Reaffirming excellent bilateral relations and strategic partnership

Pictured above to below: visiting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, meets with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis; with his Greek counterpart, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. The two delegations in conference.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, met with Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion in Athens on April 3rd, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias in attendance.

The UAE top diplomat conveyed the greetings of the President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and his wishes for progress and prosperity to the Hellenic Republic and its people, highlighting the depth of UAE-Greek ties.

On his part, Prime Minister Mitsotakis welcomed H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and his accompanying delegation and conveyed his greetings to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his wishes of further progress and prosperity to the UAE, reaffirming the distinguished relations between their two countries.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the outcome of the official visit paid by the President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to the Hellenic Republic last August, praising its role in advancing the level of partnership between the two countries and creating promising opportunities for the development of joint cooperation in several vital fields.

The discussions also touched on the importance of enhancing cooperation on the economic level, given the total trade exchange between the two countries reached some US$561 million in 2021, a growth rate of about 68% compared to 2020. They also reviewed frameworks for joint cooperation in the aviation sector and the importance of continuous work to increase direct flights between the two countries.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Prime Minister Mitsotakis also discussed several issues of mutual interest related to the strategic partnership between the two countries and the scope of work within the framework of international organisations. They also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of common concern.

Sheikh Abdullah stressed that the UAE-Greece cooperation has been steadily developing in various fields, highlighting the two countries’ keenness to invest all available opportunities to expand and develop their partnership in a way that achieves the mutual interests of their peoples and contributes to strengthening security and stability in the region.

He also praised the prominent role of the Hellenic Republic in contributing to strengthening relations between the UAE and the European Union.

The meeting was attended by Omar Saif Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy; Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs; and Sulaiman Hamed Salem Al Mazroui, UAE Ambassador to Greece.

Afterwards, the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates and his Greek counterpart, discussed their countries’ bilateral relations and strategic partnership at the Foreign Ministry.

The meeting included a review of various aspects of bilateral cooperation and discussions on ways to strengthen it in several domains, such as economics, trade, investment, development, energy, food security and climate change mitigation.

Discussions also focused on international and regional developments of mutual interest, including developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya and the Middle East, as well as European Union-UAE relations and regional cooperation schemes.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias highlighted the strong and enduring relationship between the UAE and Greece, which began in 1975 and has steadily progressed over the years, culminating in the declaration of their strategic partnership in 2022.

It is noted that Minister Dendias made bilateral visits to the UAE in December 2022, June 2022 and June 2021.

During their meeting, the two heads of diplomacy discussed various issues of mutual interest, including global efforts to combat climate change, within the context of the UAE’s preparations to host the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Additionally, they exchanged views on regional and global developments.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan commended the progress and advancements that the UAE and Greece have achieved in different fields, thanks to their solid strategic partnership.

Minister Dendias welcomed Sheikh Abdullah and his delegation, emphasising the significance of the visit as a driving force to enhance the cooperation and partnership between the two countries in various fields.

Upon arrival to the Hellenic Republic, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan was greeted with an official reception ceremony at the airport.

Minister Dendias welcomed Sheikh Abdullah emphasising the significance of the visit as a driving force to enhance the cooperation and partnership in various fields.

Greece and Egypt are coordinating to resolve various regional issues and crises

Pictured from above to below: The Egyptian and Greek Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry and Nikos Dendias, address the press after their meeting in Athens; meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis; the two delegations in conference at the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs.’’

Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Shoukry paid a visit to Athens on April 11th, to discuss regional and international issues. Egypt and Greece are in talks to boost cooperation within the East Mediterranean Gas Forum framework and the tripartite cooperation mechanism that brings the two countries together with Cyprus.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. They discussed various aspects of bilateral relations and ways to advance them, alongside regional and international developments.

The officials agreed on the importance of exchanging visions to develop bilateral and tripartite cooperation to achieve more security and stability for the three countries and strengthen cooperation.

Minister Shoukry began his visit to Athens by meeting with his Greek counterpart. The Ministers held a closed session, followed by extensive bilateral discussions between their delegations.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister hailed the relations between the two countries as “strategic” and all discussions between them as “transparent”. “The relations between our two countries have developed in a major way over the past nine years,” he stressed.

Minister Shoukry conveyed the Government’s interest in facilitating Greek investments in Egypt, increasing the volume of trade exchange and overcoming the obstacles facing Greek companies in Egypt.

The two sides praised the joint projects in green hydrogen production and new and renewable energy, namely the Greece-Egypt (GREGY) electricity interconnection project. The project allows Egypt to strengthen the energy security of Europe and boosts its ability to produce and export energy while maintaining the common interest of both sides.

Minister Shoukry also addressed several regional and international issues of common concern, including the current escalation in the Palestinian territories, the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, developments in Syria, Libya and elsewhere in the region.

He was keen to brief Greek officials on Egypt’s efforts to achieve calm between the Palestinians and Israelis. “Egypt is coordinating with Greec

e to find a resolution for the Palestinian issue as part of our efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region,” he stressed.

“We seek to restore unity and stability to Libya,” he added.

Minister Shoukry also expressed appreciation for the Greek efforts to support Egypt inside the European Union.

The Foreign Ministers also tackled efforts to confront illegal immigration across the Mediterranean, combat terrorism and coordinate security and military cooperation.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister met with the Greek Prime Minister, which reflected the depth and strength of the strategic friendship between Egypt and Greece that is based on multiple political, economic and cultural foundations. He conveyed a verbal message from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, underscoring the strength of the strategic partnership between Egypt and Greece and appreciating the continuous development of these relations on various political and economic levels.

Minister Khoukry affirmed Egypt’s aspiration to explore more new areas of cooperation, which in turn requires working together to develop aspects of this cooperation in a way that contributes to making it a role model in relations between friendly countries.

He further confirmed during the press conference that he would be visiting Turkey soon, as the two countries take progressive steps to repair relations that were ruptured over a decade ago.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu revealed in remarks to the media that he had invited the Egyptian Foreign Minister to visit Ankara to discuss next steps in normalising relations between the two countries.

“Egypt has sensed a desire from Turkey to normalise relations,” the Egyptian head of diplomacy said. “My visit to Turkey will discuss the implementation of this normalisation while taking into account good neighbourliness in order to achieve peace and stability in the region,” he added.

Of particular interest to Greece is the Egypt-Turkey rapprochement, with Minister Shoukry heading for Ankara after Greece. The fact that it was preceded by the trip to Athens and the visit of Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to Cairo suggests Egypt’s willingness not to disturb the axis of cooperation between the three countries.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dendias said during the press conference that Athens seeks to broaden cooperation with Ankara, including in the field of energy, after the completion of the upcoming national elections in both countries.

In recent months, Ankara has launched initiatives to improve ties with both Greece and Egypt. “Greece always pursues opportunities to have a genuine and honest partnership with Turkey,” stressed Minister Dendias.

He added that Greece would be open to new members joining an association of nations in the eastern Mediterranean that would collaborate on natural gas development. Turkey is currently not a member. “I want to clarify that we would welcome the participation of other countries in this forum, but on one obvious condition: respect for International Law and respect for the International Maritime Law,” he said.

Currently, Greece and Egypt are members in the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EastMed), which includes Cyprus, France, Israel, Italy, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.’’

The Egyptian Foreign Minister hailed the relations between the two countries as “strategic” and all discussions between them as “transparent”. “The relations between our two countries have developed in a major way over the past nine years,” he stressed.

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An informal meeting or ‘retreat’ for Syria was held in Athens on April 21st-23rd, the hosting of which indicates Greece’s interest in the developments in Syria and that it recognises the importance of a solution for Syria in ensuring conditions of stability and security in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean. Participating in the event was the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, among others, including the EU Member State special representatives for Syria. Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias received the UN special envoy for Syria at the Foreign Ministry and also addressed the opening of the event.

The Athens Retreat for Syria was organised by the European Union with the contribution of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The international community must aim at safeguarding Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity Minister Dendias said during the welcoming remarks. These factors comprise the basic principles of Greece’s foreign policy he added at the meeting held in Kavouri on the coast south of Athens.

The war in Syria “has become the epicentre of a serious humanitarian crisis and of illegal military interventions by third parties, against international laws, while we have also witnessed the rise of terrorist and criminal networks,” Minister Dendias said. As a country very near Syria, and one with very strong historical ties with it – including its local Christian communities – Greece has felt the repercussions from the war first hand he noted. Greece is trying to help in every possible way in the humanitarian aspect, through the United Nations’ efforts and in coordination with its European Union partners.

In this spirit, Minister Dendias said, Greece strongly supports the efforts by the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen. “The worsening of relations with Russia has highlighted the significance of Arab countries in Europe’s energy and food security. As a result, our collaboration with regional players has become a significant priority for Greece, but also, we believe, for the European Union as well,” he noted.

