Athens, 4 July 2015 (MIA) - Neighbors have no other choice but to be good friends, Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Fatmir Besimi said Thursday in Athens after meeting Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias.

"We have had very open and sincere discussion as friends. As this is the first meeting, you will be surprised as to why I am talking about friends, but neighbors have no other choice but to be good friends, and I think that the honest discussion we"ve had about the vision of the Western Balkans is the future of stability, peace, prosperity and the values of democracy, rule of law, freedom of speech and movement. All the values that are common for our societies," Besimi said at joint press conference with his host Kotzias.

Besimi said he and Kotzias didn"t talk only about the vision, but also how it could be turned into reality.
"We"ve had a chance to talk about the issues that are still open among us. And we"ve agreed that these issues may be solved. This can be transformed into leverage for bilateral cooperation, for a good relationship and also sharing the common values in the future in the same family, that of the Euro-Atlantic community," Besimi said.

Besimi and Kotzias also had a chance to tackle proposals for confidence-building measures and solutions to the name issue.
"These ideas are welcomed, as is the initiative of (Greek FM) to visit my country. How can we imagine solving the open issues without talking, without initiative? So that is why we appreciate very much, my dear colleague, and if I can say as the spirit of the discussion was today, dear friend -- you will be welcome in Skopje, and I hope that you will find the same warmth there," Besimi said.

Today"s talks in Athens once again pointed out the expectations that Western Balkans accession to the EU would bring sustainable peace and stability in the region.

The Thessaloniki Agenda, conclusions of ministers during the Greece"s EU Presidency and also the statement of the (Greek) Foreign Minister, send a clear message that there is hope for my country and the region to proceed on the Euro-Atlantic path, Besimi said.

Taking a journalist question, Besimi said his visit to Athens was favorable for Macedonia and the developments in the country, namely the Kumanovo incident, the political instability and ongoing mediation of EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn for overcoming the situation.

"Definitely my visit to Greece is helpful, regardless of the recent events in my country. I have to say in terms of the political situation that I"ve come here today more optimistic because on Monday an agreement was reached among the political leaders on the concepts of how to move forward out of this situation, which will help not only the political stability, but speed up the reform agenda in my country. Naturally, this will in addition reflect positively on our Euro-Atlantic process," Besimi said.

Kotzias said he voiced support at the meeting with Besimi for the talks of political parties, under the aegis of Commissioner Hahn.

"Mr. Besimi and I shared our hopes and dreams for the Balkans, and for the Western Balkans in particular: how we will be able to even better stabilize our region. We"ve discussed about ongoing talks on the name issue, as well as the confidence-building measures. I would like to say that, in the coming days, our Political Director will be in Skopje to talk about these measures. And within the month - towards the end of the month - I will be on a Western Balkan tour, including Skopje, where I am sure we will continue the talks we"ve began today." Greece"s FM said.

Asked to present a concrete example of the confidence-building measures, Kotzias expressed hope for them to be made public in Skopje, following the talks between the political directors of the two countries.

"I would be getting ahead of myself – as I would like to do – if I mentioned measures, because we have to agree on them first. What I have to say is that, following the three meetings we"ve had – in Budapest, Riga and Antalya -- with my colleague the Foreign Minister of our neighbouring country, we each put together a list of proposals and ascertained that in large part, in one way or another, they overlapped, Kotzias said, adding that further clarifications are still needed from both sides, namely what precisely each side means on the points that appear to coincide.

He also asked for the assistance of the European Commission, Commissioner Hahn, on certain measures to shape the programme - funded, if possible, by the European Union – within the framework of a possible and, "as I hope, real agreement on the confidence-building measures.

Joint statements of Foreign Minister Kotzias and the Deputy Prime Minister of Republic of Macedonia, Fatmir Besimi, following their meeting (Athens, 4 June 2015)

N. KOTZIAS: We started today with a meeting between myself and the Deputy Prime Minister of our neighbouring country, Fatmir Besimi, with whom I had – and with whom I will have, during the luncheon to follow – a creative and very friendly discussion. I expressed my support for the discussion amongst the parties, under the aegis of Commissioner Hahn. And it is well known that we always tell our European partners that realistic and reasonable voices like Mr. Besimi’s must be listened to with care in Europe.

Mr. Besimi and I discussed our hopes and dreams for the Balkans, and for the Western Balkans in particular: how we will be able to even better stabilize our region and give it even more security.

We commented on the discussions that have taken place and that will take place on the name issue.

We also talked about the confidence-building measures. I would like to say that, in the coming days, our Political Director will be in Skopje to talk about these measures.

And within the month – towards the end of the month – I will be on a tour of the Western Balkans, including Skopje, where I am sure we will continue the talks we began today.

For me it was a very pleasant occasion that we had, and will still have, Fatmir Besimi here with us. He is a young, talented politician who links many views of the developments in the Balkans, as a leader of the Albanian community in our neighbouring country. And I thank him very much for the warm and open conversation we had, with sincerity and in a manner that creates hopes for the creation of a good foundation for the future of the relations between our two neighbouring states.

