Greece continues to support Serbia on EU, Kosovo

BELGRADE Greek Ambassador to Serbia Dimostenis Stoidis estimated on Monday that Serbia deserved to be granted a starting date for EU entry talks. According to a Tanjug report, the diplomat "underscored once again that the stand of Athens remains unchanged." Greece continues to support Serbia on EU, Kosovo "We firmly believe and that is not just a rhetoric, that Serbia deserved to get a starting date for EU membership talks even last year," Stoidis told theh news agency during a reception on the occasion of the Greek national holiday - Independence Day. That is the reason why Greece plans to assist Serbia in its EU integration process once the country assumes the EU presidency in the first half of 2014, Stoidis said. That is not just true for Greece, but also for the country that will hold the EU Presidency after us, and that is Italy, which has the similar stand toward Serbia's progress along the EU path, Stoidis said. "We are of the opinion that we have already done a lot. It is on us to persuade other partners to show more optimism and not attach new conditions (for EU entry) other than those that every country has to fulfill," the Greek ambassador said. He voiced confidence that 2014 would be the year of true progress for Serbia on its road to joining the EU bloc. Asked whether Greece remains steadfast in its stand that it will not recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, "following Romania's announcements that it could review its position", Stoidis said : “Greece's stand remains unchanged.“ Underscoring that he could not speak about the intentions or plans of other countries, Stoidis noted that Greece, as a regional country, would like to see, in agreement with Serbia, better opportunities for all people in the region to improve their everyday lives. "If that means business arrangements with Pristina such were the ones in the past, that does not mean that our country is changing its institutional position. Our stand is well-known, firm and clear," the Greek ambassador concluded. Stoidis (R) is seen with Tomislav Nikolic on Monday in Belgrade (Tanjug) Tanjug

Greece continues to support Serbia on EU, Kosovo

"We firmly believe and that is not just a rhetoric, that Serbia deserved to get a starting date for EU membership talks even last year," Stoidis told theh news agency during a reception on the occasion of the Greek national holiday - Independence Day.

That is the reason why Greece plans to assist Serbia in its EU integration process once the country assumes the EU presidency in the first half of 2014, Stoidis said.

That is not just true for Greece, but also for the country that will hold the EU Presidency after us, and that is Italy, which has the similar stand toward Serbia's progress along the EU path, Stoidis said.

"We are of the opinion that we have already done a lot. It is on us to persuade other partners to show more optimism and not attach new conditions (for EU entry) other than those that every country has to fulfill," the Greek ambassador said.

He voiced confidence that 2014 would be the year of true progress for Serbia on its road to joining the EU bloc.

Asked whether Greece remains steadfast in its stand that it will not recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, "following Romania's announcements that it could review its position", Stoidis said : “Greece's stand remains unchanged.“

Underscoring that he could not speak about the intentions or plans of other countries, Stoidis noted that Greece, as a regional country, would like to see, in agreement with Serbia, better opportunities for all people in the region to improve their everyday lives.

"If that means business arrangements with Priština such were the ones in the past, that does not mean that our country is changing its institutional position. Our stand is well-known, firm and clear," the Greek ambassador concluded.