Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis’ address at the signing ceremony of the joint minute for the program of the Greek-Russian history Year 2021 (02.07.2021)

“We are bound together by many ties with Russia and the Greek-Russian history Year 2021, which coincides with the particularly symbolic for our country 200th anniversary of the outbreak of the Greek War of Independence, provides an exceptional opportunity to highlight them”, stressed Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis in his address at the signing ceremony of the joint minute for the program of the Greek-Russian history Year, held at the Old Parliament House. Mr. Varvitsiotis added, moreover, that “culture and the exchange of views on issues of history are a solid foundation on which we build the relationship and cooperation of our countries, both in good and difficult times”.

The Alternate Minister pointed out that Greece hopes for Russia’s support in international organizations on the issue of the conversion of the Hagia Sophia monument into a mosque. He also noted that the conclusion of discussions between Greece and Russia on the repatriation of the Archives of the Greek Jewish Communities, which are currently kept in Russia “would precisely send the message of deeper cooperation on issues of cultural and historical interest.”

Finally, Mr. Varvitsiotis made particular mention of the visit of the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Moscow at the end of the year.