The European Political Community initiative which held its first Summit a few days ago, underlines the new geopolitical urgency caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the need for closer political dialogue and cooperation among the European Union and a series of non-member states, and the Western Balkan states’ participation in the format was, self-evidently, a welcoming development, has said Dr. Yorgos Christidis, Associate Professor at Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki in an exclusive interview with Albanian Daily News.

But Dr. Christidis cautioned that that participation does not signify an acceleration of the accession process for any of the states of the Western Balkans.

In addition he stressed that if for some reasons internal opposition in North Macedonia does not accept the obligation to reform its Constitution, including in its preamble “citizens who live within the borders of the state and who are part of other people, such as Bulgarians”, then tensions would unfortunately resurface in Bulgaria-North Macedonia relations.   

Discussing the stubborn stance of Serbia, an aspirant country to join the European Union, not to align with the sanctions of the Union on Russia because of its aggression against Ukraine, the Professor said the EU is clearly increasing its pressure upon Serbia given the great urgency to apply pressure upon Moscow in order to reconsider and terminate its aggression against Ukraine. “Although Belgrade is seeking to deflect criticism on that issue, the truth is that the Serbian government is not helping itself: not only is adamantly refusing to join in the sanctions against Russia but Ministers of the Serbian government are paying “working visits” to Moscow! As the Russian aggression in Ukraine continues, it will be increasingly difficult for Belgrade to maintain any “balance in its foreign policy”, if it doesn’t want to hurt relations with Brussels.”

In a comment on the Open Balkans initiative, the Greek Professor saidit’s clearly up to the countries of the region itself to judge the benefits of participation. “In principle, Athens welcomes any initiative that contributes to the improvement of regional cooperation and development.”

Asked about the latest escalation of the conflict between Greece and Turkey, Dr. Christidis was of the opinion that the way forward for dealing with any real disputes separating the two states cannot be the threat or the use of force but recourse to international law and courts. 

Regarding the issue of the delimitation of the Greek-Albanian sea border in The Hague, the Professor noted that Tirana should not underestimate the negative effect that any delay or backsliding on the implementation of the agreement would have upon Greek public opinion and by extension to bilateral relations. “It is time to resolve that difference, allowing bilateral relations to move forward.”  

According to him, the world is going through one of the most dangerous periods since the end of the Second World War, and an autocratic regime has not only violated the sovereignty of an independent state, causing numerous deaths and material destruction, but is also threatening to use its nuclear weapons because Europe and the United States are not standing idle, allowing Russia to destroy Ukraine!

“It’s a totally paranoid situation, a vivid illustration and a reminder of how an undemocratic clique of people ruling with few, if any, restraints a country with a nuclear arsenal, can be extremely dangerous. It is hard to make predictions of how all that might end,” said Dr. Yorgos Christidis, Associate Professor at Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, in the interview which follows:

Albanian Daily News:Professor, the first meeting of the European Political Community has recently been held in Prague and leaders of the Western Balkans countries were among the 44 countries which attended the event. What does their active participation in the Summit mean and can this be considered as a step by Brussels to expedite the accession process as no formal talks have started yet? Secondly, can it be said that Bulgaria has given up its option of conditioning North Macedonia’s further process like it did with the veto before?

Dr. Yorgos Christidis:  As it is well known, the European Political Community is an initiative of the French President, Emmanuel Macron, engaging the EU with 16 other states, with which the Union finds itself in different forms of relations, in political consultations over issues affecting the European Continent. It underlines the new geopolitical urgency caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the need for closer political dialogue and cooperation among the EU and a series of non-member states. The WB states’ participation in the format was, self-evidently, a welcoming development that does not however signify an acceleration of the accession process for any of the WB states.

Concerning the second part of your question, based on the proposal of the French Presidency on the opening of North Macedonia’s accession negotiations, that became accepted by both Sofia and Skopje, the latter undertook the obligation to reform its Constitution, including in its preamble “citizens who live within the borders of the state and who are part of other people, such as Bulgarians”. Thus, the “next day” in relations between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, as well as the opening of the accession talks between EU and North Macedonia, has become conditional upon making the necessary changes in NMK’s Constitution. If this for some reasons, for example internal opposition in NMK, does not happen, then tensions would unfortunately resurface in Bulgaria-North Macedonia relations.

- During recent days Brussels has increased its pressure on Belgrade regarding the unification of sanctions’ approach against Russia. A senior Commissioner said Belgrade cannot ‘stand on two chairs’. But President Aleksandar Vucic retorted by rejecting the sanctions. He also rejected a French – German proposal on Belgrade-Kosovo dialogue. Do you think the EU has lost its influence on Belgrade, while the latter goes ahead with its strategic partnership with Russia even at these times of its aggression on Ukraine?

- Clearly, the EU is increasing its pressure upon Serbia to align its foreign policy towards Russia with that of the Union, given the great urgency to apply pressure upon Moscow in order to reconsider and terminate its aggression against Ukraine. Although Belgrade is seeking to deflect criticism on that issue, the truth is that the Serbian government is not helping itself: not only is adamantly refusing to join in the sanctions against Russia but Ministers of the Serbian government are paying “working visits” to Moscow! As the Russian aggression in Ukraine continues, it will be increasingly difficult for Belgrade to maintain any “balance in its foreign policy”, if it doesn’t want to hurt relations with Brussels.

- As a traditional ally of all the WB countries Greece has previously played an active role aiming to maintain peace and stability in the region. Pursuing such a priority, how does Greek diplomacy find itself between the Berlin Process, which is being activated, and the Open Balkans initiative, which is joined by 3 countries-Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia so far?

- Following the resolution of the so-called “name-dispute” with North Macedonia, Athens has both improved its image in the Western Balkans and has also become more active diplomatically. The Greek government has become a steady supporter of the accession process for the whole region, with important prospects opening up for closer relations between Greece and the WB, for example in the energy sector. Concerning various diplomatic forums existing in the region, it’s clearly up to the countries of the region itself to judge the benefits of participation. In principle, Athens welcomes any initiative that contributes to the improvement of regional cooperation and development.

- Please, Mr. Christidis, let me touch upon the escalation of the conflict between Greece and Turkey as the latter claims on the ‘militarization’ of Greek islands neighboring it.  Ankara says the move is against the international treaties. For its part, Athens says it is its legitimate right given the “casus belli”. What do you think about such a menacing development which, as a matter of fact, is continuation of the old dispute between the two countries? Can such a jeopardizing situation go on endlessly?

- At a time when Europe has to cope with the consequences of a murderous war in Ukraine not very far away another undemocratic regime is threatening to use violence, challenging the territorial integrity of a neighboring state, generating serious worries about a possible flare up of another war!

Whatever the motives of the Turkish President and his government are – such as avoiding a defeat in the forthcoming Turkish elections - their rhetoric underlines the undemocratic credentials of the Turkish regime, putting it firmly in the camp of non-European, revisionist forces that challenge the status quo in Europe. The way forward for dealing with any real disputes separating the two states cannot be the threat or the use of force but recourse to international law and courts.

- Social networks have been involved and concretely Aegean Boat Report, a Norwegian NGO dealing with refugees, claimed that effectively, the Greek government has ‘weaponized’ refugees. Could such an increased tension worsen the refugees’ situation on the Aegean islands and secondly, which is Turkey’s role in the latest refugee waves in the Aegean?

- If any state in the Aegean is seeking “to instrumentalize” migrants this is certainly not Greece. The memories of the first few months of 2020, when the Turkish authorities were actively guiding thousands of migrants trying desperately to cross illegally into Greece, are still fresh. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that Greece is bound by international conventions to respect the rights of people who are in need of protection and are seeking asylum. The Greek government should also address adequately criticism concerning cases of mistreatment of migrants. 

- In the meantime Albania and Greece are heading to the International Court in The Hague after both countries failed to agree on the issue of maritime borders, despite both prime ministers meeting on the sidelines of the European Political Community in Prague last week. Albanian PM Edi Rama said no consensus was found, and the matter would progress to the International Court in The Hague. Do you think that such a thorny issue might affect the bilateral relations between the two countries? 

- There is an agreement between the two governments to go to The Hague, in order to resolve their differences concerning the delimitation of the Greek-Albanian sea border. Tirana should not underestimate the negative effect that any delay or backsliding on the implementation of the agreement would have upon Greek public opinion and by extension to bilateral relations. It is time to resolve that difference, allowing bilateral relations to move forward.

- And as a follow up, which is your opinion on the escalation of the war in Ukraine accompanied with Putin’s threat against the West for the use of nuclear weapons? Is the world entering the abyss of unknown consequences if also the warning of UN Secretary General Gueterres in the opening address of the General Assembly in New York on September 20 that the world is in peril and paralyzed and “We are gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction” is taken into consideration?

- We are going through one of the most dangerous periods since the end of the Second World War. An autocratic regime has not only violated the sovereignty of an independent state, causing numerous deaths and material destruction, but is also threatening to use its nuclear weapons because Europe and the United States are not standing idle, allowing Russia to destroy Ukraine!

It’s a totally paranoid situation, a vivid illustration and a reminder of how an undemocratic clique of people ruling with few, if any, restraints a country with a nuclear arsenal, can be extremely dangerous. It is hard to make predictions of how all that might end.

- Winter is coming and the energy crisis is giving its shivering vibrations. All countries of the region joined the EU’s sanctions against Russia in full solidarity in support of Ukraine. Will the Union show solidarity for the WB countries expected to be hit more severely by the energy crisis? Secondly, in case of aggravation of the situation due to the energy blow, what are your expectations regarding people’s reaction?  

- As the war in Ukraine reemphasized the significance of renewed EU’s engagement with the WB it is important for Brussels to, timely, assist the region in order to deal with the grave consequences of the energy crisis. The rise in energy prices if unchecked can cause serious social unrest that can benefit politically all those political forces in the region that have a populist and quite often an anti-EU and anti-Western agenda. Does the EU want to see that happening?