Category: Government

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias participated in the webinar co-organized by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Greece, the Republic of North Macedonia and Austria, on the implementation, in multicultural societies, of the three non-legally binding working definitions of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which is chaired by Greece this year.

The webinar was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, and the Austrian Federal Minister for the EU and the Constitution, Karoline Edtstadler.

The event provided an opportunity for educators, teachers and policy makers from Southeast European countries to exchange views and experiences on the subject (“Practical Implementation of the three non-legally binding IHRA working definitions in multicultural societies: lessons learned, best practices, steps forward”), in the context of the effort to combat racism and Antisemitism through training and educational processes.

In his speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias highlighted the fact that Greece was the first EU country to put into legislation the IHRA definitions of Antisemitism and Holocaust denial and distortion of historical truth, and has adopted legislation that goes beyond the IHRA definitions of anti-Roma concepts and activities.

In this context, the Minister emphasized the willingness and readiness of Greece to share relevant expertise with neighbours and friends and to encourage the strengthening of cooperation with them to prevent and fight Antisemitism.

He also pointed out that this event is in the framework of the accession process of the Republic of North Macedonia to the IHRA as a full member, a prospect that our country supports. In addition, Mr. Dendias expressed his concern at the rise of Antisemitism that has been observed during the pandemic.

Read the full text of the Minister’s speech here

Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis participated today in the 131st Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, held via videoconference.

In his speech, Mr. Varvitsiotis referred to the efforts undertaken by the German Presidency to promote the Agency’s tasks and, in particular, to enhance the role of the European Court of Human Rights. Mr. Varvitsiotis also referred to issues related to artificial intelligence, as well as the accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights, noting that the Greek Presidency that preceded the German one had placed particular emphasis on this issue.

The Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs also brought up the refugee/migration challenge, stressing that the instrumentalization of refugees and migrants by states aiming at destabilizing countries that are members of the Council of Europe should not be tolerated. Regarding the recent developments in Spain, he expressed solidarity with the Spanish side, noting the correspondence of these events with what happened last year in Evros.

The Alternate Minister also spoke about the German Presidency’s initiatives to address hate speech and to reinforce the work of the Council of Europe to fight discrimination. In this context, Mr. Varvitsiotis stressed that Greece takes over the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and vigorously supports any initiative against this phenomenon, especially with regard to anti-Semitism.

Finally, Mr. Varvitsiotis expressed his satisfaction with the fact that the German Presidency made its priority the issues of the youth of Europe and of the Future, as the Greek Presidency had previously done and reminded that the dialogue on the Future of Europe has already started, in line with the principles of Human Rights, the Rule of Law and Democracy.

The Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs also noted that the importance of the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women must be further emphasized, while also expressing his regret at the position of certain Member States in the Council of Europe which does not allow consensus to be reached on such fundamental issues as the rights of women and children.

Concluding his speech, Mr. Varvitsiotis thanked the German Presidency for the work performed in the last six months, and wished good luck to the Hungarian Presidency that follows.

In an interview published in the 2021 Special Edition of Greece Investor Guide, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias underscored the importance of shared values in meeting the challenges of the future.

In this context, the Minister highlighted, among other things, Greece’s determination to enhance cooperation with its partners and allies, with a view to promoting peace, stability and growth to the broader region. In parallel, he stressed the need to increase multilateralism to tackle global challenges.

Read the full text of the Minister’s speech here

We welcome the achievement of a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, which we hope will allow for the consolidation of security and stability in the wider region.

Greece, being a European country and at the same time a country with traditional bonds with the countries of the region, actively contributes to the promotion of friendship and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East through continuous bilateral contacts with all parties, as well as through the multilateral arrangements in which it participates.

We express our particular thanks to Egypt, with which we maintain close ties of friendship and cooperation, for the catalytic role it played in achieving the ceasefire.

Finally, it is pointed out that during yesterday’s meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias informed that, on the order of the Prime Minister, Greece will assist Egypt with aid for the treatment of wounded from Gaza.

Today I had the pleasure of visiting Cairo again- for the fourth time in the last three months – and meeting with my Egyptian counterpart, my friend Sameh Shoukry.

We discussed the situation in our wider region and I had the opportunity to brief him on my recent contacts with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Gabi Ashkenazi, the Palestinian Prime Minister, and Ayman Safadi, the Jordanian Foreign Minister in Amman the day before yesterday.

Mr. Shoukry briefed me on their own contacts -President Sisi’ s and his- in Paris and on the Egyptian side’s efforts towards a ceasefire.

I express cautious optimism that we will soon have a positive outcome so that stability can be restored in the wider region.