Washington, 25 June 1997 (RFE/RL) -- Greece's Defense Minister Apostolos Tsokhatzopoulos says Europeans must do more to ensure peace and stability in the Balkans.
Tsokhatzopoulos made the statement at a conference in Washington yesterday on the role of the Western European Union in European security. He attributed most of the instability in the region to a transition from old dictatorships to parliamentary democracy. Tsokhatzopoulos said the European contribution to this process is a critical factor.
He said it is of vital importance to have credible elections in Albania on Sunday so that efforts can begin to deal with Albania's economic and other problems.
Tsokhatzopoulos also had talks yesterday with U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen. Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon said NATO expansion was the main subject discussed. Other issues included the security situation in the eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.
Tsokhatzopoulos made the statement at a conference in Washington yesterday on the role of the Western European Union in European security. He attributed most of the instability in the region to a transition from old dictatorships to parliamentary democracy. Tsokhatzopoulos said the European contribution to this process is a critical factor.
He said it is of vital importance to have credible elections in Albania on Sunday so that efforts can begin to deal with Albania's economic and other problems.
Tsokhatzopoulos also had talks yesterday with U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen. Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon said NATO expansion was the main subject discussed. Other issues included the security situation in the eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.