Day: July 5, 2021

“It is a great pleasure to be here in Kiev today, four years after the last visit of a high-ranking Greek official to the Ukrainian capital.

Certainly, this is a symbolic year. It is a symbolic year for Ukraine, which is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its independence and it was a great pleasure for me to participate in the conference previously and to have the opportunity to express our views. It was a great honour both for me and my country.
It is also a symbolic year because Greece celebrates the 200th anniversary of the beginning of our War of Independence.

This creates a solid foundation for our ties, the ties of Greece and Ukraine, which date back to antiquity. But of course, no Greek, since childhood, can forget that in Odessa, which I will visit immediately afterwards, the Filiki Etairia [Society of Friends] was founded with the purpose to organize the Greek Revolution.

During our meeting earlier we discussed our bilateral relations and we will continue during lunch.

A connecting element is the historical presence of the Greek Diaspora in Ukraine, which today numbers over 100,000 inhabitants, and we hope for the safeguarding of their rights, as I discussed previously with the Minister. It is an integral part of the Ukrainian society and a bridge between our two countries and our two peoples. We are also very happy that the Greek language and our culture are taught in Ukrainian Universities.

I would also like to unreservedly express my thanks for the contribution of the Ukrainians to the development of the Greek economy. About thirty thousand Ukrainians – a very significant number – work in Greek-owned vessels, in the largest merchant fleet in the world. We greatly appreciate their contribution.

And of course, thousands of our Ukrainian friends visit our country every year. I hope that we will welcome them again this year. As you know, we recognize the vaccination certificates, as I mentioned earlier to the Minister.

But we can achieve much more. We can strengthen our bilateral ties and we can strengthen our trade. And of course, we can engage in an honest, constant and ongoing dialogue, because both countries face challenges.

I would suggest that the basic principle for both countries be this, which is a standard practice for Greece: the strict adherence to International Law, the strict adherence to the peaceful settlement of disputes, the strict adherence to abstaining from threats or the use of force.

As I said before, I am saying it now and I will keep saying it at the behest of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, and this has always been Greece’s position.

This is what we firmly reiterate in all the international fora and organizations in which we participate, including the European Union, NATO and the OSCE, and this is what we will continue to do regardless of the cost to us, because it is a matter of principle.

We can become the ideal ally and a source of assistance to Ukraine in its European course because we want to strengthen these relations. We are a country on the east side of the European Union and Ukraine is in proximity to us. At this stage, if we were to formulate an opinion, we would suggest that Ukraine makes full use of all the provisions of the Association Agreement and continue what its government is already doing, namely the necessary reforms.

We also support Ukraine’s choice to strengthen ties with NATO. We are actively participating in the safeguard measures for Ukraine through our air base in Aktio, the periodic presence of our Navy in the Black Sea and in general with the military forces we contribute as a permanent member of NATO.

As I always want to be honest, I must say we are surprised when Ukraine does not align itself with the decisions of the Union’s common foreign policy – unlike all countries which pursue the strengthening of their ties with the European Union – especially in the case of actions that violate the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the member states of the Union and are contrary to International Law. After all, I think this is the basis on which Ukraine itself seeks support from the international community to protect its own rights and has our support on it. We hope that Ukraine will soon be in line with the European foreign policy.

My dear Dmytro, we still have a lot to say. It will be my great pleasure to continue our discussion and to welcome you very soon to Athens in a building as beautiful, but not as majestic as the one in which you do me the honour of welcoming me.

Thank you very much for the cordial welcome and reception”.

JOURNALIST: I wanted to ask the Ministers if they discussed on the strengthening of the status concerning the rights of the Greek Diaspora in Ukraine and whether there will be any specific measures.

