Kosovo is expected to open a diplomatic office in Athens

Kosovo and Greece are expected to intensify their cooperation through the opening of a diplomatic office of Kosovo in Athens.

This will be the request that Kosovo’s PM, Ramush Haradinaj will address to his Greek counterpart, Nikos Kotzias in the next few days when he visits Pristina.

In several meetings that he has held with senior Greek officials, Haradinaj has requested Greece to recognize Kosovo and to continue the economic and diplomatic partnership.

This recognition has also been requested by authorities in Tirana.

“We would welcome Greece’s decision to recognize Kosovo, because we would see it as a step in the right direction and as an investment for the stability of our region”, was declared several days ago by Albania’s Foreign minister, Ditmir Bushati.

During his last visit to Pristina, the Greek Foreign minister, Nikos Kotzias has stressed Greece’s support for Kosovo’s accession in international organizations, including security organizations, expressing his conviction that these processes will help the stability in the region.

Kotzias said that it’s been agreed for Kosovo to open an office in Athens and that this will be an important step in boosting cooperation between the two countries.

According to him, this does not mean that Greece is ready to recognize Kosovo.

IBNA learns that Greece will also be involved in the talks which aim at reducing tension between Pristina and Belgrade.  The second step will be the opening of a diplomatic office in Athens, but the recognition will not happen as a result of the Cypriot problem.

Greece has followed a pragmatic route in developing independent relations with Kosovo. These relations have marked progress from one year to another and there are many Greek companies operating in Kosovo.