Additionally, the war in Syria has underlined the need to protect civilians from significant violations of human rights and of International Law in general, while Greece has provided humanitarian help for Syria and, after the catastrophic earthquakes, for civilians in Turkey as well.

“On our part, we have been working for a while on the building of a framework of security in the Middle East and the East Mediterranean,” Minister Dendias reiterated, “a framework firmly based on International Law and on the principle of good neighbourly relations, where all are invited to collaborate with us as long as they commit to these principles.”

Greece and the Cyprus Republic, for example, have invested in multilateral collaborations with key partners like Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Palestine and Israel – mechanisms of collaboration that “provide added value to our societies, our environment and our economies,” he noted.

The Greek Foreign Minister also pointed out that as Syria lies in its immediate neighbourhood, the EU carries a particular obligation in terms of stability in the Middle East, while “Greece is determined to play a leading role in further initiatives to promote collaboration between the European Union and the Arab world,” sharing in the common goal of peace in Syria.

Deepening ties with the signing of a Cultural Cooperation Protocol

Photos from above: The two Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of Malta, Ian Borg, and of Greece, Nikos Dendias, at the MoFA’s event for the presentation of Greece’s candidacy for the position of non-permanent Member of the UN Security Council for the period 2025-26; exchanging the Cultural Cooperation Protocol; the two delegations in conference. 

Revisionism has no place in modern times and must be condemned regardless of its origin, said Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias after meeting with his visiting Maltese counterpart, Ian Borg, on April 27th.

During the meeting, as Minister Dendias pointed out, they discussed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the inadmissibility of attempting to change borders by force and the common obligation to support Ukraine at all levels, as well as International Law and the International Law of the Sea, UNCLOS, etc.

In a statement after the meeting, in which the two Ministers discussed the situation in Ukraine among other issues. Minister Dendias pointed out that although Ukraine is an extremely important issue, “the EU must also pay attention to the Mediterranean basin” and to the northern coast of Africa. If the latter is ignored by the EU, he said, may cause “considerable problems for Europe in many areas including migration and terrorism,” while Europe’s southern borders will also need attention.

Regarding the crisis in Sudan, Minister Dendias said that despite the “extremely unpleasant effects it has on the population and European citizens, it could be an opportunity to intensify our efforts to create a permanent EU forces deployment scheme, especially for extracting EU citizens.”

“I criticised in Brussels, and during our discussion in the Council, the inability of the EU to organise a joint operation to free our citizens from Sudan,” adding that Greece is doing everything it can to free its own citizens and any others it can he said.

He also recalled that on the previous day he had received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Romanian and Finnish citizens who were brought to Athens by a Greek aircraft. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned, the visit of his Maltese counterpart to Athens reflects the strong will of both sides to further strengthen Greek-Malta relations.

He also thanked Minister Borg for his presence at the event of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the presentation of Greece’s candidacy for the position of non-permanent Member of the UN Security Council for the period 2025-26. The presence of the Maltese Minister is of particular importance, as Malta is currently a non-permanent Member of the UN Security Council (2023-24).

The two countries have already developed close cooperation at the UN, which will deepen even more if Greece is elected to the Security Council. They also referred to facing common challenges to protect common values and the principles of the United Nations Charter which both countries serve with utmost loyalty.

Prospects for further strengthening bilateral cooperation in various fields including economy, tourism and culture, but also collaboration within the EU and EUMED-9, the UN and other international organisations were also discussed. From this cooperation, as Minister Dendias pointed out, Greece and Malta have to reap benefits, in areas such as shipping and tourism. The two Ministers also signed a Cultural Cooperation Protocol, through which they will be able to promote their relations in a large number of fields, archaeology, university research and entertainment, etc.

Regional issues such as Libya, the Eastern Mediterranean, but also broader problems were also discussed. Minister Dendias mentioned that he asked for Malta’s help for the 9th ‘Our Ocean Conference’ that Greece will host in 2024, which Malta has hosted in 2017 and thanked him for Malta’s willingness to help with the relevant expertise.

The Greek Foreign Minister also noted that he feels particularly closely connected to Malta and its citizens, as he comes from Corfu, which has many architectural elements in common with Valletta. “Also, at least 3,500 Maltese people live in Corfu, many of them are my friends, they have always voted for me overwhelmingly and I am very grateful for that,” he concluded.

Greece and Moldova undertake joint ventures in energy

Photos: Greek Minister of the Environment and Energy Kostas Skrekas pictured in Athens with the Minister of Energy of Moldova, Victor Parlicov; the two delegations in conference.

The cooperation of Moldova and Greece in the natural gas sphere should permit to better use the underground gas storages (UGSs) in Ukraine so to improve the security of Central Europe’s gas supply in winter, Moldovan Energy Minister Victor Parlicov stated in Athens on April 7th following talks with his Greek counterpart Kostas Skrekas.

Commenting on the framework contract signed between the Moldovan State Energy Company Energocom and the Greek State Gas Operator DEPA, he wrote that, “Now Moldova will be able to purchase gas, taking advantage of favourable market conditions.”

“Greece is southern Europe’s main gateway for liquefied natural gas (LNG), more than half of which comes from the US. Energocom is the first and so far the only company in the world that has practical experience in using the ‘vertical corridor’ Greece-Bulgaria-Romania-Moldova-Ukraine,” Minister Parlicov said.

According to him, Energocom’s experience last season with the use of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector showed the feasibility of using the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline in a reverse mode.

“The European Federation of Energy Traders contract is a framework contract that precedes any sale and purchase agreement. The conclusion of such a contract is mandatory for companies operating in the European Union,” Energocom noted.

“Greece today is a strategic centre in terms of available energy sources and DEPA is going to help Energocom with experience in the gas industry,” said Energocom’s Acting Director Victor Binzari, who signed the contract. The purpose of the purchase in Greece is to see how the logistics chain works: from booking the capacities to the work of the distribution system operators. “It has one liquefied natural gas terminal and the second one will be ready by the end of the year. This terminal receives gas from several geographical locations, from the East, the United States and Africa, and the prices are favourable,” he said.

The prospects of strengthening economic cooperation between Greece and Moldova, with an emphasis on energy and renewable sources, were at the centre of a meeting between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy and Openness, Kostas Fragogiannis, and visiting Minister Parlicov (see photo).

The two officials also focused on the prospects of undertaking joint ventures in the field of energy, with the aim of energy sufficiency and autonomy.

Deputy Minister Fragogiannis arrived in Moldova on May 12th, at the head of a delegation that will participate in the proceedings of the Greece-Moldova Joint Interministerial Committee for the promotion of economic and technological cooperation between the two countries.

Shipowner Nikolaos Tsakos from Chios was the honoured guest at this year’s annual gala of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce (HACC) in the luxurious Rainbow Room located on the 65th floor of the Rockefeller Centre in Manhattan. The event was attended by distinguished guests, including the Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, Ambassador Georgios Sekeris, and the Ambassador of Greece in Washington, Alexandra Papadopoulou, among others.

Many distinguished personalities, including Senator Robert Menendez, Greek-American Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Archbishop Elpidophoros sent their greetings to Mr. Tsakos in writing. Senator Leonidas Raptakis presented Mr. Tsakos with a Senate Citation on behalf of the State of Rhode Island.

Mr. Tsakos’s work and dedication to Greece were praised by the Presidents of HACC, Clay Maitland and Athas Ioannou, while the President of Capital Link Nikolaos Bornozis highlighted Mr. Tsakos’ studies at Columbia University in New York, his idea on securing financing for shipping, which he put into practice during the establishment of Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN) in 1993, and his philanthropic work through his foundation which bears the name of his sister Maria.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Tsakos thanked his family for their contribution to his success and spoke passionately about the successes of many, which he attributes to the meeting of the American work ethic and the Greek spirit and the virtues of Greece.

After receiving the award, the event turned into a celebration with live music. Angeliki Psoni, the main singer of the evening, sang a selection of Greek songs. Later in the evening, the Greek singer Kostis Maraveyas, accompanied by his wife, the distinguished actress Tonia Sotiropoulou, sang many songs from varying repertoires and almost all the guests joined the dance floor.

“I am sure that opening a fully-fledged Embassy (Greek Embassy in Chișinău) will significantly contribute to bolstering our relations and will bring our countries even closer. It will also

represent an important sign of political support for Moldova.

The historical site (of one of the houses where Alexandros Ypsilantis was staying preceding the launch of the Greek Revolution) exemplifies so well the special historical bond between Moldova and Greece.”

GDL: Moldova’s relations with Greece are based on century-old ties between the two peoples. How can the recent visit of the President of the Hellenic Republic to Moldova be a catalyst for a new impetus in bilateral relations?

