Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ statement to journalists following his visit to Albania (Tirana, 21.12.2022)

Today my tour of the Western Balkans ends here in Tirana. I had the opportunity to meet with my counterpart, the Albanian Foreign Minister, in the morning, and Prime Minister, Edi Rama, kindly hosted a lunch for me in the afternoon. With both of my interlocutors, we had the opportunity, on the one hand, to analyze the situation in the Western Balkans, the problems in northern Kosovo, but also touch upon our bilateral relations.

As far as our bilateral relations are concerned, I believe I provided a comprehensive overview during the press conference I held with my counterpart at the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

But I would like to make a concluding remark following my lunch with the Albanian Prime Minister. Albania has made an important choice. Its choice is to join the European Union. To do what is self-evident, to position itself in the hard core of the European family. And that is where we Greeks believe it belongs. However, this entails a significant number of parameters. These parameters, which should be determined by the Albanian side, must serve its fundamental narrative.

And let me clarify something else. Greece has no problem with Turkey per se. Nor does it object to their cooperation with Turkey. It does, however, have a significant problem with Turkish revisionism, as it does with any kind of revisionism. Consequently, any parameter should serve the European Idea on the one hand, while not allowing the manifestation of revisionism in the region, on the other.