Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ statement to journalists in the course of his visit to South Africa (Johannesburg, 24.01.2023)

First of all, I had the opportunity today to meet with my South African counterpart, on the first visit by a Greek Foreign Minister to South Africa in 25 years. South Africa, as is known, is a very important country, the second largest economy on the continent, but also a country with significant influence in the wider region.

As a result, I was given the opportunity to thank South Africa for its support for our election to the Security Council, as well as to seek its assistance with a number of sub-Saharan African countries from which we are also seeking votes.
Aside from that, we took an overview of the global situation following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I recall that Sergei Lavrov was here yesterday, and Josep Borrell is coming.

We also went through sectors in which South Africa could cooperate with Greece, including energy, shipping, agricultural products, and transfer of know-how.

Furthermore, I had a significant opportunity, which made me feel very happy, and that was to come to the SAHETI school, the Greek school in South Africa with 1,500 students. To meet the teachers, to get in touch with the students, and to meet with the representatives of the large Greek community in South Africa; a thriving Greek community of almost 50,000 that demonstrates what we already know: that Hellenism extends beyond the narrow geographical boundaries of our motherland and that wider Hellenism always makes us proud.