At the residence of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis today, August 21, an informal meeting with the leaders of the states of the Western Balkans and EU member states will take place. According to data that has not yet been confirmed for security reasons, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the dinner.
The meeting is dedicated to EU enlargement and the European future of the Western Balkan region, according to a message posted on the website of the Greek Prime Minister:
“Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will receive on Monday, August 21, at [своей резиденции] Palace of Maxim leaders of the Western Balkans and EU countries of the region at an informal dinner dedicated to enlargement [Евросоюза] and the European future of the region on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the EU-Western Balkans Summit and the Thessaloniki Declaration”.
The press service of the head of the Greek government reported that the Prime Minister’s invitation was also accepted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel. The Greek government does not announce the arrival of Vladimir Zelensky in Athens, but in recent hours this news has been on the pages of many media.
The press service of the President of Montenegro, confirming this visit, states, quotes Greek edition of newsbeast.gr:
“Jakov Milatovic will take part in a working lunch together with Ursula von der Leyen, Vladimir Zelensky, the leaders of Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Bulgaria and Romania.”
At the same time, the head of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said that he did not know whether Volodymyr Zelensky would be present in Athens on August 21 at a meeting with representatives of the European Union and the Balkan region. This is reported by the Tanyug agency, quoting Vucic:
“Tomorrow – Athens, where there will be meetings with the leaders of the countries of the Western Balkans. And other things that some will make public, I can not confirm, we’ll see.”
The Athens Macedonian News Agency quoted Greek government sources as saying that Mitsotakis’s initiative to invite the leaders of the Western Balkans and regional EU member states to the Maxim Palace for an informal discussion on the European future of the region “confirms the leading role played by Greece as a pillar of stability, peace and energy security in the Balkans and South-Eastern Europe, and points to its dynamic return to the Balkans.”
The following are expected to arrive in Athens: Presidents of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic and Montenegro Jakov Milatovic, Prime Ministers of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovaceski and (unrecognized) Kosovo Albin Kurti, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borjana Christo. Albania, invited at the presidential level, will not be represented. Relations between Athens and Tirana have recently deteriorated due to the imprisonment of the ethnic Greek Freddy Beleris, who on May 14 was elected mayor of the Albanian city of Himara, one of the centers of residence of the Greek national minority.
The leader of Slovenia has not yet confirmed his participation, the agency reports. The meeting will also be attended by the leaders of the countries of the region that are members of the EU: Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, Croatian Andrei Plenkovic and Romanian Marcel Colaku.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend an informal meeting of Western Balkan leaders on the issue of enlargement and the European future of the wider Balkan region.
The Greek publication ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ, citing “various sources” in Greece and abroad, reports that “Zelensky may arrive in Athens on Monday 21 August to attend a dinner hosted by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Leaders are expected to attend the event. countries of the Western Balkans. Other details are not reported.
Today edition European Pravda reported that on Monday, August 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend a summit on the Balkans in Greek Athens – the Ukrainian leader will be among the guests of an informal dinner invited by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The Greek capital’s police are taking unprecedented security measures.
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