Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ statement to journalists, following his meeting with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres (New York, 18.03.2022)

I had the pleasure of meeting the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres.

We had a long discussion. First of all, we discussed, of course, the developments in Ukraine, and I had the opportunity to brief him on the extreme difficulties, the incredible risks that the Diaspora Greeks are facing in this region. I asked him to offer his good offices in order to safeguard, as much as possible, the lives and property of these people.

Beyond that, as you understand, we discussed the Cyprus issue, relations with Turkey, Libya, and I had the opportunity to brief him on the three Greek candidacies, I repeat, three candidacies.

First of all, as you already know, our candidacy for the UN Security Council, our candidacy for the Presidency of the United Nations General Assembly in 2035, but also the candidacy, which we will announce immediately after this visit, for the UN Human Rights Council for the 2028-30 term.

Greece believes in the United Nations Charter and seeks to participate in the most active way in the application of the principles contained in the Charter, namely the principles of International Law and the International Law of the Sea.

And one last thing: immediately after leaving the Secretary-General’s office, I had the opportunity to speak with and welcome our Consul General in Mariupol, Mr. Manolis Androulakis. To warmly thank him for his services, his self-sacrifice in the effort to protect the Diaspora Greeks.

I will be very happy to see him as soon as I return to Athens, but nevertheless I told him what I said in the Hellenic Parliament: that we are particularly proud of him.