Dear Minister,
I am particularly pleased to be here today in Paris, in a friendly country, and one of Greece’s most important strategic partners, with whom we share principles and values.
I’m meeting with you in a bilateral context for the first time since you assumed office and I’d like to congratulate you again. You’ve taken over from my dear friend Jean-Yves Le Drian, with whom we had excellent cooperation.
I’d like to thank you for your warm words, acknowledging our assistance provided to France in fighting the wildfires by sending Canadair aircraft.
But I must also thank you, for my part, for sending 25 French firefighters to Attica, where they will remain until the end of August.
These actions constitute a tangible demonstration of European solidarity and the close relations that exist between our countries.
Our relations have been forged over centuries. A square in Nafplio, the first capital of Greece, is named after the French Philhellenes. Delacroix’s painting of the massacre of Chios is the most famous painting about the Greek Revolution and close to my house, in Athens, there is a bust of a great Frenchman, Chateaubriand, placed there in 1939.
We were on the same side in both World Wars, and I want to emphasize that, in matters relating to the Aegean today, France is a signatory to the Treaty of Lausanne, the Montreux Convention regarding the regime of the Straits, and the 1947 Treaty of Paris.
The course of our excellent relations continues with our cooperation within the EU and NATO.
It reached its peak with the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement last September; a unique Agreement, which includes a mutual defense assistance clause.
France is one of Greece’s most important economic and investment partners.
However, it’s also Greece’s defense partner. We recently agreed to purchase the modern Belharra frigates, French Rafale aircraft are already flying in Greek colors and, thanks to French weapons, Greece’s deterrent power is being strengthened against any external threat.
But our relationship is solid, based on shared principles and values, on freedom, democracy, justice, human rights, women’s rights, commitment to International Law, dialogue, peaceful resolution of disputes, and, of course, on the avoidance of the use of force in international relations.
And the Russian invasion of Ukraine came to shake these principles, this framework.
We discussed the consequences of the Russian invasion and how revisionism is unacceptable in the 21st century.
At this point, I’d like to underline the commitment of my country, Greece, to International Law and the principles of the International Law of the Sea. Greece will continue to uphold these principles in its foreign policy.
I briefed you, following my visit to Nicosia yesterday, about the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean. We examined together the developments in this region and I also informed you about the upsurge in Turkish rhetoric and actions that are destabilizing the region, and I underlined the importance of European solidarity.
But I’d like to acknowledge, and thank you for this, that France has always been staunchly on our side
We also discussed NATO, and I told you – and I say this publicly – that Greece is – and will remain – a supporter of strengthening European autonomy.
We discussed the Western Balkans and their accession perspective.
I’d also like to publicly congratulate you because the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union’s tireless efforts have borne fruit. They have paved the way for the accession perspective of Albania and North Macedonia.
We also discussed the worrying situation in the Sahel and the risk of terrorism spreading to the region.
I briefed you on the projects that Greece has undertaken in this region of Africa and we had the opportunity to exchange views on developments in Libya. France’s stance on these issues has always been constructive in my opinion.
I would also like to publicly thank you for our cooperation within the UN. A permanent member’s support for a seat on the Security Council is very important to us.
Aside from that, I’d also like to state publicly that Greece is proud that we also cooperate within the framework of Francophonie.
Concluding, I’d like to thank you warmly for your welcome here in Paris today and to reiterate how important having a common understanding with France is to us and express the hope that I will soon have the pleasure and honor of welcoming you in Athens.
Thank you very much.