Greece, Serbia's long-time ally, is firmly opposed to NATO military intervention in Kosovo. But it is unlikely to break ranks with its western partners if strikes are launched, officials and analysts said yesterday.
While few expect Greece to commit troops or weapons if NATO acts, they say Greek air bases and support will probably be made available.
More significantly, Athens is unlikely to cause its European Union and NATO partners the kind of political discomfort it did in the early days of the Bosnia war, when Greece stood against others as a fierce supporter of the Serbs.
Greeks share the Orthodox Christian religion with the Serbs, and it has long been policy in Athens to support a strong Serbia as a stabilising influence in the Balkans. Over time, however, policy has been changing as Athens has become more closely tied to Western institutions.
"Greece does not want to be part of the problem in the Balkans, it wants to be part of the solution. That means it cannot afford to take sides on the basis of local interests," said Dr Theodoros Couloumbis of the University of Athens.