Greece urges Serbia and Albania to "strengthen stability"

Source: Beta

ATHENS -- The Greek government hopes that the governments of Albania and Serbia will "in words and deeds" work to strengthen regional stability.

(Tanjug, file)

Athens also hopes for "respect of borders and European perspective of all countries of the region."
This was stressed by Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, the Greek media reported.

Commenting on the incident at a football match between Serbia and Albania on Tuesday in Belgrade - when a map of "Greater Albania" was flown on a drone above the pitch, resulting in incidents and abandonment of the game - Venizelos said that "sports events should be meetings of friendship, cooperation and peaceful coexistence of peoples and nations, and those who disrupt that, are making a grave mistake."

"We in the Balkans have very unpleasant historical experiences, and I am convinced that governments of both our neighboring and friendly countries - Albania and Serbia - will not only condemn the incident but will take advantage of the opportunity, to in words and deeds, strengthen the sense of regional stability, respect of borders and European perspective of all countries of the region," said Venizelos, who is also Greek deputy prime minister.

After the match in Belgrade, members of the Greek national minority in southern Albania came under attack, and incidents were reported elsewhere in the region.