AP: Indeed, the Republic of Moldova and Greece enjoy very good and friendly relations that are rooted in a very long tradition of friendship between our peoples. Our capital city of Chisinau was one of the places from where, along with Iasi and Odesa, the leader of the ‘Filiki Eteria’, Alexandros Ypsilantis, started the Greek War of Independence in 1821 that led to the liberation of Greece. One of the houses where Ypsilantis was staying in the weeks preceding the launch of the Revolution was the Chisinau home of his fellow member of the ‘Filiki Eteria’, Michalis Katsikas. Today this is the oldest preserved house in Chisinau.

Symbolically, right after her arrival to Moldova on February 28th, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, paid a visit to this historical site that exemplifies so well the special historical bond between Moldova and Greece.

Greeks had to fight hard for their liberty and, therefore, they understand well the strive of other nations for independence and freedom. Greece was among the first countries that recognised the independence of the Republic of Moldova proclaimed on August 27th 1991. Although over the last 32 years our bilateral relations have been developing in a positive manner, with no contentious issues on the agenda, at the same time there is still a lot of unfulfilled potential for strengthening and expanding our cooperation, particularly in the fields of energy, trade, investments, tourism and cultural exchanges.

In this respect, the recent visit to Moldova of President Sakellaropoulou – the first such visit since 2004 – represented a continuation of the intensified political dialogue following the meetings that President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, had with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis two months ago in Davos and with President Sakellaropoulou in July last year in Athens.

Regretfully, this visit had to be cut short, as immediately after her meetings with her Moldovan counterpart and with Prime Minister Dorin Recean in the morning of March 1st, President Sakellaropoulou flew to the site of the train accident in Tempi. President Sandu personally conveyed to President Sakellaropoulou her condolences and started the joint press conference with a minute of silence in the memory of the victims of this terrible tragedy.

Our President also accepted the invitation to pay a Official Visit to Greece, that we have to thoroughly prepare, in particular by holding in the coming months the 4th session of the joint intergovernmental commission. On June 1st, Moldova will host the second Summit of the European Political Community at which we also expect the participation of the Greek leadership, along with other 45 invited heads of state and government.

As President Sakellaropoulou announced in Chisinau, Greece is currently examining all options for opening its diplomatic presence in Moldova. So far, we are covered by the Embassy of Greece in Bucharest, Moldova being one of the very few European countries where Greece still doesn’t have an Embassy. In fact, we are the only EU candidate country and the only one from the wider Black Sea region without a Greek Embassy on the ground. I am sure that opening a fully-fledged Embassy will significantly contribute to bolstering our relations and will bring our countries even closer. It will also represent an important sign of political support for Moldova.

“Bilateral relations (between Moldova and Greece) have been developing in a positive manner, with no contentious issues on the agenda, at the same time there is still a lot of unfulfilled potential for strengthening and expanding our cooperation, particularly in the fields of energy, trade, tourism and cultural exchanges.”

GDL: The visit came at a difficult period for the region, a year after the war against neighbouring Ukraine. This war naturally affects the wellbeing and security of Moldova. How is your country coping with these terrible circumstances?

AP: While, of course, nothing compares to the sufferings of our Ukrainian neighbours, however, Moldova is arguably the second most exposed and most affected country by the Russian aggression. When a year ago, after occupying the Ukrainian city of Kherson, Russia was trying to advance towards Mykolaiv and the Russian tanks were less than 200 km from the Moldovan territory. That was closer than Alexandroupolis is from Thessaloniki. Without the EU or NATO protection and with the Russian troops still illegally stationing in the separatist Transnistrian region of Moldova, we felt threatened and vulnerable.

After last fall Ukraine succeeded to liberate Kherson and as long as it keeps the front line far from our borders, we believe that there is not an eminent military threat to Moldova. However, we do face a lot of hybrid threats, cyber-attacks, fake bomb alerts and a lot of propaganda. We also had a series of paid protests instigated by fugitive Moldovan oligarchs who work together with Russia trying to bring violence on our streets and destabilise the political and economic situation. In spite of this pressure, we managed to keep the country stable and the situation under control.

In Moldova we understand particularly well that Ukraine is fighting not only for their, but for our liberty as well. We are very grateful to Ukraine for this fight, but also to all countries, including Greece, that are helping Ukraine to resist and hopefully to win.

On its part, Moldova is showing an active solidarity with Ukraine. One example in this respect is the assistance and shelter offered to those over 650 thousand Ukrainian refugees who entered Moldova fleeing the war. Some 85 thousand of them remained in Moldova, being mostly hosted by Moldovan families, while the State provided them with food, medical assistance, access to education and the labour market.

Another negative impact of the war rests with the disruption of trade routes and the sharp deterioration of the already difficult socio-economic situation. Gas and electricity tariffs registered a 7-fold and, respectively, a 3-fold increase, while inflation last year was more than 30%. As our energy system is closely interlinked with Ukraine, so every missile targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure affects Moldova, leading on a number of occasions to electrical energy blackouts. Moreover, six Russian missiles have crossed our air space and the debris of several other rockets felt in different parts of Moldova.

“In order to strengthen our defence and security capacities, and without prejudice to our neutrality status, we have stepped up our cooperation with partners, both bilaterally, but also with the EU and NATO. The Government has the duty to prepare for the full spectrum of risks and scenarios. And in these endeavours, Moldova is not alone and we thank all our partners for their valuable support.”

GDL: According to the Constitution, Moldova is a military neutral country and has been since 1994. Does your Government need to change its neutral military stance within the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine?

AP: Moldovan constitutional neutrality was proclaimed in 1994 in conjunction with the ban for any deployment of foreign troops on our soil. By making this linkage we had hoped that it would help us solve the Transnistrian conflict and ensure full withdrawal of Russian troops. This didn’t happen. In violation of our neutrality, Russia continues to illegally keep about 1,500 of its troops and 20 thousand tonnes of munitions in the Transnistria region of Moldova.

When the Russian invasion started, we realised that it was not neutrality, but the heroism of the Ukrainian army and Ukrainian society that was protecting us, while our own army was very week and heavily underfunded.

Therefore, in order to strengthen our defence and security capacities, and without prejudice to our neutrality status, we have stepped up our cooperation with partners, both bilaterally, but also with the EU and NATO. The Government has the duty to prepare for the full spectrum of risks and scenarios. And in these endeavours, Moldova is not alone and we thank all our partners for their valuable support.

“We see the full integration into the European Union as the only chance to survive as a democracy and to restore the people’s trust in our country’s future.”

GDL: Greece opposes any anachronistic, neo-colonial and revisionist policy of any aggressive States and fully supports the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders. What steps is your Government implementing in order to find a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Transnistria issue?

AP: In spite of the changed regional security context, we are firmly committed to exclusively peaceful means for finding a comprehensive and sustainable solution to this conflict, based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders and without undermining the European perspective of the Republic of Moldova.

The chances of achieving such a solution will largely depend on when, where and how the war will end. Here, I would also like to emphasise the importance of full withdrawal of Russian troops and ammunition in accordance with International Law and OSCE commitments.

This separatist conflict has been hampering our development for more than three decades. It had at its origins Moscow’s attempt to prevent Moldova from leaving the Soviet Union and, after we became independent, to keep Moldova in its sphere of influence. This is the most important factor that prevented the settlement of this so-called frozen conflict.

As there are no ethnic or religious contradictions between the people on the two sides of the Nistru/Dniestr river, it would have been long ago solved if it was not for the adverse negative external influences. As my father originates from the Transnistrian region, I have many relatives and friends there, and can testify that this conflict is sustained artificially.

Since 2005, negotiations have been taking place in the 5+2 format, that includes OSCE, Russia and Ukraine as mediators and EU and US as observers. As long as Russia is waging its war of aggression against Ukraine, it is hard to imagine how negotiations in this format can resume. In the meantime, the main platform for interaction with Tiraspol is in the 1+1 format of chief negotiators, backed by a dozen sectorial working groups. We are also engaged in a pragmatic dialogue with the Transnistrian de facto administration in order to solve current problems and make sure this conflict doesn’t escalate.

In parallel, we maintain a very favourable regime of trade for Transnistrian businesses, that over the years has led to a complete reorientation of the region’s exports to the EU market. We also encourage people-to-people contacts, confidence building initiatives, joint projects and promote the freedom of movement across the internal administrative line.

“Despite all crises, we are making sustained efforts in areas of justice reform, fighting corruption, strengthening institutions, improving business climate, strengthening our energy and economic resilience.”

GDL: Greece has devoted attention to the European perspective of Moldova and always supports the country’s accession to the EU without reservations and the granting of EU Candidate Status to it. What are the EU aspirations of the people of Moldova?

