Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Zbigniew,
I would first like to warmly thank you for the warm hospitality in your hometown and for leading the OSCE, with the active engagement of the Secretary General, Helga Schmid, during this extremely difficult year.
I would also like to state from the outset that Greece fully aligns itself with the positions of the EU as expressed in its statement.
Dear colleagues,
This year’s Ministerial Meeting takes place under the shadow of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We would not have reached this point if Russia had chosen to do the obvious, to respect International Law. Respect for International Law is the hard core of predictability in international relations. It is the cornerstone of our international system. And only respect for International Law can navigate us through the present security crisis.
There is no excuse for not complying with International Law. This is a matter of cardinal importance. National sovereignty, territorial integrity, abstaining from the use or the threat of use of force are the fundamental principles and they are non-negotiable. They do not depend on the distinct values or historical background a country might have. They do not depend on whether conditions have changed. And we all have to be extremely careful as revisionism seeks to place peace on quicksand.
Dear colleagues,
Greece is a country committed to promoting a stable and secure environment in conformity with International Law. Solutions can be found through an inclusive dialogue and the OSCE has a role to play.
We would therefore keep on extending our full support to you, Zbigniew, as well as to the forth-coming chairmanship of North Macedonia, to my dear friend Bujar, in this difficult task.
Thank you so much