N. DENDIAS: Thank you for the question and I thank my dear colleague for the assurance he gave you. We have discussed this issue privately and I would like to reiterate the assurance he has just given to you and which he has previously given to me personally – and I say this to his credit – that there is no legislation, either previous or next, which restricts the rights of the Greek minority in Ukraine. Instead, the services of a member of this minority are employed for the drafting of the bill for the extension and consolidation of the rights of the minority, which, as I said before, is a bridge of friendship between the two states and the two peoples and the embodiment of the historical presence of Hellenism in the Black Sea for thousands of years.

JOURNALIST: Mr. Fragogiannis, Greece looks ahead to exiting from the health crisis successfully. How can this momentum be used to attract foreign investment?

K. FRAGOGIANNIS: Addressing the pandemic through initiatives to protect employees and public health, ensure adequate number of vaccines and create digital solutions has in fact demonstrated the Government’s ability to respond reliably, quickly, efficiently and to lead rather than follow. Such an environment where the government earns the appreciation of the citizens in these difficult times, cannot but earn the appreciation of investors seeking a politically secure environment, which opens up prospects for economic growth based on human talent, social cohesion and mechanisms that support foreign investment.

JOURNALIST: How are the discussions on the positive agenda with Turkey developing so far and what will the next steps be?

K. FRAGOGIANNIS: We have met twice with my Turkish counterpart Sedat Onal, the first time in Kavala and the second time in Antalya, Turkey. In thοse meetings we had the opportunity to initially raise the 25 issues to be dealt with and the sectors they concern and during the second meeting to overview the progress made by both sides. There has been great progress on all issues, on some obviously a little more than on others. Τhis is actually the real meaning of these meetings, that is to consider where we need to focus our attention in order to finalize an action plan for each of these initiatives in due course. The climate is positive, both sides demonstrate willingness while each side has organized working groups, which are called upon to have this action plan be reflected on concrete actions, timetables and deliverables.

JOURNALIST: What is the purpose of the Foreign Ministry’s bill on extroversion strategy?

K. FRAGOGIANNIS: I would like to note that when we are referring to extroversion, we are not talking only about exports but also about multiple actions concerning the internationalization of Greek companies through subsidiaries, participations, joint ventures and all kinds of business schemes abroad. We have planned, therefore, specific actions that support the extroversion of the Greek economy in order to highlight the economic and trade position of the country at regional and international level, through new structures we have created and through the strengthening of the country’s multilateral economic relations. In this context, we have developed a new integrated strategy in target countries, where Greek products could reach new markets, while we have not overlooked large countries with which we have traditionally developed trade relations. This is a plan that has been submitted to the Prime Minister and will be announced soon.

JOURNALIST: What does your upcoming visit to Iraq accompanying Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis mean in the economic field?

K. FRAGOGIANNIS: There is a strong trade relationship between our country and Iraq. It is not widely known but Greece buys 48.5% of its oil needs from this country, which is now under reconstruction. There is a great need for medicines, food supplies but also infrastructure projects and production of electricity through RES. So, having methodically built a very good political relationship with Iraq, we are travelling with the Prime Minister to Baghdad and Erbil, where we have a good relationship with the authorities, accompanying a group of businessmen from relevant sectors that I mentioned above, and who are interested in investing in the country. We hope to be able to offer them the opportunity to grow their business in this promising market.

JOURNALIST: What is the significance of the project that was launched together with Volkswagen in Astypalaia? Is there a prospect of it being implemented on a larger scale in other places of Greece?

K. FRAGOGIANNIS: It is a pilot program that could be transferred on a larger scale anywhere else in Greece or abroad. It is, in fact, an emblematic project whose value does not result from the size of financial investment or the new jobs created but from its novelty and uniqueness throughout the world. That is why it has attracted global interest. The best way to describe this project is to say that it is a glimpse into the future before it arrives. Such projects show the international community that Greece is changing and that it is an attractive destination both for capital-intensive and labor-intensive investments as well as for research and technology investments.

JOURNALIST: What is the purpose of your trip to Libya?