AP: For 20 years, European integration has been a strategic objective of Moldova and its people.

An important landmark on this path took place in 2014, when, during the Greek EU Presidency, Moldova signed the Association Agreement with the European Union and our citizens received a visa free travel regime to the Schengen area. Last June, together with Ukraine, we obtained the EU candidate status. Our next goal is to open EU accession negotiations, hopefully by the end of this year, based on accelerating reforms and full implementation of EU recommendations.

Greece has first-hand experienced the positive transformational impact of EU membership and is among the strongest supporters of the EU enlargement process. We value very much this position and rely on Greece’s continues support for our European path.

The way the EU has managed to find joint solutions and to support its Member States during the pandemics and in alleviating the impact of the energy crisis represents another strong argument why we want to become Members of the EU.

Despite all crises, we are making sustained efforts in areas of justice reform, fighting corruption, strengthening institutions, improving business climate, strengthening our energy and economic resilience.

We want to succeed in building a modern and competitive country, a country where institutions and justice work in the interests of citizens and not in the interest of corrupt groups. We see the full integration into the European Union as the only chance to survive as a democracy and to restore the people’s trust in our country’s future.

“Implementing European reforms and modernising the country requires a lot of effort and focus. No more time and energy to waste in futile debates exploited for propaganda purposes.”

GDL: In March the Parliament of Moldova renamed the official language of the country from Moldovan to Romanian. Why was this decision taken now and what is its significance?

AP: Like Cypriots speak the Greek language, Austrians – German, Americans – English, people in the Republic of Moldova and Romania also speak the same language – Romanian. The name ‘Moldovan language’ represents a relic of the Soviet past when Moscow was trying to artificially separate us with Romanians, in spite of our common language, history and culture.

To somehow justify the claim that we speak two different languages, they even changed the script from Latin to Cyrillic. Just imagine how absurd it would be for French or Italian – part of the same Romanic group with Romanian – to be written in Cyrillic letters.

As for the return to its natural Latin script, we did it even before our independence on 31st August 1989 (the date that for the last 33 years has been our second national day – the Romanian Language Day).

But as for the name of the language, the restoration of the scientific and historic truth took us much longer. The March decision of the Parliament to formally change the name from ‘Moldovan’ to ‘Romanian’ is meant to finally put an end to endless political speculations and to allow us instead to concentrate on substantive issues.

Implementing European reforms and modernising the country requires a lot of effort and focus. No more time and energy to waste in futile debates exploited for propaganda purposes.

“There are still about 20 thousand Moldovans for whom Greece has become their second home. These people have integrated very well into the Greek society and are binging their contribution to the development and prosperity of the country that was so good to them. They are a true living cultural bridge between our two countries.”

GDL: The strengthening of relations between the peoples of Moldova and Greece depend to a large degree on the Greeks who live in Moldova and the Moldovans who turned Greece into their second home. What initiatives should be undertaken to strengthen bilateral and cultural relations in all areas of mutual interest?

AP: Greece was among the first countries that received with open arms tens of thousands of Moldovans who left their country in search of a better income to provide for their families.

Although after the economic crises in Greece many of them returned to Moldova or re-immigrated to Western Europe, there are still about 20 thousand Moldovans for whom Greece has become their second home. These people have integrated very well into the Greek society and are binging their contribution to the development and prosperity of the country that was so good to them. They are a true living cultural bridge between our two countries and we appreciate very much the support provided to them by the Greek State.

The Moldovan diaspora in Greece is organised in several active associations that hold regular cultural events, preserving and showcasing for the Greek public our rich traditions.

Several months ago, an important Social Security Agreement between Moldova and Greece entered into force, that gives the possibility to Moldovans who legally work in Greece to get their pensions based on cumulative contributions made both in Moldova and Greece. We have also finalised negotiations on the Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Driving Licenses that should be signed in the near future.

Interview by Nicolas Boutsicos
Editor, Greek Diplomatic Life

Greece and the United States of America – strengthening cooperation

Meeting with the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had also a private meeting and working dinner with the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, at the Maximos Mansion.

During the talks, according to sources, a comprehensive overview of Greek-American relations was made. Their excellent level was confirmed in view of the start of the 4th round of the Greece-US strategic dialogue and their further deepening was agreed.

The Prime Minister and Secretary Blinken exchanged views on international, European and regional issues, with a focus on developments in Ukraine. The US Secretary of State expressed to the Premier his appreciation for the unconditional support provided by Greece to Ukraine from the very beginning and underlined the role of Greece as a pillar of stability and security in the wider region.

The situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the devastating earthquakes in Turkey were also discussed. The US Secretary of State thanked the Prime Minister for the immediate assistance provided by Greece to Turkey at this difficult time.

The two officials also agreed on the importance of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean at a critical geopolitical juncture. The Prime Minister underlined that the stable position of Greece and the guiding principle of its policy was and remains the peaceful resolution of disputes and good neighbourly relations based on International Law.

“The upward dynamic of bilateral strategic relations was sealed by the two defence cooperations between Greece and the US… their signature proves that in a constantly changing environment, Greece is recognised as a pillar of stability and security.” 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Nikos Dendias

The Strategic Dialogue (the 4th of its kind with Greece) is actually a reflection of the relationship “our citizens have had for more than 200 years and indeed today’s expanded delegation represents the depth of our relationship.”

US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken

Cooperation between Greece and the US has become even stronger and its strengthening promotes common interests, but also regional peace and stability, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said in a meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken launching the start of the 4th Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, on February 21st.

Referring to the talks with the US Secretary of State, he said they had discussed defence and security, enforcement of international law and the fight against terrorism, humanitarian and environmental challenges, as well as relations between peoples. “We had an open dialogue about regional political problems,” he added.

Greece-US relations are strategic and have reached the highest level the Greek Foreign Minister said during joint statements with his US counterpart. “The Strategic Dialogue concerns seven important areas. It is a tangible proof of the dynamics of Greece’s relations with the US. Strategic relations, which have reached the highest level. A solid basis of our bilateral relations are our common principles and values: freedom, democracy, human rights, our adherence to International Law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.”

The upward dynamic of bilateral strategic relations was sealed by the two defence cooperations between Greece and the US he added, pointing out that their signature proves that in a constantly changing environment, Greece is recognised as a pillar of stability and security.

Minister Dendias also made special reference to the “dynamic presence” of the Greek diaspora in the US.

He further reiterated that the Greek foreign policy strategy is based on the full application of the rules of International Law and the International Law of the Sea, on respect for the principles of the UN Charter, the protection of human rights and the condemnation of the threat or use of force.

He underlined that from the first moment, Greece offered assistance to Ukraine, immediately agreeing with the decisions and sanctions against Russia within the context of its participation in the EU and the UN. In addition, he noted that the Parliament ratified in a short period of time the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in his introductory remarks at the opening of the 4th round of the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue stressed Greece’s leading role in strengthening security and the energy transition in the region while underlining that the US is grateful for Greece’s unwavering support to Ukraine.

“The US is grateful for Greece’s unwavering support for Ukraine after the invasion, including opening its doors to 20,000 displaced Ukrainians,” he said.

Secretary Blinken also thanked Greece for its support to Turkey after the devastating earthquakes and called on Athens and Ankara to seize the historic moment and the positive climate that has been created. He also called on the two countries to “seize the historic opportunity to strengthen historic relations between two critical allies in a pivotal region at a crucial time.”

He pointed out that the Strategic Dialogue is actually a reflection of the relationship “our citizens have had for more than 200 years and indeed today’s expanded delegation represents the depth of our relationship.”

He reminded that today’s discussion is based on the 3rd strategic dialogue held between the two Ministries in Washington in 2021 and other important steps, such as the amendment of the defence cooperation agreement.

The US Secretary of State stated that the armies of the two countries are training together, in new ways and in more places adding that Alexandroupolis has become a key strategic hub to bring new defence weapons, trucks, artillery, military units across Europe.

He noted that the US is working to upgrade facilities in the region and creating new jobs, while “we have similar investments in other parts of Greece, including a $ 123 million in infrastructure in Souda Bay and Larissa.”

Furthermore, the US Minister referred to efforts to promote clean energy and strengthen energy security. “Greece’s transition is a model for the region,” he said, recalling that renewable energy sources such as wind and solar provided half of Greece’s electricity needs, which, he said, is equivalent to the removal of 3 million cars from the roads.

He also praised Greece’s role in supporting neighbouring countries to diversify energy sources by reducing their dependence on Russia, such as Bulgaria.

He also noted that Greece and the US are working to strengthen the ties between the two peoples and emphasised that over one million Americans visit Greece every year.

(Photos: GDL & G.Kontarinis, A.Bonetti/Eurokinissi.)

