My dear Wopke, dear Minister, it is my great pleasure to welcome you today on your first visit to Athens in your new capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Your visit gave us the opportunity to examine how we, as European partners, but also as NATO Allies, can address the greatest European crisis of the 21st century.
Yesterday, as I told you, I was in Ukraine, in Odessa, a city that is closely linked with the history of Hellenism. Our Consulate General in Odessa is operating again. It is the only European Consulate operating there.
I also had the opportunity to meet with the Greek Diaspora, with the Greeks who live there; with the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, with the Head of the Regional Military Administration, with the Mayor of Odessa.
I delivered humanitarian aid, mainly medicines, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Doctors of the World for their contribution to this humanitarian aid that I delivered.
There will be a follow-up to this effort, under the coordination of the Director General for Development and Humanitarian Aid of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alexandros Diakopoulos, because the Greek Government, the Mitsotakis Government, has made the commitment to do everything possible for the Greek Diaspora in Ukraine.
I also want to say, and I believe we both share this feeling, that I am appalled by the horrific crimes against Ukrainian civilians, the bodies of which were discovered yesterday in the city of Bucha, near Kyiv.
Those responsible must be held accountable for these actions, which we unequivocally condemn. I also want to say that Greece, through any means it may have at its disposal, will contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Greece, like the Netherlands, has participated in the imposition of sanctions on Russia, despite the price that this decision has for both economies.
And I want to express the hope that all the countries that are looking forward to a European future and to Europe will follow this path and will impose sanctions.
The Russian invasion demonstrates that any revisionism, any violation of fundamental principles of International Law has no place in the international community of the 21st century.
It is unacceptable. Condemnation must be immediate and severe sanctions should be imposed on those who break the rules.
Incidentally, your visit today coincides with the anniversary of the signing of the Washington Treaty, the Founding Act of NATO, of which both our countries are members.
For this reason, NATO flags have been hoisted today next to the flags of our countries and next to the flags of our common home, the European Union.
Apart from Ukraine, I had the opportunity to brief you on the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, the Middle East, Libya, and the Western Balkans, the accession prospects, that is, the European perspective of which I think we both support, with the well-known conditionality.
We also had the opportunity, and will continue during lunch, to discuss our bilateral relations, which have been on the rise in recent years.
We expect the official visit of HM King of the Netherlands which was postponed due to developments in Ukraine.
We examined our prospects in the economic field. I would like to note and express my appreciation for the fact that the Netherlands ranks first as regards foreign direct investment in Greece. The Netherlands is the largest foreign investor in Greece.
We also discussed our cooperation in International Organizations, our mutual support for election to the UN Security Council, the migration-refugee issue; also, the participation of the Netherlands in FRONTEX, for which I would like to warmly thank you. The Netherlands is participating in Operation POSEIDON and, hence, in the protection of the European Union’s external borders.
It is certain that we both agree on the importance of political consultations between our countries. In a few days, the Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lalakos, will travel to The Hague precisely to hold political consultations.
We also agree that our economic relations can be expanded. The trade balance is dramatically unfavourable for us – you are aware of it as a former Minister of Finance.
We will do all we can to balance the situation.
I would also like to express my deep appreciation to the Dutch academic community with its long tradition of classical studies departments in Dutch universities. It was very important what you told me, that your grandfather was a professor of ancient Greek. I am not sure to what extent you remember the language, it is not easy, but it is important that ancient Greek was running in your family. Thank you very much for that.
Finally, my dear Wopke, I would like to note that our countries have a lot in common. We are small countries, we have a long history, we have a particularly important maritime tradition, and we share our commitment to democracy, human rights, International Law. It is no coincidence that the father of International Law, Hugo de Groot, was Dutch and it is no coincidence that The Hague is where the headquarters of the International Court of Justice is located.
So, I look forward to the further development of relations with the Netherlands, always based on our common principles and our common values, and thank you very much for your visit to Greece today, which I would like to reciprocate as soon as possible.
Thank you so much.