Greece’s foreign minister Nikos Kotzias announced on Wednesday during a joint press conference with the visiting Croatian Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Davor Ivo Stier his intention to invite FYROM’s foreign minister to Athens in the hope of exploring " ways to intensify our cooperation and overcome any problems through a culture of democratic consensus."
Kotzias made the announcement in the context of the recent political turmoil and unrest in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) adding that Greece cared about preserving FYROM's unity, integrity and stability and ensuring it has a better future.
"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.
The foreign minister expressed hope that it would be possible to solve the problems, implement confidence-building measures and find other areas of cooperation.
The Croatian Deputy Premier said it is important that Greece and Croatia support FYROM’s European prospect and that they both hope “the new government will be focused on issues of European reforms”, adding the two countries have the necessary experience to offer their assistance.
Stier also took the opportunity to hail Greece’s role in the European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, to which Croatia “places great importance”.
“The common interests of Greece and Croatia for the support of stability and the European prospect of all the countries in the region who are candidates for EU accession, or who may become candidate countries, is something that requires good coordination from us and I believe today a very positive step was made towards this direction.
“We want the European spirit, the European prospect. The spirit of the Thessaloniki Summit should be alive and, as far as Croatia is concerned, we will work closely with Greece on this, “ added Stier.