Reaffirming excellent bilateral relations and strategic partnership

Pictured above to below: visiting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, meets with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis; with his Greek counterpart, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. The two delegations in conference.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, met with Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion in Athens on April 3rd, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias in attendance.

The UAE top diplomat conveyed the greetings of the President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and his wishes for progress and prosperity to the Hellenic Republic and its people, highlighting the depth of UAE-Greek ties.

On his part, Prime Minister Mitsotakis welcomed H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and his accompanying delegation and conveyed his greetings to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his wishes of further progress and prosperity to the UAE, reaffirming the distinguished relations between their two countries.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the outcome of the official visit paid by the President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to the Hellenic Republic last August, praising its role in advancing the level of partnership between the two countries and creating promising opportunities for the development of joint cooperation in several vital fields.

The discussions also touched on the importance of enhancing cooperation on the economic level, given the total trade exchange between the two countries reached some US$561 million in 2021, a growth rate of about 68% compared to 2020. They also reviewed frameworks for joint cooperation in the aviation sector and the importance of continuous work to increase direct flights between the two countries.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Prime Minister Mitsotakis also discussed several issues of mutual interest related to the strategic partnership between the two countries and the scope of work within the framework of international organisations. They also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of common concern.

Sheikh Abdullah stressed that the UAE-Greece cooperation has been steadily developing in various fields, highlighting the two countries’ keenness to invest all available opportunities to expand and develop their partnership in a way that achieves the mutual interests of their peoples and contributes to strengthening security and stability in the region.

He also praised the prominent role of the Hellenic Republic in contributing to strengthening relations between the UAE and the European Union.

The meeting was attended by Omar Saif Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy; Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs; and Sulaiman Hamed Salem Al Mazroui, UAE Ambassador to Greece.

Afterwards, the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates and his Greek counterpart, discussed their countries’ bilateral relations and strategic partnership at the Foreign Ministry.

The meeting included a review of various aspects of bilateral cooperation and discussions on ways to strengthen it in several domains, such as economics, trade, investment, development, energy, food security and climate change mitigation.

Discussions also focused on international and regional developments of mutual interest, including developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya and the Middle East, as well as European Union-UAE relations and regional cooperation schemes.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias highlighted the strong and enduring relationship between the UAE and Greece, which began in 1975 and has steadily progressed over the years, culminating in the declaration of their strategic partnership in 2022.

It is noted that Minister Dendias made bilateral visits to the UAE in December 2022, June 2022 and June 2021.

During their meeting, the two heads of diplomacy discussed various issues of mutual interest, including global efforts to combat climate change, within the context of the UAE’s preparations to host the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Additionally, they exchanged views on regional and global developments.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan commended the progress and advancements that the UAE and Greece have achieved in different fields, thanks to their solid strategic partnership.

Minister Dendias welcomed Sheikh Abdullah and his delegation, emphasising the significance of the visit as a driving force to enhance the cooperation and partnership between the two countries in various fields.

Upon arrival to the Hellenic Republic, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan was greeted with an official reception ceremony at the airport.

Minister Dendias welcomed Sheikh Abdullah emphasising the significance of the visit as a driving force to enhance the cooperation and partnership in various fields.

Greece and Egypt are coordinating to resolve various regional issues and crises

Pictured from above to below: The Egyptian and Greek Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry and Nikos Dendias, address the press after their meeting in Athens; meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis; the two delegations in conference at the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs.’’

Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh Shoukry paid a visit to Athens on April 11th, to discuss regional and international issues. Egypt and Greece are in talks to boost cooperation within the East Mediterranean Gas Forum framework and the tripartite cooperation mechanism that brings the two countries together with Cyprus.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. They discussed various aspects of bilateral relations and ways to advance them, alongside regional and international developments.

The officials agreed on the importance of exchanging visions to develop bilateral and tripartite cooperation to achieve more security and stability for the three countries and strengthen cooperation.

Minister Shoukry began his visit to Athens by meeting with his Greek counterpart. The Ministers held a closed session, followed by extensive bilateral discussions between their delegations.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister hailed the relations between the two countries as “strategic” and all discussions between them as “transparent”. “The relations between our two countries have developed in a major way over the past nine years,” he stressed.

Minister Shoukry conveyed the Government’s interest in facilitating Greek investments in Egypt, increasing the volume of trade exchange and overcoming the obstacles facing Greek companies in Egypt.

The two sides praised the joint projects in green hydrogen production and new and renewable energy, namely the Greece-Egypt (GREGY) electricity interconnection project. The project allows Egypt to strengthen the energy security of Europe and boosts its ability to produce and export energy while maintaining the common interest of both sides.

Minister Shoukry also addressed several regional and international issues of common concern, including the current escalation in the Palestinian territories, the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, developments in Syria, Libya and elsewhere in the region.

He was keen to brief Greek officials on Egypt’s efforts to achieve calm between the Palestinians and Israelis. “Egypt is coordinating with Greec

e to find a resolution for the Palestinian issue as part of our efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region,” he stressed.

“We seek to restore unity and stability to Libya,” he added.

Minister Shoukry also expressed appreciation for the Greek efforts to support Egypt inside the European Union.

The Foreign Ministers also tackled efforts to confront illegal immigration across the Mediterranean, combat terrorism and coordinate security and military cooperation.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister met with the Greek Prime Minister, which reflected the depth and strength of the strategic friendship between Egypt and Greece that is based on multiple political, economic and cultural foundations. He conveyed a verbal message from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, underscoring the strength of the strategic partnership between Egypt and Greece and appreciating the continuous development of these relations on various political and economic levels.

Minister Khoukry affirmed Egypt’s aspiration to explore more new areas of cooperation, which in turn requires working together to develop aspects of this cooperation in a way that contributes to making it a role model in relations between friendly countries.

He further confirmed during the press conference that he would be visiting Turkey soon, as the two countries take progressive steps to repair relations that were ruptured over a decade ago.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu revealed in remarks to the media that he had invited the Egyptian Foreign Minister to visit Ankara to discuss next steps in normalising relations between the two countries.

“Egypt has sensed a desire from Turkey to normalise relations,” the Egyptian head of diplomacy said. “My visit to Turkey will discuss the implementation of this normalisation while taking into account good neighbourliness in order to achieve peace and stability in the region,” he added.

Of particular interest to Greece is the Egypt-Turkey rapprochement, with Minister Shoukry heading for Ankara after Greece. The fact that it was preceded by the trip to Athens and the visit of Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to Cairo suggests Egypt’s willingness not to disturb the axis of cooperation between the three countries.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dendias said during the press conference that Athens seeks to broaden cooperation with Ankara, including in the field of energy, after the completion of the upcoming national elections in both countries.

In recent months, Ankara has launched initiatives to improve ties with both Greece and Egypt. “Greece always pursues opportunities to have a genuine and honest partnership with Turkey,” stressed Minister Dendias.

He added that Greece would be open to new members joining an association of nations in the eastern Mediterranean that would collaborate on natural gas development. Turkey is currently not a member. “I want to clarify that we would welcome the participation of other countries in this forum, but on one obvious condition: respect for International Law and respect for the International Maritime Law,” he said.

Currently, Greece and Egypt are members in the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EastMed), which includes Cyprus, France, Israel, Italy, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.’’

The Egyptian Foreign Minister hailed the relations between the two countries as “strategic” and all discussions between them as “transparent”. “The relations between our two countries have developed in a major way over the past nine years,” he stressed.

‘

An informal meeting or ‘retreat’ for Syria was held in Athens on April 21st-23rd, the hosting of which indicates Greece’s interest in the developments in Syria and that it recognises the importance of a solution for Syria in ensuring conditions of stability and security in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean. Participating in the event was the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, among others, including the EU Member State special representatives for Syria. Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias received the UN special envoy for Syria at the Foreign Ministry and also addressed the opening of the event.

The Athens Retreat for Syria was organised by the European Union with the contribution of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The international community must aim at safeguarding Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity Minister Dendias said during the welcoming remarks. These factors comprise the basic principles of Greece’s foreign policy he added at the meeting held in Kavouri on the coast south of Athens.

The war in Syria “has become the epicentre of a serious humanitarian crisis and of illegal military interventions by third parties, against international laws, while we have also witnessed the rise of terrorist and criminal networks,” Minister Dendias said. As a country very near Syria, and one with very strong historical ties with it – including its local Christian communities – Greece has felt the repercussions from the war first hand he noted. Greece is trying to help in every possible way in the humanitarian aspect, through the United Nations’ efforts and in coordination with its European Union partners.

In this spirit, Minister Dendias said, Greece strongly supports the efforts by the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen. “The worsening of relations with Russia has highlighted the significance of Arab countries in Europe’s energy and food security. As a result, our collaboration with regional players has become a significant priority for Greece, but also, we believe, for the European Union as well,” he noted.

