Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ remarks at the “Manama Dialogue” Forum 2022 and the panel discussion “New Security Partnerships in the Middle East” (Manama, 20.11.2022)

First of all, thank you. It is very encouraging that you are trying to do a dossier for the Eastern Mediterranean.

I am trying to find optimistic notes around the region.

I was thinking “what were we thinking of the world, after the fall of the Berlin Wall?”. The idea that history has ended and the world is getting to a great normality and we will all live “happily ever after”. And now we are in a world infested with conflicts, and we have seen war returning even to Europe in the 21st century; from white to black. And of course, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf region, Africa, the Middle East, has historically been the place where many conflicts and antagonisms co-exist.

But, can we find something positive in this region? I would mention three things.

I would start with the Abraham Accords, which I think is a game changer. I think that the Abraham Accords have completely changed the narrative not just of the Middle East, but of the overall region. Israel is able and willing to cooperate with countries in the region and create a new reality on the ground.

The second thing, which is smaller but from my point of view even a greater achievement, is the [EEZ] Delimitation Agreement between Israel and Lebanon. Because in this Agreement we see something quite unique; an Agreement between two countries that do not recognise each other. And yet again, they find ways not only to resolve a long-standing issue, but also apply International Law and International Law of the Sea on the resolution of this issue. Which means accepting that the world is a rules-based society and at the same time creating a great example for the Mediterranean and for the world on the contested issue of the delimitation of sea zones.

And if I am allowed to mention a third great example, that is the [EEZ] Delimitation Agreement between Greece and Egypt. Something that was negotiated for around 35 years. Because this delimitation, which I had the honour to sign with my dear friend Sameh Shoukry, is not just a bilateral Agreement on delimitation of sea zones. It is a connecting lane between Africa and Europe which could be used for interconnectors, for pipelines. And at the same time it shows how application of International Law and International Law of the Sea creates the perfect example of how countries could resolve differences through dialogue, through application of International Law, through acceptance of a rules-based order and move forward and create stability, wealth and prosperity not just for their own citizens but for the citizens of a much larger area than that.

I will stop here because I thought that the best thing I can do to raise your spirits, in this very difficult time for the world, is to at least underline three successes we had recently.

Thank you so much

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic