Good day, dear Minister, dear Marko.
It is wonderful not only to come to the city that feels like my second home, but also to have the opportunity to talk to you. We meet very regularly, on many occasions, but it's different to be here at the headquarters of the Serbian Foreign Ministry to exchange views.
Marko has been an outstanding Foreign Minister. He has contributed significantly to Serbia's image in Europe and globally, and I would like to commend him for this.
My visit today gives us the opportunity to continue our sincere and enduring dialogue, which attests to the very good state of our bilateral relations. Our meeting marks also an important milestone in our efforts to deepen our ties, founded on longstanding historical, cultural, and religious bonds. Not to mention, of course, that we place great trust in Serbia in sports. Our national coach is a Serb - Ivan Jovanović - and we put great faith in him.
Since upgrading Greece-Serbia cooperation to a strategic partnership back in 2019, our relations have continued to grow stronger, and today's meeting sets the stage for the High-Level Cooperation Council scheduled to be held in Belgrade. We hope to have the opportunity to hold this High-Level Cooperation Council very soon. It will be a tremendous milestone in upgrading our already excellent relations.
The central focus of our discussions was Serbia's European perspective, which Greece regards as a geopolitical imperative for the stability of the region and for the prosperity of Europe as a whole.
We recognize the important progress Serbia has made and would like to commend the ongoing reforms; it is important that they be accelerated. We place a lot of hope on Serbia for the future of our region's peace and prosperity.
Greece, as you know, has been a staunch supporter of the European prospect of the Western Balkans based on the principles of conditionality and own merits without diverging from the obligation of all interested parties to respect European acquis, the principles of the rule of law, international law, and good neighborly relations.
Having championed the Thessaloniki Agenda back in 2003, Greece continues to lead efforts in support of European integration, firmly believing that the enlargement towards the Western Balkans constitutes a strategic investment in peace, security, and stability across the European continent.
In this context, the signing of the Delphi Declaration last April underscores in the clearest possible terms that the path towards European integration is irreversible. EU enlargement must regain momentum and thus credibility. In view of Greece's forthcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2027, we are committed to placing the region's European integration high on our agenda and working towards tangible progress.
Dear Minister, my dear Marko, economic cooperation between Greece and Serbia continues to demonstrate remarkable dynamism. Bilateral trade has reached record levels. While prospects for further growth remain highly encouraging, we need to achieve these upsides as soon as possible.
At the same time, we attach particular importance to connectivity projects that will further strengthen the links between economies and our peoples. The development of the Thessaloniki-Skopje-Belgrade railway corridor remains a strategic priority with the potential to transform the region into a major transportation gateway to Central Europe.
In the energy sector, initiatives such as the vertical gas corridor and the natural gas interconnections linking Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia contribute significantly to energy security, diversification, and resilience, while strengthening our collective ability to withstand external threats.
I would also like to make a special reference to the international exhibition, as Marko has already mentioned, that Belgrade is going to host next year. Greece supported Belgrade’s candidacy from the outset, and three months ago, Greece's official agreement to participate in the exhibition was signed. We consider that this exhibition is going to be a significant benchmark to echo the willingness of Serbia and its people for the European path.
We wish you, dear Marko, every success in hosting this landmark international event.
Turning to regional issues, I had the opportunity to reaffirm to Marko that Greece's position on Kosovo status remains unchanged. We consistently support the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, and we commend your constructive engagement.
Greek foreign policy remains anchored in international law - principles that we shall continue to uphold including in our capacity as a non-permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations.
Today, we had the opportunity to exchange views on current geopolitical developments and on the situation in the world, Ukraine, the broader Middle East, Lebanon, and Iran.
I seize the opportunity to convey our sincere condolences for the Serbian UNIFIL peacekeeper who tragically lost his life in southern Lebanon.
Lastly, Greece calls for respect for international law in all its applications, including international humanitarian law, by all parties involved, and emphasizes that efforts towards diplomatic solutions must continue unabated.
In closing, I would like to stress that the peoples of the Balkans understand better than most the value of peace, dialogue and cooperation. We continue to draw inspiration from the timeless vision of Rigas Feraios for cooperation among the nations of the Balkans and work together towards a region defined by stability, prosperity, and shared progress.
Once again, thank you so much, my dear Marko, for this wonderful hospitality. You're always welcome to come to Greece. Either in your official capacity or as a visitor, among the millions of people coming from Serbia, and to consider always Athens and Greece as your second home.
Thank you.
June 12, 2026