Athens, 27 September 2024 (MIA) — There are disruptors who would like nothing more than to cause new rifts in this sensitive corner of Europe; but it is high time we left behind Winston Churchill's famous quote that "the Balkans produces more history than it can consume" once and for all inside the history books, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in his speech delivered at the United Nations General Assembly, MIA's Athens correspondent reports.

PM Mitsotakis reiterated the Greek support for the Western Balkans' EU perspective, highlighting the importance of honoring and implementing the Prespa Agreement, the Dayton Peace Agreement, and the Belgrade–Prishtina Agreement.

He said that Greece, being the region's oldest EU member state, had always had a vision for the Western Balkans being part of the European family, "a vision that would ease tensions and conflicts, incorporate the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, stimulating the nations' development and prosperity."

Mitsotakis noted that "there has been some progress, but not enough" and that 21 years after the Thessaloniki Agenda, "significant challenges remain."

"Let me be very honest: Western Balkan countries should make a definitive decision to leave behind the legacy of their traumatic past. And Western Balkan leaders should choose, through actions, to accept their European future," he said.

He said this should be done by "improving democratic governance, consolidating the rule of law and freedom of expression, implementing tough internal reforms and, very importantly, making a commitment to good neighborly relations."

"Rekindling nationalist narratives and agendas should have no place today in a region on the brink of EU membership. Let's start with the basics: international agreements need to be honored and implemented fully and in good faith, regardless of whether it is the Dayton, Prespa or Belgrade–Prishtina agreement we are talking about," Mitsotakis said. mr/