Greece has always been on the right side of history, Varvitsiotis says

Alternate Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis spoke about Greece’s constant commitment to international law and the clear stance that it has adopted in the Ukrainian crisis, during a speech he delivered at the “3rd Conference on Southeastern Europe, East Europe and the Western Balkans” in Washington.

“There is no intermediate position when the fundamental principles of international peace and security are at stake,” was the message sent by Miltiades Varvitsiotis.

Mr Varvitsiotis also spoke at a panel on “The Eastern Mediterranean 3 + 1 Corporate Scheme: A View from National Parliaments”, which was attended, among others, by the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez. During his speech, Varvitsiotis reminded that Greece has always been on the right side of history and noted that the country has shown in practice its solidarity with Ukraine.

As he explained, Greece condemns the violation of the territorial integrity of independent countries and therefore its stance on the Ukrainian crisis is dictated by the fundamental principles and values of its foreign policy.

“The forces that want to adopt the revisionism will end up isolated internationally and will pay a heavy price for their actions. We can not tolerate authoritarian leaders who want to redesign borders in Europe,” he underlined.

Alt. FM Varvitsiotis meets with US Asst. Secretary of State Karen Donfried in Washington

Greek Alternate Foreign Affairs Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis met with US Assistant Secretary of State for European & Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried in Washington on Monday.

In the presence of US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Erika Olson, who is overseeing policy for Southern Europe and the Caucasus, Varvitsiotis and Donfried discussed Greece-US strategic collaboration, the security situation in Europe after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and energy issues.

Regarding Ukraine, the minister noted that Greece condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the very first moment it unfolded, and he proposed the implementation of sanctions by all NATO member states, including Turkey, which, he said, is still not participating in these sanctions.

“Sanctions will be credible and effective via a united front of partners and allies,” he stressed.

Concerning Greek-Turkish relations, Varvitsiotis pointed out that Greece remains open to a dialogue with Turkey, but Ankara -following the Sunday meeting of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan- must show, in practice, that it has abandoned its agressive rhetoric and its revisionism, and that it respects International Law and Law of the Sea.