“How many more terrorist attacks will happen as long as this war policy goes on? And how much will the flows of immigrants increase from conflict outbreaks? ” The former prime minister questioned, Alexis Tsiprasat the meeting of the Western Balkan Committee of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Committee on the debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“All those who today do not react and tolerate the abolition of international law will be pioneering tomorrow for new equipment and new measures to repression towards immigration,” Tsipras said, concluding that “if we, in the Council of Europe and the EU, do not work for peace, Prespa Agreementthen we will never gain credibility as an international power. And other forces will become even more powerful in the area and especially in the Balkans. “
In detail the position of Alexis Tsipras at the meeting of the Western Balkan Committee of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Committee:
We are going through a period of increasing destabilization and wars. In Ukraine, after Russia’s illegal invasion.
In the eastern Mediterranean, after the constant Israeli attacks in Palestine with tens of thousands of dead civilians. And in the Middle East, after Iran’s bombings by the United States and Israel.
We have to be honest about this situation, otherwise we will not be able to overcome it. We do not just live in a time when war and conflict are selected by the international community instead of diplomacy.
We live in a period where there is no longer an international community, only the law of the powerful. Where the US, Israel and Russia have decided that bilateral and international disputes will now be resolved through power and war and not through diplomacy. For example, the international difference for Iran’s nuclear program.
And the more we sink into destabilization, the more we see the gaps that are created, as in Syria, where dozens of Christians were killed by a terrorist attack. I wonder, how many more terrorist attacks will happen as long as this policy of war goes on against diplomacy, leading our world to greater instability and leaving increasingly political gaps.
And how much more will the flows of immigrants leaving for conflict, as we see from Libya to Greece. And then all those who today do not react and tolerate the abolition of international law will pioneer for new equipment and new measures of repression against immigration and terrorism that has failed.
It is a dead end, a vicious circle.
And Europe that stands against these dramatic developments?
Unfortunately it does not have a vision for peace and stability or power to work in the direction of peace, stability and international law, as well as an effective immigration policy.
Therefore, it is even more important – with as much power as we have – to fight for more peace, security, stability and respect for international borders and human rights.
Either this has to do with the Middle East, either with the Eastern Mediterranean or the Balkans. And especially Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Because if there is no international community to support peace and reconciliation actively and constructively and in a clever and diplomatic way in Bosnia, against secession trends, then there will be no peace.
And if there is no peace in Bosnia, there will be no peace in the Balkans.
Let us not forget that the Balkans were immersed in the war just 25 years ago.
If we, in the Council of Europe and in the EU, do not work in this direction, then we will never gain credibility as an international power. And other forces will become even more powerful in the area.
This was our goal with the Prespa Agreement in 2018, when we proved that it was possible to stand against nationalism and find mutually acceptable solutions through diplomacy. And that was also what Greece tried to do earlier with the agenda of Thessaloniki in 2003.
In the face of this context, I would like to support the Council of Europe’s Action Plan in Bosnia and Herzegovina. And the process of writing the report on Bosnia by the Parliamentary Assembly.
But I think we can do even more.
And I look forward to your contribution to our discussion on important issues in the region such as democratic security, regional peace and the EU enlargement process.
With these words I would like to welcome Mr. Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina who has often referred to the need to overcome ethnic lines in Bosnia and Herzegovina. And he is one of the founders of the “platform for peace, stability, European future and economic progress” signed by 10 political parties in May this year. “