Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ statement following the briefing of the representatives of the Parliamentary Parties (Athens, 18.10.2022)

In the context of the regular briefing of the Parliamentary Parties’ representatives upon instruction from the Prime Minister, I held today a series of very interesting meetings.

After consultation, of course, with the representative of PASOK-KINAL, Mr. Andreas Loverdos, I will meet with him next Monday.

During these meetings, I always refer to the need for national unity on issues concerning our foreign policy.

In fact, today, due to current tension, this consensus is more essential than ever. The challenges we face are unprecedented.

I briefed my interlocutors on my contacts in Cairo, London, and Valletta, as well as on the EU Foreign Affairs Council held yesterday in Luxembourg. I met with my counterparts and informed them, as I informed the Council, of the recent ‘memorandum’ between the government of Tripoli (GNU) and Turkey.

I consider it absolutely positive that in addition to the statements made, there was a clear understanding of the Greek positions; positions which are based on a solid foundation, the International Law, the International Law of the Sea.

And, of course, positions that serve stability and security in the Mediterranean.

I also had the opportunity to highlight the example of Israel and Lebanon, and their recent Agreement on their maritime zones; an agreement that reinforces the Greek narrative, as it is of symbolic importance for the entire region.

Regarding the Greek-Turkish dispute, I consistently underline that this dispute can well be settled within the framework of International Law and the International Law of the Sea.

However, Turkey does not lend a sympathetic ear to these invitations. It prefers to engage in unlawful conduct.

I want to make it clear that we will continue to highlight this unlawful conduct and bring it to the fore.

Aside from that, I also informed my interlocutors about my traveling to Kyiv. It will be my third visit to Ukraine during the war. The first two were to Odessa, a city of immense symbolic importance for Hellenism.

In addition to deepening bilateral relations, my visit to Ukraine has a strong symbolic aspect: The fact that the Greek Government, the Greek society, the Greek people as a whole, stand by the countries whose national independence and sovereignty are under threat.

I have repeatedly stated that International Law, the Charter of the United Nations, is the “Holy Gospel” of the Greek foreign policy.

I will reiterate this in Kyiv as well.