K. FRAGOGIANNIS: Economic co-operation in international relations usually follows the results of diplomacy, while sometimes, as in the case of a positive agenda with Turkey, political diplomacy can follow a good economic co-operation. In Libya, therefore, for the last 12 months we have intensively aimed at building a political relationship with the country, and with regards to this positive approach, we want to restore our economic and trade cooperation. Libya is a large country in our neighborhood, it plays an important geopolitical role in our general policy and it is in great need of infrastructure projects as well as of trade and financial transactions. We intend to travel to Libya following in the footsteps of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in order to explore the opportunities so as to organize a trade mission soon.

«Honoured guests,
My dear colleague,

First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.

The 30th anniversary of Ukraine’ s independence is also – if you allow me to say – an emblematic year for my country, Greece. This year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the beginning of our War for Independence. And what is important to mention here, in Kiev, in the capital of Ukraine, is that we always remember that this War of Independence of ours, this Revolution of ours, started in Ukraine. We always remember that Odessa was the city, where the Society of Friends – in Greece we call it the “Filiki Etairia” – was founded in 1814. A Society with the sole purpose of founding an independent Greek State.

This is why this Ukrainian city, but also Ukraine as a country, are so close to the hearts of us Greeks. And this is one of the many reasons that Greece is, and will always be, willing to assist Ukraine in its European aspirations. We believe that you belong to the European Union, next to us. In this context, Ukraine is a priority partner for the European Union, both bilaterally and also in the framework of the Eastern Partnership.

During the last few years, Ukraine with the support of the European Union has taken very essential steps in implementing very complex, but also very ambitious reforms. And it was very interesting to listen to the speech of your President, mentioning ambition as a main theme. The success of these reforms is pivotal for a better future for Ukraine. A future of a close cooperation with the European Union, in the framework of a tailored relation.

Reforms must be implemented of course, in a sustainable manner, on the basis of our common Euro-Atlantic values and our common Euro-Atlantic principles.

We Greeks are proud that the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, was signed in 2014 during the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The implementation of these Agreements is key in bringing prosperity and welfare to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. In this challenging time, we will support your efforts for the full implementation of the Association Agreement.

Greece has also consistently supported Ukraine’s long-established partnership with NATO. We continue to encourage the country’s efforts towards steadily deepening the ties with the North-Atlantic Alliance. The recent NATO Summit in Brussels reaffirmed the Allies’ commitment to stand by the decisions taken at the 2008 Bucharest Summit. A sovereign, independent and stable Ukraine, firmly committed to democracy and the rule of law, is important to European and Transatlantic security. The Enhanced Opportunity Partner status, granted last year, provides further impetus to the already existing strong partnership. It will undoubtedly promote, inter alia, Ukraine’s participation in NATO’s exercises and training.

With regard to the challenges that Ukraine is facing, the European Union has continuously and repeatedly reaffirmed its support. The European Union supports Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity on the basis of the fundamental principles of International Law. The European Union has taken a series of practical steps towards the implementation of this principles-based approach. This approach is based on the condemnation of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, and the restrictive measures imposed against the Russian Federation, in response to the crisis in Ukraine.

Greece has clearly expressed its principled position in all the international fora in which we participate: We uphold international legality. We always condemn its violators. We are clearly asking everybody to streamline [their positions] with the European Union foreign policy.

And we have adopted this approach in the case of Ukraine. I have to say, we have adopted the same approach in all cases. We have adopted the same approach in the case of Turkey’s persistent illegal and aggressive actions against Greece and against the Republic of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the broader region. For us Greeks, the respect for International Law, the respect of the International Law of the Sea remains the basic pillar of our principled foreign policy. It is not, ladies and gentlemen, an à la carte choice. It cannot be. It can never be.

We steadily believe that a common set of rules, shared by all, is the only basis for peace and stability. A case-by-case position is always – allow me to say – a very big trap. It may have some short-term minor advantages; it is a certain long-term loss.

Thank you for your kind attention.»