Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ statement to Greek journalists following the 28th OSCE Ministerial Council (Stockholm, 02.12.2021)

N. DENDIAS: I had the honour today to represent Greece in the OSCE Ministerial Council, in the presence of 57 Foreign Ministers, in physical presence for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic.

In my intervention, I outlined the firm Greek positions, namely the need for peace, security and stability.

I also had the opportunity to analyze the Greek paradigm in the Eastern Mediterranean, the way Greece acts as a force of stability and security in the region in accordance with International Law, International Law of the Sea and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Furthermore, this was an opportunity for quite a long list of bilateral contacts, first with the aim of promoting the Greek candidacy for the United Nations Security Council for the 2025-2026 term, but also of creating understandings on regional issues that concern and interest Greece. Among them, Armenia and Azerbaijan, the Foreign Ministers of which, I met. I also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, in order to have a clear understanding of the situation in Afghanistan, in addition to promoting economic relations [between Greece and Kazakhstan]. Furthermore, I held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country which is becoming a concern in the Balkans. I also met with the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the context of our relations in the European Union, but also with Foreign Ministers of smaller countries, such as Andorra and San Marino. Such meetings always offer an excellent opportunity to promote the national goals and the Greek positions on the future of Europe, on security and stability.

JOURNALIST: Did you also have a brief meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister, as we’ve seen in a photo?

N. DENDIAS: I would not call it a meeting; I would call it a handshake of a social nature. As you know, I have known Mr Çavuşoğlu for over twenty years. Therefore, it goes without saying that since we were in the same place, we would greet each other and say a few things.