Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ statement following his meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister, Alexander Schallenberg (Vienna, 08.03.2022)

Dear Alexander,

Thank you so much for your warm hospitality, and I mean it, it’s not a matter of saying. And also thank you for your continuous support within the EU, within the Council. I always profit enormously from meeting you, from your deep understanding of the political situation, the geopolitical challenges we face.

I totally agree with what you said, that this huge crisis, the Ukrainian crisis, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia has created a unity among us that was unbelievable just a few days ago.

Of course, this situation raises great challenges. Greece, as I had the opportunity to tell you, has an important minority in Ukraine, and around Mariupol, approximately 150.000 people. Thank you for your kind words over our losses. We have at least 10 Greek origin victims, and quite many others not yet accounted for. We are very much trying to create a humanitarian corridor so that people that want to leave, can leave. And I have to tell you, as we speak, we have a Consul General in Mariupol, the last EU diplomat there and we have a very difficult time getting him out of there. We are trying our best. I was in the OSCE before, we had just a meeting trying to figure out how we can finally establish this humanitarian corridor.

But also we had the opportunity to discuss about sanctions, our coordinated response against the invasion. We have a very clear position: everybody that is connected with the EU should abide by those sanctions. We cannot have various levels of involvement in this crisis. All the countries that accept International Law and the norms of International Law have to have a common position.

And, of course, the third one as you rightly said is refugees. We have to take care of the refugees. Greece is ready to do its part. And this gives me the opportunity to thank you for this Austrian help during the 2015 migration crisis at the Greek border. That shows that Austria is not an à la carte friend, but a country that helps other European countries in their hour of need.

Of course, as you said, we did not just discuss Ukraine. We went around our region. Our region is full of challenges. The Western Balkans is an important part. Thank you for so openly subscribing to the European agenda of the Western Balkans. We always say there is no other way, only the European way. If we don’t give the hope of EU membership to the Western Balkans, these societies will, in my humble opinion, be victims to temptations coming from other parties.

And thank you for your deep understanding, also, of the challenges presented by Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have to work there together. As well as to try to finalise the Agreement, so that the negotiations between Albania and North Macedonia finally start.

Last but not least, we discussed the Eastern Mediterranean.

Of course, the Ukrainian situation dominates, but challenges are still there.

And again, I am grateful that you have always been helpful and you have always been a positive voice in the Council supporting, not us, not Greece, not Cyprus, but International Law.

And I am always saying that Austria, a landlocked country, has subscribed to UNCLOS, the International Law of the Sea. Why? Because Austria understands that unless we have rules, there is no other way. When at the same time, countries that have a huge coastline do not subscribe to UNCLOS.

So, thank you so much. It was a great pleasure to be here in Vienna, in these challenging times.

And may I express the hope to see you in Athens.

Thank you so much.

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I would like to comment on the issue of banning Russian gas and oil imports into Europe. Greece relies on energy from Russia for just 30% of our equilibrium. So for us, maybe it would have been easier. But I would like to have a full discussion on the Council. There are other countries that rely much more than us, 70%, 80%, 90%. And I would like to hear their opinion in the Council of Ministers before formulating a response.

Having said that, we are trying to create a way in which diversification can exist in Europe. We have two FSRU units which can import liquefied gas from other sources, Algeria, Qatar, the United States. So, Europe may have a choice in the future, but I underline, in the future.