The General Director of National Defence Policy and International Relations of the Ministry of National Defence, Dr. Konstantinos Balomenos, held a working meeting, on Monday 19 September 2022, with the Ambassador of Serbia to Greece Mr. Dušan Spasojević.
The discussion focused mainly on the strengthening of the bilateral defence relations between Greece and Serbia and the security environment in the Balkans, as it has been shaped following the latest geopolitical developments in the wider region.
During the meeting, first, the excellent bilateral level of Greek-Serbian Cooperation in all areas was commented on by both sides.
The main axes of the debate were:
• The deepening of the bilateral defence relations between Greece and Serbia.
• The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the wider geopolitical environment of the Eastern Europe, particularly in the Balkans and the Kosovo region.
• The security situation in the Western Balkans, as shaped by Turkey’s approach to Muslim communities in the Balkan countries.
• The current situation in Kosovo and the way it affects the overall stability and security of the Balkans.
• NATO’s Strategic Concept for the Balkans.• An assessment of the security situation in Ukraine.
• The analysis of common bilateral challenges and security threats.
Dr. Balomenos analysed the problems and possible consequences of Turkey’s destabilising role in the Balkans.
The General Director of National Defence Policy and International Relations and the Ambassador commented on Turkey’s relations with the countries of the wider Balkan region, emphasising Turkey’s destabilising role in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Serbia and Croatia.
The revisionist policy against Greece, through the use of hybrid strategies, such as the instrumentation of migration as well as the increase in violations of the Greek National Airspace (FIR of Athens) by Turkish drones (Bayraktar, ATR UAV’s), was also highlighted.
In conclusion, it was jointly stressed that the strong diplomatic axis between Greece and Serbia constitutes a pillar of stability in the wider Balkan region.
