Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas underscored the following in his address at today’s event at the Foreign Ministry – attended by foreign diplomats – marking the anniversary of the signing of the Accession Treaty by 10 new EU member states in 2003:
“Greece will continue to ardently support the European perspectives of all the Western Balkan countries. This is Greece’s longstanding strategic choice. At the same time, however, we need to be clear with our partners and neighbours. Incorporation into the European family is feasible only for countries willing and able to cultivate good neighbourly relations. There is no ‘forced marriage’ for accession to the European Union.”
April 16, 2013