Greek Foreign Minister: Serbia’s Accession to EU Geopolitically Inevitable

PHOTO: GOVERNMENT OF SERBIA/Zoran Nikolic

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has said that his country's position is very clear that Serbia's accession to the EU as the largest Western Balkan country is geopolitically inevitable, noting that by stepping up changes within the country Serbia would speed up procedures to bring it closer to Europe.

The Western Balkans lies at the heart of Europe, and Serbia is at the center of the Western Balkans, Gerapetritis told the June 13 issue of the Politika daily in an interview, adding that his country cannot imagine Europe without Serbia and the Western Balkans, stressing that Europe's perceived reliability is also on the line.

He said that Europe will become stronger and more resilient in the broader developing geopolitical environment if its neighbors become full EU members. Gerapetritis stressed that Greece is one of five EU member countries that do not recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, adding that he supported the EU-mediated Belgrade-Pristina dialog.

Gerapetritis, who spoke with the Serbian leadership in Belgrade on June 12, said Greece recognizes Serbia's progress in the EU accession process and praised ongoing reforms, adding that they should be accelerated. He said Greece strongly supports the European outlook of the Western Balkans along with the fulfilment of preconditions, observation of international law and neighborly relations, adding that the EU integration process is irreversible.