Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ welcoming remarks at the Athens Retreat on Syria (21.04.2023)

Your Excellencies,
Special Envoy Pedersen, my dear Geir, if you will allow me the personal touch,
Esteemed Special Representatives,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to Greece for this year’s Retreat on Syria. And may I express the hope that this weekend will provide the opportunity for a fruitful exchange on the Syrian crisis.     Also, it could be an occasion to reiterate the European Union’s strong resolve for peace and stability in the wider Middle East.

The Syrian conflict, as we all know, has led to the tragic loss of countless human lives and also a dramatic increase in refugee and migration flows.    It has become the epicenter of a severe humanitarian crisis and of illegal military interventions by third actors in contravention of International Law. We have also witnessed the emergence of Daesh/ISIS and other terrorist and criminal networks.

As a country of the immediate neighborhood, with very close ties to the Syrian people, historical ties, if I may say so, including the local Christian communities, we have felt the repercussions first-hand. We have tried in this setting to assist in any way possible, in the humanitarian field or through our support to the United Nations’ efforts, in coordination with our European Union partners. We have been consistent also in supporting the protection of religious minorities and cultural heritage.

For Greece, the international community must aim towards guaranteeing the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, as all these are expressed in the Security Council Resolution 2254.

But these are also the core principles of our foreign policy and we strongly support, in this vein, the efforts of Special Envoy Pedersen, including our political and financial support to the Women’s Advisory Board. We consider the step-for-step approach as the only viable solution. A way forward from the current political stalemate.

Please allow me to add one more piece to the Syrian puzzle. The deterioration of our relations with Russia has highlighted the importance of Arab countries for Europe’s energy and food security. Therefore, cooperation with and among regional players is becoming a major priority for Greece, but we believe also for the European Union.

At the same time, accountability remains a rather significant aspect of this crisis. Since the beginning of the conflict, we have witnessed grave violations of international human rights law and international law in general. The protection of the civilian population, including women and children, must be upheld by all.    Women empowerment is an important pillar of this effort and special attention must also be placed on social and demographic changes. To that effect, Greece remains committed to supporting the work of the Commission of Inquiry on Syria.

Ladies and gentlemen,
The devastating earthquake that struck Türkiye and Syria on February the 6th caused great suffering. We, Greece, offered the contribution of 4 million euros for Türkiye, one million euros for Syria, as well as substantial assistance in kind.

But, in the face of this tragedy, opportunities have arisen for the enhancement of exchanges, despite existing challenges. In the case of Syria, nevertheless, we must remain cautious and we must move forward according to the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

At the same time, we need to acknowledge that Arab countries are mobilizing. The recent rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran coincides with the possible return of Syria to the Arab League. The European Union must remain engaged with its Arab partners on these issues, as a relevant, international partner.

On our part, we have long been working for the establishment of a regional security architecture in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.    An architecture firmly rooted in International Law and the principle of good neighborly relations, where everyone is invited to engage with us, as long as they are committed to these principles.

Greece, in cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus, has invested in multilateral cooperation mechanisms with key partners, as are Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Palestine, as well as Israel. These cooperation mechanisms offer considerable added value for our societies, for our environment, for our economies.

As European Union, we bear a special responsibility regarding stability in the Middle East, our immediate neighborhood. My country is determined to be at the forefront of further initiatives promoting cooperation between the European Union and the Arab world. And, of course, of every effort aiming at achieving our common goal: Peace in Syria.

Allow me to welcome you to Athens and wish you a fruitful meeting. Thank you so much for your presence here today.