A clear message in favour of the Minsk agreements was sent by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias from Moscow, where he met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
During the joint press conference with Lavrov, the Foreign Minister stressed that Greece supports the Minsk agreements, while emphasising that in a possible conflict in Ukraine there will be no winner.
“We listen to Russian concerns about its security, we take into account the concerns of others,” Dendias said, stressing that all problems must be resolved “on the basis of a dialogue conducted under the terms of international law.”
Speaking about the content of his meeting with his Lavrov, he said that he raised three issues on the issue of Ukraine.
Initially, Dendias stressed the need for immediate de-escalation, while noting that “we, Greece, fully support the Minsk agreements.”
Finally, as Greece’s top diplomat said, “I also spoke about the Greek community, especially in Ukraine and the wider Mariupol area near the contact line.”
“The Mitsotakis government is committed to doing what is necessary to protect the Greek community that has been there for many centuries,” the foreign minister continued.
“A conflict in Ukraine will have no winner,” he added.
“Historical ties between our countries”
The Foreign Minister also spoke about the “historical ties between our countries” and stressed that “we do not forget Russia’s decisive contribution to Greek independence.”
During the meeting, “we considered the promotion of ties between Greece and Russia,” said Dendias, adding: “we emphasised the cooperation in many sectors such as tourism, energy, the pandemic and I asked for charter flights in the summer.”
“We continue contacts at all levels, and especially in international security” he stated, underling that Greece bases its foreign policy “on established Principles and values.”
“Respect for international law, prohibition of the use or threat of use of force against the territorial integrity of any state, respect for national sovereignty, the protection of human rights and the observance of commitments made by each country,” he explained.
Message to Turkey
The two foreign ministers also discussed developments in the “wider region of the eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus, Libya and the Caucasus,” according to the Greek official.
“About the Eastern Mediterranean, I informed him of Turkey’s continuing destabilising behaviour and aggression,” he said.
Dendias explained that the Turks are “taking advantage of the fact that international attention is focused elsewhere and are now making non-existent claims against Greek sovereignty.”
“Greece is in favour of dialogue but under the terms of international law and international law of the sea,” he stressed, but warned that “we will defend our sovereignty in everyway.”
The statements following the Dendias-Lavrov meeting in Moscow.
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