N. Dendias: We make every effort to ensure the protection of our expatriates in Ukraine

“Greece is making every effort to ensure the protection of our expatriates in Ukraine, in the context of these very difficult conditions,” said Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, in joint statements with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky after the meeting. at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the same time, he stressed the need for all countries, especially those wishing to join the EU, to align themselves with the EU’s stance.

“We call on all other countries, which have a relationship or want to become members of the European Union, to align themselves fully with the EU, without footnotes, without asterisks in the effort to protect international law and human rights,” he said.

“Greece participates in the Euro-Atlantic institutions. We are co-shaping with our European partners, as well as our NATO allies, the joint response. We will fully implement the decisions taken by all Europeans together.”

The Foreign Minister underlined that “the Greek consular authorities are on the side of the Greek citizens and our expatriates, with a high sense of responsibility, I would say with self-sacrifice”. He reminded that in the wider area of ​​Mariupol live about 150,000 expatriates and their protection is a key priority for the government. After all, he himself had visited the area a few days before the Russian invasion.

At the moment, as he mentioned, the operation Nostos 3 is underway for the removal of Greek citizens from Mariupol, under the coordination of Ambassador Frangiskos Kostellenos, who participates in the motorcade. There had been previous evacuations from Kyiv and Odessa in recent days.

The Foreign Ministry had issued two announcements advising Greek nationals to leave Ukraine immediately and Greek nationals not to go to Ukraine.

In these difficult conditions, Greece is the only country in the European Union that keeps its consulate open in Odessa, where Consul General Dimitris Dohtsis is located, and in Mariupol, where Consul General Manolis Androulakis is located.

“I am particularly proud of our three diplomats, who are in the danger zone and carry out their mission with a high sense of duty,” said Mr. Dendias. “And I had the pleasure of conveying to them the same feelings of the prime minister and the Greek government.”

Greece, as Mr. Dendias pointed out, has already mourned victims of the Greek community in Eastern Ukraine. “We protested strongly on the Russian side and asked for the creation of humanitarian corridors in order to provide a way out for the civilian population who would like to move.”

“Unfortunately, we are facing the greatest challenge that Europe has faced in the 21st century,” he said. “Ukraine’s independence. It is clear that Ukraine could not be an exception. This principle is a fundamental rule of international law. It is contained in the Charter of the United Nations, the same charter that prohibits the threat or use of force.”

“We condemn the use and threat of use of force wherever it comes from. We call for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Ukrainian territory,” he said.

He stressed that the Czech Republic is a country that endorses international law, while it has ratified UNCLOS, which indicates its commitment to the principles and respect for international law, even if it does not border the sea. It is geographically adjacent to the region of developments and has a deep understanding of this region and the world, he added.

Greece and the Czech Republic have taken the same principle in other regional organizations, such as the Council of Europe, where they voted together with 40 other countries to suspend Russia’s participation.

“The European Union’s relations with Russia are based on respect for international law,” he said.

He noted that he will go to Brussels tomorrow, in order to participate in the extraordinary Council of NATO Foreign Ministers and the extraordinary Council of Foreign Affairs. Both will be attended by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Finally, he said that he and his Czech counterpart also had the opportunity to consider the possibility of strengthening bilateral relations. He noted that he looks forward to working with the forthcoming Czech EU Presidency.

The initiative of the three seas, cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, civil protection, defense and production or co-production of systems were discussed with his Czech counterpart.

Czech Foreign Minister: We are preparing to receive Ukrainian refugees

“In the Czech Republic, we are preparing to welcome refugees moving out of the conflict zone,” he said, stressing the need for co-operation at European level.

“We have all seen the images from the cities that have been bombed, while almost a million people have already fled and many more are expected,” he said.

He emphasized the need to work together at European level to prepare the appropriate response and to assist as much as possible and to be able to help countries such as Moldova and Hungary, which are under the most pressure at the moment.

According to Mr. Lipavsky, the meeting took place in “strange times, times of tension”, while he described the Russian invasion as a “violent attack against the Ukrainian people”.

He also expressed his condolences for the loss of members of the Greek community in Ukraine and wished the rest to be safe.

As he pointed out, this is a very important moment because a lot may change at EU and NATO level.

At the bilateral level, he stressed that traditionally the two countries have a very close relationship, Greece is a popular tourist destination for the Czechs and expressed the desire to expand cooperation in other areas.

He stressed that one of the priorities of the forthcoming Czech EU Presidency is the Western Balkans.

Source: AMPE