Fatmir, welcome to Athens, and I was truly pleased with our discussion.

F. BESIMI: Thank you very much. First of all, I would like to thank you honestly, from my heart, for this very warm welcome and very open and sincere discussion that is taking place among friends.

As this is the first meeting, you will be surprised as to why I am talking about friends, but neighbors have no other choice but to be good friends, and I think that the discussion that we had honestly about the vision of the Western Balkans is the future, the common vision for the stability, peace, prosperity and the values of democracy, rule of law, the values of freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of movement – all these values that the Euroatlantic community shares. And I am very glad to say that at this meeting we talked about this vision, but also not only about a vision, but about the how we can make this vision a reality.

And I am also happy to say that we had the chance to talk about the issues that are still open among us. And that we agreed that these issues have an opportunity to be solved. This can be transformed into leverage for bilateral cooperation, for a good relationship and also sharing the common values in the future in the same family, that of the Euroatlantic community.

Also, we had a chance to talk about the proposal and confidence-building measures and solutions for the name issue. These ideas are welcome, as is the initiative to visit my country and the initiative to visit the countries in the region. How can we imagine solving the open issues without talking, without initiative? So that is why we appreciate very much, my dear colleague, and if I can say as the spirit of the discussion was today, dear friend -- you will be welcome in Skopje, and I hope that you will find the same warmth there.

And also I want to share with you that we discussed today that the enlargement of Europe in the Western Balkans is something that we expect to bring sustainable peace and stability in the region. The Thessaloniki Agenda, since 2003, and the conclusions of ministers during the Greek Presidency of the European Union confirm that hope, and also the statement that I heard just now from your Minister of Foreign Affairs, giving a clear message that there is hope for my country and the region to proceed on the Euroatlantic path.

So, once again I want to thank you very much for this opportunity, meeting together, and talking also about the concrete and specific issues that we have, also through the bilateral cooperation, the so-far excellent experience with cross-border cooperation. So far in the current IPA for 2013-2017 around 10 million euros has been used for 50 projects in different municipalities and civil sector institutions and in the business community, and we have a new IPA program for 2014-2020. There will be additional funds for this cooperation.

We also talked about twinning’s, where we can use the experience from the Greek administration, and also your experience with European institutions; something that has been used in the past in other programs. So this is an open field, an opportunity for cooperation and making these confidence-building measures a reality in our relationship, because there is solid ground for doing this. There is significant economic cooperation, investments. We need to support this cooperation and this strengthening of ties in the economic field, in the social field, in our cooperation, as the future countries in the same big family of the areas of the Euroatlantic community, of the democratic values and economic values of freedom of movement and liberty.

Thank you.

JOURNALIST: Mr. Kotzias, a question for you: You referred to the confidence-building measures. Can you give us any specific examples? Because we don’t know exactly what they are. An example from the list of CBMs, and whether there is a convergence of views. Thank you.

N. KOTZIAS: Thank you for the question. I hope we will making the list public in Skopje, following the talks between our political directors.

I would be getting ahead of myself – as I would like to do – if I mentioned measures, because we have to agree on them first. As I always say, when one is negotiating, it isn’t good to talk about it.

What I have to say is that, following the three meetings we had – in Budapest, Riga and Antalya -- with my colleague the Foreign Minister of our neighbouring country, we each put together a list of proposals and ascertained that in large part, in one way or another, they overlapped.

But clarifications are still needed from one side and the other: what precisely each side means on the points that appear to coincide. Moreover, I have requested the assistance of the European Commission, of Mr. Hahn, the competent Commissioner, on certain measures to shape the programme – funded, if possible, by the European Union – within the framework of a possible and, as I hope, real agreement on the confidence-building measures. I think I’ve given you enough news, but I kept some for my trip.

JOURNALIST: Mr. Besimi, following Kumanovo and the political instability that exists in your country at this time and with the mediation of Mr. Hahn, do you think this trip of yours to Greece will be decisive? Will it help your country?

F. BESIMI: Thank you for your question. Definitely. My visit to Greece is helpful, even without these events that happened in my country.

I have to say, today, in terms of the political situation, I come more optimistic than if it had been last week, because on Monday an agreement was reached among the political leaders on the concepts of how to move forward out of this situation, which will help not only political stability, but a faster pace with the reform agenda in my country, and of course this will in addition reflect positively on our Euroatlantic process.

So this is how I see the visit. And again I will repeat that I expect this visit to reflect the spirit for discussion with my colleague, Mr. Kotzias, my friend Nikos, because when we talk about relations, good neighbourly relations, it starts from yourselves. It starts from your personal communication, the way, how you communicate, the way you start to understand each other through a mutual respect, and the way you not only make politics, but, as it was said by your Minister, to help the social cohesion or what is called here confidence-building measures. So this is how I see this meeting to serve that issue. So this visit helps building confidence, not only on a personal level, but also in society and in our good neighbourly relationship, as it is called.

Thank you.

N. KOTZIAS: Good afternoon.