Athens, 3 July 2024

President of Hellenic Parliament to President of Republic of Latvia: "Europe will come to the Western Balkans when all of the Western Balkans and in particular North Macedonia and Albania come toward the values of Europe"

The common aspiration of Greece and Latvia for the EU’s enlargement toward the Western Balkans, on the necessary condition of full adherence to international law, was emphasised by the President of the Hellenic Parliament Mr Constantine Tassoulas and the President of the Republic of Latvia Mr Edgars Rinkēvičs, who is in our country on an official visit. 

“Greece is interested in the Western Balkans’ path to Europe, in adherence to international law, while also being interested in the just resolution of the Cyprus issue, in accordance with the UN”, stressed the President of the Greek Parliament.

Mr Tassoulas pointed out that “precisely because today in our neighbourhood the human rights of the Greek community in Albania and International law in Northern Macedonia, the latter having infringed upon the Prespa Agreement, are faltering, we insist, not bilaterally, that Europe will come to the Western Balkans when all of the Western Balkans and in particular North Macedonia and Albania come to the values of Europe.” 

The President of the Parliament made special reference to the resolution of the Cyprus issue, as this year marks 50 years since the Turkish invasion and military occupation on the island. As he noted, “we want to see the UN mediation efforts come to fruition, but for that to happen, the UN principles, values and resolutions on Cyprus need to be accepted". 

For his part, the President of the Republic of Latvia agreed that the Western Balkans must integrate into the European Union. He stressed that these countries have been waiting for many years for the next enlargement. However, their accession must be based on common values and international law. In fact, he emphasised the need to find common ways to strengthen the whole process, with the prerequisite of adherence to the conventions.

"As an expression of honour and recognition of mutual feelings of friendship", the President of the Parliament presented the President of Latvia with the gold medal of the Hellenic Parliament, issued on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution in 1821, which depicts the figure of the Goddess Athena on a seal of the newly established Greek State, accompanied by the corresponding scroll.    

The meeting was also attended by the Chair of the Greece-Latvia Parliamentary Friendship Group Mr Charalambos Athanasiou, the Secretary General of the Parliament Mr Vasileios Bagiokos and the Diplomatic Advisor of the Parliament, Ambassador Constantine Economides. 

The President of the Republic of Latvia was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Mrs Baiba Braže, the Ambassador of Latvia to Greece Mrs Ieva Briede and officials, members of the mission in our country.

After the meeting, the President of Latvia and his delegation, accompanied by the President of the Parliament, toured the exhibition "Beholding Liberty! At the Hellenic Parliament two centuries later".

 

 

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