Ries: Security in Europe depends on stability in the Balkans

Peace and security in Europe depends on achieving stability in the Western Balkans, Charles Ries, who served as US ambassador to Greece from 2004 to 2007 and principal deputy assistant secretary of state for European affairs from 2000 to 2004, has told Kathimerini in an interview.

Although he avoids openly commenting on the name deal between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, out of courtesy to current US Ambassador in Athens Geoffrey Pyatt, Ries points out Albania's membership of the NATO security alliance as a very positive development, while expressing hope that FYROM will soon follow (as the Republic of North Macedonia).

Furthermore, Ries expresses hope that the European Union will take these Balkan countries on board. In the same interview, Ries, who is vice president of think tank the Rand Corporation and an expert on Brexit and its potential...

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