Greek FM: Position on Kosovo unchanged

ATHENS -- Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis says that her country's stance on the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence remains unchanged.

A file photo of Bakoyannis and Vuk Jeremić

Greece is one of five EU countries that have refused to recognize the Kosovo Albanian declaration. Bakoyannis also told Tanjug news agency in an interview that Belgrade's recent call on Greece and other countries to send its view of the problem to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will be considered "in the spirit of friendship and cooperation". The UN General Assembly last fall approved Serbia's request for the ICJ to rule on the legality of the declaration.

"Our position is unchanged," the minister continued. "Greece formulates its foreign policy based on international law, taking into account its national interests, the region's stability and European values." Bakoyannis, who will arrive here on Monday in the capacity of the OSCE chair, also said that Greece strongly supports Serbia's EU integration and that it will take an active part in European Union's decision on sending a mission that should verify Belgrade's cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

“Greece strongly supports Serbia's European perspective. Belgrade's request that the EU sends its mission will be considered and it will be decided in the European Union. Greece will take an active part in that discussion, confident that Serbia's EU integration will contribute to the peace and stability in the region and in the European Union as a whole,” she said.