Greek FM: Electoral reform necessary in Bosnia; latter affects stability, peace in SE Europe

Athens pointed to a particular interest in overcoming a looming impasse in Bosnia-Herzegovina, with the country’s foreign minister referring to a “black hole in the heart of Europe that needs electoral reform in order to be dealt with.”

Greek FM Nikos Dendias made the statement after Monday’s EU Council of Foreign Affairs session in Brussels. He added that Bosnia is important for Greece, given Athens’ standing interest in stability and peace in the Balkans.

Dendias said a prospective electoral reform in the country would allow elections to be held in October, with the goal being a normalization of the state’s operation and with a new push towards Bosnia’s European course.

He also said discussions by EU foreign ministers touched on the situation in Syria, Libya and Ukraine. In terms of the latter, he said Athens has a particular emphasis, given a sizeable ethnic Greek community in the southern port city of Mariupol.