Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos will visit the capitals of the Western Balkan states, in his capacity as President of the Council of Ministers of European Union, from February 18 to 21.

Venizelos is departing today, for Belgrade, where, he will meet the Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić (02.18), the Prime Minister Ivica Dačić, First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, and Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić. He will also travel to the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica, where he will meet the Speaker of Parliament Ranko Krivokapić and Foreign Minister Igor Lukšić. Further he will be received by the President Filip Vujanović.

On the same evening, Venizelos will fly to Bosnia-Herzegovina, where he will meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Zlatko Lagumdžija (02.19), and with the EU Special Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ambassador Peter Sørensen. In the afternoon, Venizelos will travel to the capital of

Kosovo, Pristina, where he will meet with Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and Foreign Minsiter Enver Hoxhaj. He will futher travel by road to Skopje, where, he is expected to meet FYROM President Gjorge Ivanov (02.20), the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Deputy Prime Minister for EU affairs Fatmir Beshimi, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, the President of the DUI party, Ali Ahmeti, and the President of the SDSM party, Zoran Zaev.

On Thursday evening (02.20) Venizelos will be in Tirana, where he will meet the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and the European Integration Minister Klajda Gjosha. The Greek FM will also attend a dinner with the Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania. On Friday (02.21), Venizelos will be received by the Albanian President Bujar Nishani, will meet the Speaker of Parliament Ilir Meta, Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati, and the President of the Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha.