Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had a meeting today at the Maximos Palace with a ministerial delegation from Bulgaria, under the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Asen Vasilev.
Vasilev was accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Effective Administration, Kalina Konstantinova and Minister of Energy Alexander Nikolov.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mitsotakis commented on the political developments in Ukraine, saying that our country "as a fundamental principle, respects the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of all states."
"It therefore unequivocally condemns actions that run counter to these values and, as a Member State of the European Union and NATO, is already coordinating with its partners so that its response is common and effective," the prime minister added.
At the same time, Mitsotakis noted that Greece has an additional reason for concern and monitoring the developments.
"The protection and support of the Greek community in Ukraine and the large community in Mariupol, which has had a presence for more than 2,000 years in the region and for which we are working," he added.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkkEu0SbRmM
Statement from the Prime Minister:
"Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, I welcome you with great pleasure in Greece and I am sure that you will have very useful and constructive talks with your Greek counterparts.
"I am particularly pleased that my visit to Sofia, immediately after the formation of the new government, marked a more dynamic phase in our already excellent bilateral relations.
"This is part of your visit today, a visit that takes place at particularly critical times and requires the coordination and cooperation of the Member States of the European Union and NATO.
"Yesterday's recognition by Russia, the unilateral declaration of "independence" from the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk blatantly violates international law, the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the Minsk agreements.
"And, like any revisionist initiative, it undermines international stability and progress.
"Greece, as a fundamental principle, respects the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of all states.
"It therefore unequivocally condemns actions that run counter to these values and, as a Member State of the European Union and NATO, is already coordinating with its partners so that its response is common and effective.
"I have already contacted the President of the European Commission, Mrs Ursula von der Leyen, in this regard.
"Our country has an additional reason for concern and monitoring the developments: the protection and support of the Greek community in Ukraine and the large community in Mariupol, which has a presence of more than 2,000 years in the region and for which we work.
"The world community has an opportunity to resist the power of arms, to challenge borders and international treaties.
"The culture and conquests of the 21st century must not allow the world to return to the conditions of violence of other times and to the armed solutions of transnational disputes.
"The responsibility of governments and peoples is now being judged on this front.
"As for the possible effects of the escalating crisis, especially in the energy sector, I want to assure all Greek citizens that we as a government have taken all the necessary measures to ensure that the country's gas supply remains safe and to continue smoothly.
"And at this point I would like to assure you that Greece is willing to assist its friend Bulgaria in the field of energy efficiency."
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Meanwhile, the Cypriot Foreign Ministry reiterated "its support to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders."
"Any actions that undermine the territorial integrity of Ukraine are contrary to the fundamental principles of International Law and violate the Minsk Agreements, which constitute the only way to resolve the crisis," the ministry's statement continued.
"We are against any secession, recognition or support of secession and any form of annexation," the statement added.
"The Foreign Minister will participate in an extraordinary informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the EU, in Paris, this afternoon," it concluded.
READ MORE: Ukraine does not consider Greeks to be indigenous to the country.