Additionally, the war in Syria has underlined the need to protect civilians from significant violations of human rights and of International Law in general, while Greece has provided humanitarian help for Syria and, after the catastrophic earthquakes, for civilians in Turkey as well.

“On our part, we have been working for a while on the building of a framework of security in the Middle East and the East Mediterranean,” Minister Dendias reiterated, “a framework firmly based on International Law and on the principle of good neighbourly relations, where all are invited to collaborate with us as long as they commit to these principles.”

Greece and the Cyprus Republic, for example, have invested in multilateral collaborations with key partners like Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Palestine and Israel – mechanisms of collaboration that “provide added value to our societies, our environment and our economies,” he noted.

The Greek Foreign Minister also pointed out that as Syria lies in its immediate neighbourhood, the EU carries a particular obligation in terms of stability in the Middle East, while “Greece is determined to play a leading role in further initiatives to promote collaboration between the European Union and the Arab world,” sharing in the common goal of peace in Syria.

Deepening ties with the signing of a Cultural Cooperation Protocol

Photos from above: The two Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of Malta, Ian Borg, and of Greece, Nikos Dendias, at the MoFA’s event for the presentation of Greece’s candidacy for the position of non-permanent Member of the UN Security Council for the period 2025-26; exchanging the Cultural Cooperation Protocol; the two delegations in conference. 

Revisionism has no place in modern times and must be condemned regardless of its origin, said Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias after meeting with his visiting Maltese counterpart, Ian Borg, on April 27th.

During the meeting, as Minister Dendias pointed out, they discussed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the inadmissibility of attempting to change borders by force and the common obligation to support Ukraine at all levels, as well as International Law and the International Law of the Sea, UNCLOS, etc.

In a statement after the meeting, in which the two Ministers discussed the situation in Ukraine among other issues. Minister Dendias pointed out that although Ukraine is an extremely important issue, “the EU must also pay attention to the Mediterranean basin” and to the northern coast of Africa. If the latter is ignored by the EU, he said, may cause “considerable problems for Europe in many areas including migration and terrorism,” while Europe’s southern borders will also need attention.

Regarding the crisis in Sudan, Minister Dendias said that despite the “extremely unpleasant effects it has on the population and European citizens, it could be an opportunity to intensify our efforts to create a permanent EU forces deployment scheme, especially for extracting EU citizens.”

“I criticised in Brussels, and during our discussion in the Council, the inability of the EU to organise a joint operation to free our citizens from Sudan,” adding that Greece is doing everything it can to free its own citizens and any others it can he said.

He also recalled that on the previous day he had received at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Romanian and Finnish citizens who were brought to Athens by a Greek aircraft. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned, the visit of his Maltese counterpart to Athens reflects the strong will of both sides to further strengthen Greek-Malta relations.

He also thanked Minister Borg for his presence at the event of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the presentation of Greece’s candidacy for the position of non-permanent Member of the UN Security Council for the period 2025-26. The presence of the Maltese Minister is of particular importance, as Malta is currently a non-permanent Member of the UN Security Council (2023-24).

The two countries have already developed close cooperation at the UN, which will deepen even more if Greece is elected to the Security Council. They also referred to facing common challenges to protect common values and the principles of the United Nations Charter which both countries serve with utmost loyalty.

Prospects for further strengthening bilateral cooperation in various fields including economy, tourism and culture, but also collaboration within the EU and EUMED-9, the UN and other international organisations were also discussed. From this cooperation, as Minister Dendias pointed out, Greece and Malta have to reap benefits, in areas such as shipping and tourism. The two Ministers also signed a Cultural Cooperation Protocol, through which they will be able to promote their relations in a large number of fields, archaeology, university research and entertainment, etc.

Regional issues such as Libya, the Eastern Mediterranean, but also broader problems were also discussed. Minister Dendias mentioned that he asked for Malta’s help for the 9th ‘Our Ocean Conference’ that Greece will host in 2024, which Malta has hosted in 2017 and thanked him for Malta’s willingness to help with the relevant expertise.

The Greek Foreign Minister also noted that he feels particularly closely connected to Malta and its citizens, as he comes from Corfu, which has many architectural elements in common with Valletta. “Also, at least 3,500 Maltese people live in Corfu, many of them are my friends, they have always voted for me overwhelmingly and I am very grateful for that,” he concluded.

Greece and Moldova undertake joint ventures in energy

Photos: Greek Minister of the Environment and Energy Kostas Skrekas pictured in Athens with the Minister of Energy of Moldova, Victor Parlicov; the two delegations in conference.

The cooperation of Moldova and Greece in the natural gas sphere should permit to better use the underground gas storages (UGSs) in Ukraine so to improve the security of Central Europe’s gas supply in winter, Moldovan Energy Minister Victor Parlicov stated in Athens on April 7th following talks with his Greek counterpart Kostas Skrekas.

Commenting on the framework contract signed between the Moldovan State Energy Company Energocom and the Greek State Gas Operator DEPA, he wrote that, “Now Moldova will be able to purchase gas, taking advantage of favourable market conditions.”

“Greece is southern Europe’s main gateway for liquefied natural gas (LNG), more than half of which comes from the US. Energocom is the first and so far the only company in the world that has practical experience in using the ‘vertical corridor’ Greece-Bulgaria-Romania-Moldova-Ukraine,” Minister Parlicov said.

According to him, Energocom’s experience last season with the use of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector showed the feasibility of using the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline in a reverse mode.

“The European Federation of Energy Traders contract is a framework contract that precedes any sale and purchase agreement. The conclusion of such a contract is mandatory for companies operating in the European Union,” Energocom noted.

“Greece today is a strategic centre in terms of available energy sources and DEPA is going to help Energocom with experience in the gas industry,” said Energocom’s Acting Director Victor Binzari, who signed the contract. The purpose of the purchase in Greece is to see how the logistics chain works: from booking the capacities to the work of the distribution system operators. “It has one liquefied natural gas terminal and the second one will be ready by the end of the year. This terminal receives gas from several geographical locations, from the East, the United States and Africa, and the prices are favourable,” he said.

The prospects of strengthening economic cooperation between Greece and Moldova, with an emphasis on energy and renewable sources, were at the centre of a meeting between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy and Openness, Kostas Fragogiannis, and visiting Minister Parlicov (see photo).

The two officials also focused on the prospects of undertaking joint ventures in the field of energy, with the aim of energy sufficiency and autonomy.

Deputy Minister Fragogiannis arrived in Moldova on May 12th, at the head of a delegation that will participate in the proceedings of the Greece-Moldova Joint Interministerial Committee for the promotion of economic and technological cooperation between the two countries.

Shipowner Nikolaos Tsakos from Chios was the honoured guest at this year’s annual gala of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce (HACC) in the luxurious Rainbow Room located on the 65th floor of the Rockefeller Centre in Manhattan. The event was attended by distinguished guests, including the Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, Ambassador Georgios Sekeris, and the Ambassador of Greece in Washington, Alexandra Papadopoulou, among others.

Many distinguished personalities, including Senator Robert Menendez, Greek-American Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Archbishop Elpidophoros sent their greetings to Mr. Tsakos in writing. Senator Leonidas Raptakis presented Mr. Tsakos with a Senate Citation on behalf of the State of Rhode Island.

Mr. Tsakos’s work and dedication to Greece were praised by the Presidents of HACC, Clay Maitland and Athas Ioannou, while the President of Capital Link Nikolaos Bornozis highlighted Mr. Tsakos’ studies at Columbia University in New York, his idea on securing financing for shipping, which he put into practice during the establishment of Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN) in 1993, and his philanthropic work through his foundation which bears the name of his sister Maria.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Tsakos thanked his family for their contribution to his success and spoke passionately about the successes of many, which he attributes to the meeting of the American work ethic and the Greek spirit and the virtues of Greece.

After receiving the award, the event turned into a celebration with live music. Angeliki Psoni, the main singer of the evening, sang a selection of Greek songs. Later in the evening, the Greek singer Kostis Maraveyas, accompanied by his wife, the distinguished actress Tonia Sotiropoulou, sang many songs from varying repertoires and almost all the guests joined the dance floor.

“I am sure that opening a fully-fledged Embassy (Greek Embassy in Chișinău) will significantly contribute to bolstering our relations and will bring our countries even closer. It will also

represent an important sign of political support for Moldova.

The historical site (of one of the houses where Alexandros Ypsilantis was staying preceding the launch of the Greek Revolution) exemplifies so well the special historical bond between Moldova and Greece.”

GDL: Moldova’s relations with Greece are based on century-old ties between the two peoples. How can the recent visit of the President of the Hellenic Republic to Moldova be a catalyst for a new impetus in bilateral relations?

