We have bilateral cooperation in many fields which are yielding results for the consolidation of Kosovo. We talked about topics of bilateral interest, but also about regional cooperation and the spirit of European integration,” Thaci said.