In a statement on his departure from the United Arab Emirates, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed that "Greece and the United Arab Emirates are now forming the framework of a strategic alliance that extends not only in the fields of economic cooperation, but also in the fields of defense and in foreign policy."
Mitsotakis added that "The prospects for further deepening of relations between the two countries are many and important. There is now a clear roadmap for how relations between the two countries can become even closer."
"Our two countries are facing challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean through the same perspective. They remain committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes and to respect for international law. I would also like to emphasize that this visit to the United Arab Emirates is another step in the context of the active foreign policy that our country has been developing over the last year," Mitsotakis continued.
"An active foreign policy that has made our country a calm force for stability, security and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean," he added.
The comments were made in the context of Mitsotakis, along with Foreign Ministers Nikos Dendias, Minister for Development and Investment Adonis Georgiadis, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in Economic Diplomacy Costas Fragoyiannis, chief economic advisor Alexis Patelis, as well as the National Security Advisor Thanos Dokos, visiting the UAE.
The joint statement did not shy away from condemning Turkish aggression against Greece, Cyprus and the entire Middle East.
"Greece and the UAE condemn Turkey's violation of the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Cyprus, as well as its overall aggressive behavior in the Middle East," the two countries said in a joint statement.
At the same time, the two governments' confirmed unwavering commitment to "international law and the Charter of the United Nations and the principles enshrined in it, as a basis for peace, security, good neighborly relations and the peaceful settlement of disputes for all countries in the wider region".
"The two governments condemn Turkey's violation of the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Cyprus, as well as its overall aggressive behavior in the Middle East, the Southeastern Mediterranean and the South Caucasus, in flagrant violation of the International while recalling the obligation of all states to refrain from the threat or use of force as provided for in the Charter of the United Nations," the statement continued.
"In this spirit, the two governments call on Turkey to respect international law and to immediately cease all illegal and provocative actions," the joint statement added.
On Twitter, Mitsotakis said:
"In a meeting with the Crown Prince of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we discussed the rapid progress that has been made in recent months in bilateral relations and the full range of bilateral cooperation, as well as developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region."
Σε συνάντηση με τον Διάδοχο του Θρόνου των ΗΑΕ Σεΐχη Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan συζητήσαμε τη ραγδαία πρόοδο που έχει επιτευχθεί τους τελευταίους μήνες στις διμερείς σχέσεις και σε όλο το φάσμα της διμερούς συνεργασίας, αλλά και τις εξελίξεις στην περιοχή της Αν. Μεσογείου. pic.twitter.com/gSuggsHo5x
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) November 18, 2020
