The visit of the Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs to Athens confirmed the excellent level of bilateral relations and the common focus of the two countries on security and European integration in the region.
Croatia’s foreign minister, Gordan Radman, was received in Athens by his Greek counterpart, Giorgos Gerapetritis, in a meeting that underlined the strategic convergence of views between the two countries.
At a time of intense geopolitical challenges for Europe and the Mediterranean, the two ministers focused their agenda on the European perspective of the Western Balkans, recognizing that the integration of the region is key to long-term peace and prosperity.
Alongside, critical issues of regional security and the importance of freedom of navigation were discussed, while it was agreed to further deepen cooperation in international fora.
In his welcoming speech, George Gerapetritis said:
It is a great honour to welcome today in Athens the Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Radman, one of the most active European Foreign Ministers, an experienced diplomat, with whom we have an excellent cooperation and I dare say we have developed an important friendship. He is now the most senior in the position of Foreign Minister among the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the European Union, with great experience and wisdom.
Dear Gordan,
Following a very intensive Foreign Affairs Council on Monday in Brussels, and after yesterday’s meeting of the Western Balkans Friends Group in Bratislava, it is a great honour to welcome you today in Athens.
With Croatia, as partners in the European Union, we converge on issues of mutual interest concerning enlargement, competitiveness and the strategic autonomy of the European Union.
Because of our geography and history, we attach particular importance to the Western Balkans, which we have discussed at length during today’s meeting. Of course, we had the opportunity at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, but also yesterday in the Friends of the Western Balkans Group, to have an extensive discussion on the promotion of the Western Balkans’ pre-accession process to the European Union.
Greece, as the oldest member of the European Union in the region, remains a pacesetter in the accession of the Western Balkans to the European family, based on the principles of conditionality and own merits, without prejudice to the obligation of all states concerned to respect the acquis communautaire, the principles of the rule of law, international law and good neighbourly relations.
In particular, it is obvious that no discount can be made for the candidate countries for accession to the European Union with regard to respect for international law, including all international treaties, as well as the Fundamental Principles, the principles of the rule of law and democracy.
We believe that a new momentum has been given to the enlargement policy and Greece, as well as Croatia, have contributed with our own initiatives, which is now extremely important for strengthening the resilience of Europe. We aspire, with a view to the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2027, to be in a position to make a real upgrade in terms of the integration of the Western Balkans.
As countries of the wider Southeastern European neighbourhood, we are promoting interregional cooperation, also in the context of our participation in the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and the Quadrilateral Cooperation Scheme between Croatia – Greece – Romania – Bulgaria.
The sea is part of the identity of both Croatia and Greece. We coordinate our actions in the MED9 group of countries, in which Croatia is currently engaged in a very constructive way.
The Mediterranean states are uniting our voice and together with your counterpart, dear Minister, Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, we are working to implement the Mediterranean Pact and to highlight the strategic importance of our sea, to strengthen cooperation to address common challenges, such as irregular migration, as well as to strengthen economic ties between the Mediterranean coastal states.
At this point, I would like to particularly congratulate Croatia and my dear friend the Minister for the successful organization of the recent Three Seas Initiative Summit in Dubrovnik, which was attended by the President of the Republic of Greece on behalf of Greece.
Greece became the 13th member of the Three Seas Initiative in 2023. It is significant that the Aegean Sea became the “fourth” sea in the whole project that unites these countries. We strongly believe that this southern dimension is important and serves in particular, as a bridge between South and North, promoting mutual understanding between peoples and inter-regional cooperation, as well as promoting all forms of interconnectivity.
As NATO allies, we – Croatia and Greece – are concerned about the future of the North Atlantic Alliance, the fair sharing of defence burdens and the further promotion of transatlantic relations.
As you can see, Zagreb is a valuable partner and ally, with whom our relations are based on common values and principles. That is why we reiterate our full support for Croatia’s accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Dear Minister, over the past four years the hotbeds of war in our wider neighbourhood have grown and intensified significantly. Within the European Union, we are called upon to take decisions on situations that are truly unprecedented.
The most important challenge is, of course, to prevent the spread of the wars that plague our neighbourhood.
The Mediterranean, our sea, must remain a sea of peace. For this reason, no transformation of the Mediterranean into a theatre of warfare will be tolerated. Greece will ensure that the Mediterranean remains untouched by military operations and remains a sea of peace, a sea of its peoples.
As far as the Middle East is concerned, the maintenance of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran and the continuation of diplomatic efforts allow us to be cautiously optimistic about finding a solution.
Greece maintains its willingness to assist, when conditions allow, in initiatives to ensure free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The preservation of freedom of navigation is a universal obligation, which is anchored in international law and, in particular, in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
One of the key priorities of our mandate in the United Nations Security Council has been precisely to ensure freedom of navigation everywhere in the world. This freedom is directly intertwined with the global supply chain, energy, trade and food security. And of course, it was the central theme of the Rome meeting a few days ago.
Gaza remains a key focus of concern and interest for our two countries, requiring concerted diplomatic vigilance, with priority, of course, to improve the humanitarian situation in the stricken region by providing enhanced protection at all levels.
When it comes to humanitarian assistance, Greece is one of those countries that has provided a great deal of humanitarian assistance at many levels and we will continue to do so. Greece will be present in all developments on Gaza, on the basis of international law, which should be universally applicable.
We have also stressed on several occasions the need for the maintenance of the ceasefire and the full implementation of the second phase of the peace plan based on UN Security Council Resolution 2803.
Dear Gordan, Honourable Mr. Minister,
Today we had the opportunity to discuss the further strengthening of our bilateral cooperation in areas such as investment, tourism, connectivity, cultural and educational exchanges.
Already, our bilateral relations are at an excellent level.
Croatia and Greece are on the same side of history in almost all areas of foreign policy. Our countries are linked by long historical ties and above all they are united by a common European future.
With these thoughts I would like to welcome you again, my dear Gordan, and wish you a pleasant stay in Athens.
