“The first phase of the Bucharest Summit has been completed. The decisions have been taken. On behalf of the Greek delegation, I would like to welcome Albania and Croatia, who were today invited to become new members of NATO.

I would like to add that the Greek delegation came here with a specific goal.

Our goal was to take a further serious step in the direction of finding a mutually acceptable solution on the name issue.

I want to send a substantial message to the people of Skopje; a message of friendship. I would like once more to stress that Greece feels sincere friendship for the people of FYROM. We want to become friends and partners. We want to see them join NATO.

But the good neighbourly relations that are directly linked to the resolution of the name issue are a prerequisite for allied relations and partnership.

We hope – and we will work in this direction – that the negotiations will continue under Mr. Nimetz and the UN, so that we can find a mutually acceptable solution and, immediately afterwards, address an invitation to Skopje to accede to NATO.”

Go back...