AP: Indeed, the Republic of Moldova and Greece enjoy very good and friendly relations that are rooted in a very long tradition of friendship between our peoples. Our capital city of Chisinau was one of the places from where, along with Iasi and Odesa, the leader of the ‘Filiki Eteria’, Alexandros Ypsilantis, started the Greek War of Independence in 1821 that led to the liberation of Greece. One of the houses where Ypsilantis was staying in the weeks preceding the launch of the Revolution was the Chisinau home of his fellow member of the ‘Filiki Eteria’, Michalis Katsikas. Today this is the oldest preserved house in Chisinau.

Symbolically, right after her arrival to Moldova on February 28th, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, paid a visit to this historical site that exemplifies so well the special historical bond between Moldova and Greece.

Greeks had to fight hard for their liberty and, therefore, they understand well the strive of other nations for independence and freedom. Greece was among the first countries that recognised the independence of the Republic of Moldova proclaimed on August 27th 1991. Although over the last 32 years our bilateral relations have been developing in a positive manner, with no contentious issues on the agenda, at the same time there is still a lot of unfulfilled potential for strengthening and expanding our cooperation, particularly in the fields of energy, trade, investments, tourism and cultural exchanges.

In this respect, the recent visit to Moldova of President Sakellaropoulou – the first such visit since 2004 – represented a continuation of the intensified political dialogue following the meetings that President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, had with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis two months ago in Davos and with President Sakellaropoulou in July last year in Athens.

Regretfully, this visit had to be cut short, as immediately after her meetings with her Moldovan counterpart and with Prime Minister Dorin Recean in the morning of March 1st, President Sakellaropoulou flew to the site of the train accident in Tempi. President Sandu personally conveyed to President Sakellaropoulou her condolences and started the joint press conference with a minute of silence in the memory of the victims of this terrible tragedy.

Our President also accepted the invitation to pay a Official Visit to Greece, that we have to thoroughly prepare, in particular by holding in the coming months the 4th session of the joint intergovernmental commission. On June 1st, Moldova will host the second Summit of the European Political Community at which we also expect the participation of the Greek leadership, along with other 45 invited heads of state and government.

As President Sakellaropoulou announced in Chisinau, Greece is currently examining all options for opening its diplomatic presence in Moldova. So far, we are covered by the Embassy of Greece in Bucharest, Moldova being one of the very few European countries where Greece still doesn’t have an Embassy. In fact, we are the only EU candidate country and the only one from the wider Black Sea region without a Greek Embassy on the ground. I am sure that opening a fully-fledged Embassy will significantly contribute to bolstering our relations and will bring our countries even closer. It will also represent an important sign of political support for Moldova.

“Bilateral relations (between Moldova and Greece) have been developing in a positive manner, with no contentious issues on the agenda, at the same time there is still a lot of unfulfilled potential for strengthening and expanding our cooperation, particularly in the fields of energy, trade, tourism and cultural exchanges.”

GDL: The visit came at a difficult period for the region, a year after the war against neighbouring Ukraine. This war naturally affects the wellbeing and security of Moldova. How is your country coping with these terrible circumstances?

AP: While, of course, nothing compares to the sufferings of our Ukrainian neighbours, however, Moldova is arguably the second most exposed and most affected country by the Russian aggression. When a year ago, after occupying the Ukrainian city of Kherson, Russia was trying to advance towards Mykolaiv and the Russian tanks were less than 200 km from the Moldovan territory. That was closer than Alexandroupolis is from Thessaloniki. Without the EU or NATO protection and with the Russian troops still illegally stationing in the separatist Transnistrian region of Moldova, we felt threatened and vulnerable.

After last fall Ukraine succeeded to liberate Kherson and as long as it keeps the front line far from our borders, we believe that there is not an eminent military threat to Moldova. However, we do face a lot of hybrid threats, cyber-attacks, fake bomb alerts and a lot of propaganda. We also had a series of paid protests instigated by fugitive Moldovan oligarchs who work together with Russia trying to bring violence on our streets and destabilise the political and economic situation. In spite of this pressure, we managed to keep the country stable and the situation under control.

In Moldova we understand particularly well that Ukraine is fighting not only for their, but for our liberty as well. We are very grateful to Ukraine for this fight, but also to all countries, including Greece, that are helping Ukraine to resist and hopefully to win.

On its part, Moldova is showing an active solidarity with Ukraine. One example in this respect is the assistance and shelter offered to those over 650 thousand Ukrainian refugees who entered Moldova fleeing the war. Some 85 thousand of them remained in Moldova, being mostly hosted by Moldovan families, while the State provided them with food, medical assistance, access to education and the labour market.

Another negative impact of the war rests with the disruption of trade routes and the sharp deterioration of the already difficult socio-economic situation. Gas and electricity tariffs registered a 7-fold and, respectively, a 3-fold increase, while inflation last year was more than 30%. As our energy system is closely interlinked with Ukraine, so every missile targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure affects Moldova, leading on a number of occasions to electrical energy blackouts. Moreover, six Russian missiles have crossed our air space and the debris of several other rockets felt in different parts of Moldova.

“In order to strengthen our defence and security capacities, and without prejudice to our neutrality status, we have stepped up our cooperation with partners, both bilaterally, but also with the EU and NATO. The Government has the duty to prepare for the full spectrum of risks and scenarios. And in these endeavours, Moldova is not alone and we thank all our partners for their valuable support.”

GDL: According to the Constitution, Moldova is a military neutral country and has been since 1994. Does your Government need to change its neutral military stance within the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine?

AP: Moldovan constitutional neutrality was proclaimed in 1994 in conjunction with the ban for any deployment of foreign troops on our soil. By making this linkage we had hoped that it would help us solve the Transnistrian conflict and ensure full withdrawal of Russian troops. This didn’t happen. In violation of our neutrality, Russia continues to illegally keep about 1,500 of its troops and 20 thousand tonnes of munitions in the Transnistria region of Moldova.

When the Russian invasion started, we realised that it was not neutrality, but the heroism of the Ukrainian army and Ukrainian society that was protecting us, while our own army was very week and heavily underfunded.

Therefore, in order to strengthen our defence and security capacities, and without prejudice to our neutrality status, we have stepped up our cooperation with partners, both bilaterally, but also with the EU and NATO. The Government has the duty to prepare for the full spectrum of risks and scenarios. And in these endeavours, Moldova is not alone and we thank all our partners for their valuable support.

“We see the full integration into the European Union as the only chance to survive as a democracy and to restore the people’s trust in our country’s future.”

GDL: Greece opposes any anachronistic, neo-colonial and revisionist policy of any aggressive States and fully supports the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders. What steps is your Government implementing in order to find a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Transnistria issue?

AP: In spite of the changed regional security context, we are firmly committed to exclusively peaceful means for finding a comprehensive and sustainable solution to this conflict, based on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders and without undermining the European perspective of the Republic of Moldova.

The chances of achieving such a solution will largely depend on when, where and how the war will end. Here, I would also like to emphasise the importance of full withdrawal of Russian troops and ammunition in accordance with International Law and OSCE commitments.

This separatist conflict has been hampering our development for more than three decades. It had at its origins Moscow’s attempt to prevent Moldova from leaving the Soviet Union and, after we became independent, to keep Moldova in its sphere of influence. This is the most important factor that prevented the settlement of this so-called frozen conflict.

As there are no ethnic or religious contradictions between the people on the two sides of the Nistru/Dniestr river, it would have been long ago solved if it was not for the adverse negative external influences. As my father originates from the Transnistrian region, I have many relatives and friends there, and can testify that this conflict is sustained artificially.

Since 2005, negotiations have been taking place in the 5+2 format, that includes OSCE, Russia and Ukraine as mediators and EU and US as observers. As long as Russia is waging its war of aggression against Ukraine, it is hard to imagine how negotiations in this format can resume. In the meantime, the main platform for interaction with Tiraspol is in the 1+1 format of chief negotiators, backed by a dozen sectorial working groups. We are also engaged in a pragmatic dialogue with the Transnistrian de facto administration in order to solve current problems and make sure this conflict doesn’t escalate.

In parallel, we maintain a very favourable regime of trade for Transnistrian businesses, that over the years has led to a complete reorientation of the region’s exports to the EU market. We also encourage people-to-people contacts, confidence building initiatives, joint projects and promote the freedom of movement across the internal administrative line.

“Despite all crises, we are making sustained efforts in areas of justice reform, fighting corruption, strengthening institutions, improving business climate, strengthening our energy and economic resilience.”

GDL: Greece has devoted attention to the European perspective of Moldova and always supports the country’s accession to the EU without reservations and the granting of EU Candidate Status to it. What are the EU aspirations of the people of Moldova?

