Greece satisfied with final text of EU Strategic Compass

The final text of the EU’s Strategic Compass, adopted by the EU Foreign & Defense Council meeting on Monday is to the satisfaction of Greece, said Greek diplomatic sources.

The final text is the product of an agreement after many months of painstaking negotiations, which were influenced by developments in Ukraine after the Russian invasion, and which, according to the diplomatic sources, makes clear references to fundamental principles of Greek foreign policy, and explicit references to provocative unilateral actions by Turkey.

Greece was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias and National Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos.

FM Dendias stresses commitment to securing the future of the Greek community in Mariupol

The commitment of the Greek government to do everything it can to secure the future of the Greek community in Mariupol was underlined by Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, as he arrived for the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday, which will discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Russian invasion.

Dendias stated that he will raise the issue of Mariupol in the Council: “I intend to raise the issue of Mariupol, the issue of the Greek community in Mariupol and the total destruction of the city by the Russian troops. Chechen fighters are currently fighting in Mariupol. The Chechen army has come from the Russian side and the city is completely destroyed.

The Greek government has a special interest, because of the presence of the Greek community there, and we will do everything we can to ensure the future of this community.”

The Greek foreign minister also noted that the Council will discuss the issue of Sahel, another area that affects security in Europe, as well as issues of the Strategic Compass. As he said, “the future of our strategic perspective and how Europe will proceed from now on” will be discussed. He stressed that “what Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said is very important for Greece. Defence spending should be excluded from these calculations. European defence is now an issue that concerns everyone, not just Greece”.

FM Dendias hosts working breakfast with counterparts from EU, North Macedonia

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Monday hosted a working breakfast with his counterpart from North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, and the participation of the other European Union foreign ministers.

Also present were EU High Representative Josep Borrell and European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi. The focus was on the accession process of North Macedonia and the European perspective of the Western Balkans, according to a foreign ministry post on Twitter.