Kosovar PM, Greek FM meet for 10th time in two years

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti held a meeting at the Delphi Forum with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, the latest in a series of high-level meetings between the two countries, leading to whispers Athens could change its stance on non-recognition of Pristina.

Greece is one of the five EU countries, including Slovakia, Cyprus, Spain, and Romania that do not recognise Kosovo’s 2008 independence from Serbia.

Kurti thanked Dendias and Greece for their continuous support of Kosovo’s integration. They also discussed the recent elections in North Kosovo, the implementation of the EU-facilitated Basic Agreement and Implementation Annexe with Serbia, and expectations of the high-level meeting set for Brussels on 2 May.

In a vote on Kosovo’s accession to the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe human rights body, Greece abstained from the ballot in a move not welcomed by Serbia. This signalled to some that Athens could be softening its position and may even result in recognition.

Greece recognises and accepts Kosovo passports but has fallen short of considering it an independent state.

In recent months, high-level meetings have taken place between officials from Kosovo and Greece, with the latest being between the country’s two presidents. This was the tenth meeting between Kurti and Denidas in two years and the latter’s sixth official visit since he assumed office.

However, Greek President Katerina Sakellaroupoulou, after meeting with counterpart Vjosa Osmani, was quick to deny any change during a subsequent trip to Serbia.

“There is always pressure at the diplomatic level, but this has not affected our position. We have consistency in politics,” Sakellaropoulou said after she met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

She also emphasised that Greece welcomes the Annex to implement the agreement towards normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia, which was reached in Ohrid on 18 March, with the mediation of the European Union.

“Greece is ready to support Belgrade and Pristina in the implementation of the agreement”, she added.

In an interview with EURACTIV in December, Osmani said there was progress being made in lobbying the EU’s non-recognisers in terms of its bid to join the bloc.

“But we want to use these years on two fronts. One, in making sure that we push forward for important reforms in our country that would bring us closer to the EU. And secondly, in convincing all EU members to support Kosovo’s membership and give us a candidate status,” Osmani said.

Asked if any specific strategies or approaches are being used with the five non-recognisers, she said that a step-by-step approach is being taken and progress has been made.

With some, Osmani said, there is already a high level of economic cooperation, recognition of documents, tourism, and culture, meaning all that is left is the formal recognition.

“So we’re going to continue with this approach with the other non-recognisers as well, some of which had more of a rigid approach towards Kosovo, but I think we’re getting there. We just need to be patient.”