AP: For 20 years, European integration has been a strategic objective of Moldova and its people.

An important landmark on this path took place in 2014, when, during the Greek EU Presidency, Moldova signed the Association Agreement with the European Union and our citizens received a visa free travel regime to the Schengen area. Last June, together with Ukraine, we obtained the EU candidate status. Our next goal is to open EU accession negotiations, hopefully by the end of this year, based on accelerating reforms and full implementation of EU recommendations.

Greece has first-hand experienced the positive transformational impact of EU membership and is among the strongest supporters of the EU enlargement process. We value very much this position and rely on Greece’s continues support for our European path.

The way the EU has managed to find joint solutions and to support its Member States during the pandemics and in alleviating the impact of the energy crisis represents another strong argument why we want to become Members of the EU.

Despite all crises, we are making sustained efforts in areas of justice reform, fighting corruption, strengthening institutions, improving business climate, strengthening our energy and economic resilience.

We want to succeed in building a modern and competitive country, a country where institutions and justice work in the interests of citizens and not in the interest of corrupt groups. We see the full integration into the European Union as the only chance to survive as a democracy and to restore the people’s trust in our country’s future.

“Implementing European reforms and modernising the country requires a lot of effort and focus. No more time and energy to waste in futile debates exploited for propaganda purposes.”

GDL: In March the Parliament of Moldova renamed the official language of the country from Moldovan to Romanian. Why was this decision taken now and what is its significance?

AP: Like Cypriots speak the Greek language, Austrians – German, Americans – English, people in the Republic of Moldova and Romania also speak the same language – Romanian. The name ‘Moldovan language’ represents a relic of the Soviet past when Moscow was trying to artificially separate us with Romanians, in spite of our common language, history and culture.

To somehow justify the claim that we speak two different languages, they even changed the script from Latin to Cyrillic. Just imagine how absurd it would be for French or Italian – part of the same Romanic group with Romanian – to be written in Cyrillic letters.

As for the return to its natural Latin script, we did it even before our independence on 31st August 1989 (the date that for the last 33 years has been our second national day – the Romanian Language Day).

But as for the name of the language, the restoration of the scientific and historic truth took us much longer. The March decision of the Parliament to formally change the name from ‘Moldovan’ to ‘Romanian’ is meant to finally put an end to endless political speculations and to allow us instead to concentrate on substantive issues.

Implementing European reforms and modernising the country requires a lot of effort and focus. No more time and energy to waste in futile debates exploited for propaganda purposes.

“There are still about 20 thousand Moldovans for whom Greece has become their second home. These people have integrated very well into the Greek society and are binging their contribution to the development and prosperity of the country that was so good to them. They are a true living cultural bridge between our two countries.”

GDL: The strengthening of relations between the peoples of Moldova and Greece depend to a large degree on the Greeks who live in Moldova and the Moldovans who turned Greece into their second home. What initiatives should be undertaken to strengthen bilateral and cultural relations in all areas of mutual interest?

AP: Greece was among the first countries that received with open arms tens of thousands of Moldovans who left their country in search of a better income to provide for their families.

Although after the economic crises in Greece many of them returned to Moldova or re-immigrated to Western Europe, there are still about 20 thousand Moldovans for whom Greece has become their second home. These people have integrated very well into the Greek society and are binging their contribution to the development and prosperity of the country that was so good to them. They are a true living cultural bridge between our two countries and we appreciate very much the support provided to them by the Greek State.

The Moldovan diaspora in Greece is organised in several active associations that hold regular cultural events, preserving and showcasing for the Greek public our rich traditions.

Several months ago, an important Social Security Agreement between Moldova and Greece entered into force, that gives the possibility to Moldovans who legally work in Greece to get their pensions based on cumulative contributions made both in Moldova and Greece. We have also finalised negotiations on the Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Driving Licenses that should be signed in the near future.

Interview by Nicolas Boutsicos
Editor, Greek Diplomatic Life

Greece and the United States of America – strengthening cooperation

Meeting with the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had also a private meeting and working dinner with the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, at the Maximos Mansion.

During the talks, according to sources, a comprehensive overview of Greek-American relations was made. Their excellent level was confirmed in view of the start of the 4th round of the Greece-US strategic dialogue and their further deepening was agreed.

The Prime Minister and Secretary Blinken exchanged views on international, European and regional issues, with a focus on developments in Ukraine. The US Secretary of State expressed to the Premier his appreciation for the unconditional support provided by Greece to Ukraine from the very beginning and underlined the role of Greece as a pillar of stability and security in the wider region.

The situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the devastating earthquakes in Turkey were also discussed. The US Secretary of State thanked the Prime Minister for the immediate assistance provided by Greece to Turkey at this difficult time.

The two officials also agreed on the importance of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean at a critical geopolitical juncture. The Prime Minister underlined that the stable position of Greece and the guiding principle of its policy was and remains the peaceful resolution of disputes and good neighbourly relations based on International Law.

“The upward dynamic of bilateral strategic relations was sealed by the two defence cooperations between Greece and the US… their signature proves that in a constantly changing environment, Greece is recognised as a pillar of stability and security.” 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Nikos Dendias

The Strategic Dialogue (the 4th of its kind with Greece) is actually a reflection of the relationship “our citizens have had for more than 200 years and indeed today’s expanded delegation represents the depth of our relationship.”

US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken

Cooperation between Greece and the US has become even stronger and its strengthening promotes common interests, but also regional peace and stability, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said in a meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken launching the start of the 4th Greece-US Strategic Dialogue, on February 21st.

Referring to the talks with the US Secretary of State, he said they had discussed defence and security, enforcement of international law and the fight against terrorism, humanitarian and environmental challenges, as well as relations between peoples. “We had an open dialogue about regional political problems,” he added.

Greece-US relations are strategic and have reached the highest level the Greek Foreign Minister said during joint statements with his US counterpart. “The Strategic Dialogue concerns seven important areas. It is a tangible proof of the dynamics of Greece’s relations with the US. Strategic relations, which have reached the highest level. A solid basis of our bilateral relations are our common principles and values: freedom, democracy, human rights, our adherence to International Law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.”

The upward dynamic of bilateral strategic relations was sealed by the two defence cooperations between Greece and the US he added, pointing out that their signature proves that in a constantly changing environment, Greece is recognised as a pillar of stability and security.

Minister Dendias also made special reference to the “dynamic presence” of the Greek diaspora in the US.

He further reiterated that the Greek foreign policy strategy is based on the full application of the rules of International Law and the International Law of the Sea, on respect for the principles of the UN Charter, the protection of human rights and the condemnation of the threat or use of force.

He underlined that from the first moment, Greece offered assistance to Ukraine, immediately agreeing with the decisions and sanctions against Russia within the context of its participation in the EU and the UN. In addition, he noted that the Parliament ratified in a short period of time the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in his introductory remarks at the opening of the 4th round of the Greece-US Strategic Dialogue stressed Greece’s leading role in strengthening security and the energy transition in the region while underlining that the US is grateful for Greece’s unwavering support to Ukraine.

“The US is grateful for Greece’s unwavering support for Ukraine after the invasion, including opening its doors to 20,000 displaced Ukrainians,” he said.

Secretary Blinken also thanked Greece for its support to Turkey after the devastating earthquakes and called on Athens and Ankara to seize the historic moment and the positive climate that has been created. He also called on the two countries to “seize the historic opportunity to strengthen historic relations between two critical allies in a pivotal region at a crucial time.”

He pointed out that the Strategic Dialogue is actually a reflection of the relationship “our citizens have had for more than 200 years and indeed today’s expanded delegation represents the depth of our relationship.”

He reminded that today’s discussion is based on the 3rd strategic dialogue held between the two Ministries in Washington in 2021 and other important steps, such as the amendment of the defence cooperation agreement.

The US Secretary of State stated that the armies of the two countries are training together, in new ways and in more places adding that Alexandroupolis has become a key strategic hub to bring new defence weapons, trucks, artillery, military units across Europe.

He noted that the US is working to upgrade facilities in the region and creating new jobs, while “we have similar investments in other parts of Greece, including a $ 123 million in infrastructure in Souda Bay and Larissa.”

Furthermore, the US Minister referred to efforts to promote clean energy and strengthen energy security. “Greece’s transition is a model for the region,” he said, recalling that renewable energy sources such as wind and solar provided half of Greece’s electricity needs, which, he said, is equivalent to the removal of 3 million cars from the roads.

He also praised Greece’s role in supporting neighbouring countries to diversify energy sources by reducing their dependence on Russia, such as Bulgaria.

He also noted that Greece and the US are working to strengthen the ties between the two peoples and emphasised that over one million Americans visit Greece every year.

(Photos: GDL & G.Kontarinis, A.Bonetti/Eurokinissi.)