Greek Prime Minister: Kosovo solution must be ''mutually acceptable to both sides''

COUNCIL OF EUROPE, 24 January 2007

 

In a wide-ranging speech to the Parliamentary Assembly on 24 January, Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis evoked the Council of Europe's 'crucial role' in southeastern Europe, including Kosovo, where there ''still remains a great deal to be achieved''. It is ''essential for peace in the area that the solution be mutually acceptable to both sides as well''. The prime minister expressed support for European Union candidate status to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, but under certain conditions - including ''the name issue''. He also claimed that ''basic human rights are being breached'' in Cyprus. Alluding to the 'strained' workload of the Human Rights Court, he said that ratification of Protocol 14 is 'crucial' and regretted that negotiations have stalled on the accession of the EU to the European Convention of Human Rights.