Kotzias, Stier Discuss Bilateral Relations, EU Prospects for Balkan Countries
Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias on Wednesday announced that he intends to invite his new counterpart in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to visit Athens in order to "explore ways to intensify our cooperation and overcome any problems through a culture of democratic consensus." Kotzias made the announcement during a joint press conference with Croatian Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Davor Ivo Stier.
Replying to questions, Kotzias said that he had spoken with the new prime minister in Skopje several times and informed him of his intention, as soon as the new FYROM government receives a vote of confidence in the country's parliament.
Greece cared about preserving FYROM's unity, integrity and stability and ensuring it has a better future, Kotzias said. A solution of the name dispute with Greece in a creative and democratic way will assist and facilitate FYROM's future course, he added.
"I always say that history must be a school and not a prison. We want to spring our northern neighbour from the prison it has locked itself into and want FYROM to understand that political consensus and compromises are elements of European culture, both in domestic political life and in our neighbourhood," Kotzias noted.
ANA-MPA