Dendias: India is a big power and Greece aspires for a strategic relationship

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias during his meeting with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday in New Delhi described the South Asian country as a "big power."

In statements at the meeting, Greece's top diplomat said his country aspires to strategic relations with New Delhi and expressed hope that the prime ministers of both countries will meet shortly for that purpose.

"I have to be honest with you from the beginning. We aspire our relation to become a strategic one, and I hope that Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Mitsotakis will meet shortly exactly for that purpose," the Greek Foreign Minister said.

He noted that this was their third meeting in less than a year, recollecting Jaishankar's visit to Athens, and said the two countries, Greece as the first and India as the biggest democracy in the world, "see many things in a very similar way."

This includes, as he said, "International Law, sovereignty, human rights, prohibition of use of force and our shared commitment to International Law of the Sea, to UNCLOS."

"This and also maritime security is very important to us," Greece's top diplomat continued.

"I am am very much looking forward to our discussion on all serious issues, starting of course with the crisis in Ukraine.

"This for us will be a great opportunity to hear the way a big power like India sees things.

"But it will also allow me to brief you on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, on the issue of Cyprus and on all other important issues in our region."

Dendias concluded by noting that the meeting was a great opportunity for "enhancing our bilateral partnership".

Meanwhile, on Twitter, the Greek Foreign Minister announced the signing of a Declaration of Intent on Migration and Mobility between the two countries, as well as Cultural and Educational Exchange Programme.

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