G. GERAPETRITIS: It is our honor to welcome today a true philhellene, who has dedicated his scientific life to studying and teaching Greek literature and disseminating the values of Greek education and culture.
Honorable Minister, dear Filip,
Welcome to Athens, a city familiar to you since you lived here during your academic research.
Montenegro is a friendly nation with which we traditionally maintain political, historical and cultural ties.
Building upon these solid foundations, we would like to strengthen our cooperation on more levels, such as economy, transportation, and tourism.
We already record significant actions in these fields.
The most typical example is tourism, with the Athens-Podgorica air connection, which has significantly contributed to turning Greece into the most popular summer tourist destination for the citizens of Montenegro.
We hope to increase the frequency of flights to allow for more citizens from Montenegro and also have more options for the Athens-Podgorica route.
Regarding our economic cooperation, our bilateral trade is in a development phase. Yet there is great scope for further expansion, especially in the fields of innovation, technology, green and digital transition and communications.
Regarding infrastructure projects, the completion of the Adriatic-Ionian motorway is critical for regional interconnectivity.
On the occasion of today's visit by our friend, the Minister, I would like to express, once again, Greece's support for Montenegro's European perspective.
Our firm position is that the Western Balkans’ European perspective will enhance regional security, prosperity, peace, and stability. Since the 2003 Thessaloniki Summit, Greece has been at the forefront, playing an active role in this regard, and will continue to do so.
The accession perspective of all candidate states must be governed by the principle of own merits and full respect for International Law, the rule of law, democracy, the European acquis and good neighborly relations.
In this regard, I welcome the progress Montenegro has made regarding the accession negotiations.
In particular, I would like to express our satisfaction with Podgorica's full alignment with the decisions of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy.
The coalition among all European states, with the collective interest and peace in mind, is particularly crucial at a time when wars in our wider region, in Ukraine and the Middle East, threaten global stability and violate International Law.
During the accession negotiations, Greece will continue to provide Montenegro with technical assistance concerning the integration of the European acquis in various fields of action.
Greece will remain committed to promoting Montenegro’s candidacy, which has made very significant progress regarding its convergence with the European Union. We hope that we will soon have the opportunity to welcome Montenegro to the European family.
Honorable Minister, dear Filip,
I would like to assure you that Greece and the Greek people will remain by the side of your friendly nation and we will continue to work together for our peoples’ prosperity as well as regional and international peace.
It is with great pleasure and honor that I welcome you to Athens.
JOURNALIST: The question concerns the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs. I would like a comment from him on the humanitarian corridor being established for Gaza. What will Greece’s stance be?
G. GERAPETRITIS: I would like to emphasize that Greece’s presence in issues concerning the major humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, is constant and ongoing. We are in communication with all our partners who are involved in the humanitarian sea corridor, especially with Cyprus, with whom we are in excellent cooperation.
Greece encourages the establishment of this corridor. We believe that the crisis is currently at a tipping point. For this reason, we should find all possible ways to provide humanitarian relief until a definitive solution to the cessation of hostilities and a viable solution to the Middle East issue is achieved.
Greece will provide every possible assistance with its ports and infrastructure, as well as its commercial fleet.
It has been and remains a priority of Greek foreign policy to create conditions that will alleviate the major humanitarian crisis currently dramatically unfolding in the Middle East.
March 11, 2024