Minister of Foreign Affairs visits London and Rome

 

The promotion of Greece’s candidacy for election as a non-permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council

 

 

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, travelled on February 7th to London where he had talks with British Minister of State for Europe, Chris Heaton-Harris.

On February 8th, the Minister of Foreign Affairs travelled to Rome, where he met with the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, David Beasley and had meetings with the Ambassadors of a number of African and Latin American countries to Italy, with concurrent accreditation to Greece.

 

London

The meeting of the two Ministers in London was held in a very cordial climate and according to diplomatic sources, it was an extensive discussion on issues of international and bilateral interest. They discussed developments in the southeastern Mediterranean region, Greek-Turkish relations, the UK’s relations with the European Union in the post-Brexit era, the Western Balkans and the crisis in Ukraine, with Minister Dendias noting the importance of keeping communication channels open with Moscow.

The Greek Minister spoke of his recent visit to Mariupol and mentioned the need to protect Greek expatriates in Ukraine.

Minister Dendias returned to the British capital after his visit there in October, showing the importance that Athens attaches to the role that Britain can play in a number of issues of Greek interest.

The two Foreign Ministers focused on bilateral cooperation following the signing of the relevant ‘Memorandum of Understanding for the Strategic Bilateral Framework’ signed between Greece and the United Kingdom, which Minister Heaton-Harris is responsible for in the British Government. The MoU includes a wide range of issues including defence, trade, tourism and shipping.

“Evidently, among the topics of discussion with the Minister of State, Heaton-Harris, was the implementation of the Memorandum that we signed with Liz Truss (Foreign Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities) a few weeks ago: how we will be able to implement it and how we will be able to benefit the most from its implementation, both of us, the Greek side and the United Kingdom,” Minister Dendias noted.

Earlier, Minister Dendias met with the High Commissioners Ellison Edroy Greenslade of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Aziyan Abdullah of Brunei, both of whom have concurrent accreditation to Greece. In these meetings, the Greek Minister promoted Greece’s candidacy for election as a non-permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2025-26.

Rome

During his visit to Rome, Minister Dendias had the opportunity to meet with Stephanie Williams, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Libya. They had an extensive discussion and conducted an in-depth analysis of the situation in Libya today.

He also visited the Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, David Beasley, and handed him a cheque to be used for repairs in the port of Benghazi; a facility of vital interest to Greece that it is located less than 20 minutes flight from Crete.

He also had the opportunity to meet with 35 Ambassadors of African, South American and Asian countries, who have concurrent accreditation to Greece.

In particular, the Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Ambassadors of the following countries: Angola, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Republic of Guinea, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Niger, Uganda, Senegal, Somalia, Tanzania, Haiti, Bolivia, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras and Paraguay, as well as the Ambassadors of Oman, Uzbekistan and Yemen, who have concurrent accreditation to Greece.

The Head of Greek Diplomacy outlined the longstanding Greek positions on national issues, but also asked for the vote of their countries – the ones that until today have not made a pledge – in Greece’s campaign to be elected to the United Nations Security Council for the 2025-2026 term.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left and right: the Greek Head of Diplomacy with the Ambassadors to Italy, with accreditation to Greece of Yemen, Asmahan Abdulhameed Al- Toqi; and of Uzbekistan, Otabek Akbarov.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, meets with 35 Ambassadors of African, South American and Asian countries in Rome, who have concurrent accreditation to Greece, to outline the longstanding Greek positions on national issues, but also to ask for the vote of their countries – the ones that until today have not made a pledge – in Greece’s campaign to be elected to the United Nations Security Council for the 2025-2026 term.

In particular, he met from Africa with the Ambassadors of the countries: Angola, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Republic of Guinea, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Uganda and Senegal.

The agenda included the positions of Greece, alongside the strengthening of relations with African countries.

From South America, he met with the Ambassadors of Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras and Paraguay. During this meeting, the Foreign Minister expressed the desire to visit Latin America and the Caribbean in the near future and reaffirmed the common commitment to the International Law of the Sea.

During his meeting with the Ambassador of Uzbekistan, in addition to Greece’s candidacy, bilateral cooperation was discussed, with an emphasis on economic, trade and cultural relations, in view of the Ministers’ forthcoming visit to Tashkent.

Likewise, during his meeting with the Ambassador of Yemen, talks focused on developments in Yemen, issues of bilateral cooperation in light of the meeting between Minister Dendias and his Yemeni counterpart Ahmed bin Mubarak last November.