Greek FM: The accession of the Balkans to the EU depends on compliance with international agreements

"The European course of the countries of the Western Balkans is related to the observance of all international agreements".
This was stated by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis at the summit of the Heads of State and Government in the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), reported ERT.
The host of the meeting is the president of North Macedonia Gordana Silyanovska-Davkova.
"It is important to ensure the European course of all the countries of the Balkans and the region in a period of very great challenges, with two wars in our wider neighbourhood. Progress must be made on the basis of specific preconditions, which are formal and refer to respect for democracy, respect for the rule of law, strict compliance with all international agreements and consistent compliance with everything related to the EU, international law, as well as , of course, the respect for the rights of minorities," Gerapetritis added.
BGNES recalls that during his oath on May 12, the new president of the North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, used only the name "Macedonia" instead of the official name - the Republic of North Macedonia. This caused a sharp reaction in Athens and an international diplomatic scandal.
Minister Gerapetritis emphasized several times that "Skopje's European path depends on Athens".
The contract was signed on June 17, 2018 in the village of Nivitsi on the shores of the Great Prespa Lake by the foreign ministers of both countries, Nikos Kodzias and Nikola Dimitrov, in the presence of Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev. The agreement ended a long-running dispute over Macedonia's name between authorities in Skopje and Athens. | BGNES