I had the opportunity today, as part of my visit to Vietnam, following the visit here by the President of the Hellenic Republic, to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Mr. Bui Thanh Son. Later I will be received by the Prime Minister and the President of the country.
We discussed bilateral relations, our economic relations, but also a wide range of other issues.
Vietnam is not only a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the UNCLOS, but also an active member of the Group of Friends of UNCLOS.
In this regard, we, Greece, and Vietnam have agreed to hold close consultations on the Law of the Sea, to better understand each other’s positions, and to work together for the development of the International Law of the Sea and its implementation on the global level.
Aside from that, we also discussed another round of collaboration in the fields of education and sports.
And let me tell you a little-known fact about the two countries: President Ho Chi Minh, the founder of Vietnam, fought on the Macedonian Front in the period ‘16-’17 serving in the French army.
We, therefore, agreed that a bust of him should be erected in Edessa to highlight this fact.
We also discussed the transfer of the ashes of the Greek fighter Sarantidis, who fought on the side of the Vietnamese army during the Vietnamese War of Independence and is fondly remembered by the Vietnamese.
I believe that Vietnam, a country of 100 million people, with a thriving economy of almost 400 billion, constitutes an interesting interlocutor for Greece in the Southeast Asian region; and that it would be highly beneficial to broaden and deepen our relations.
JOURNALIST: Tensions flared in Kosovo yesterday; How do you comment on that?
N. DENDIAS: As is well-known, stability and security in the wider region are of paramount importance to Greek diplomacy. I don’t even remember how many times I’ve visited Pristina and Belgrade in the last two years. Furthermore, as you are aware, Greece participates in KFOR, the peacekeeping force in Kosovo. Prudence and adherence to International Law are thus required. The adequate framework within Belgrade and Pristina will be able to discuss and resolve their differences is also required. Our country, as an honest interlocutor in the Balkans, will do its utmost to facilitate this process.