April 19, 2024

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Kuleba promised Dendias to resolve the issue with the Greek diaspora

The President of the country Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with the help of the law, magically made … the multimillion Russian diaspora on the territory of Ukraine disappear. For the company they forgot about the Greeks, Hungarians, etc., did not forget only about the Tatars and Krymchaks, according to the Greek edition PontosNews.

Thus, neither Russians nor Greeks are now an indigenous national minority. With them, Hungarians, Belarusians, Bulgarians of Ukraine were excluded from the list of indigenous peoples of Ukraine for the company.

According to OPEN correspondent Tanasis Avgerinos, both Mariupol and Crimean Greeks, who for Kiev remain the territory of Ukraine, are being destroyed.

The intentions of Vladimir Zelensky are clarified with the recognition of only Tatars of Turkish origin (of which only 0.5% of the population, including the Tatars of Russian citizens living in Crimea) – almost everything suggests that the country is turning into a satellite of Turkey, following the agreements on defense cooperation.

“This is a very delicate diplomatic issue. Russia has applied to the Council of Europe, it is supported by a number of countries, ”commented Tanasis Avgerinos.

Today, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is on a working visit to Ukraine, where he met with his counterpart Dmytro Kulea, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Parliament Speaker Dmytro Razumkov, and other officials.

“The main problems are increasing trade and investment, supporting Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO and facilitating travel,” the Ukrainian diplomacy said in a statement, adding that the ministers were also going to discuss the issue of an armed conflict with Russia.

Nikos Dendias assured that Athens will continue to support Kiev in its “European aspirations.”

Nikos Dendias reportedthat the Greek national liberation revolution of 1821-1829 originates in Ukraine. The politician said this on Monday, speaking at the forum “Ukraine 30. International Politics”.

“The 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence is also <...> a significant year for my country, Greece. This year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the beginning of our war of independence. And what is important to mention here, in Kiev, in the capital of Ukraine, is that that we always remember that this war of our independence, this our revolution began in Ukraine, “the press service of the Greek Foreign Ministry quoted Dendias as saying.

At the same time, the foreign minister added that Greece always remembers that “Odessa was the city where the Society of Friends (Filiki Eteria) was founded in 1814.” A society with the sole purpose of creating an independent Greek state, “Dendias emphasized. At the same time, he assured that Greece will continue to support Ukraine in “its European aspirations.” According to the politician, Ukraine is a priority partner for the European Union both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of the Eastern Partnership program.

“The connecting element is the historical presence of the Greek diaspora in Ukraine, which today numbers more than 100,000 people, and we hope to protect their rights, as I discussed with the minister earlier. It is an integral part of Ukrainian society and a bridge between our two countries and our two peoples. We are also very pleased that the Greek language and our culture are taught in Ukrainian universities.

I would also like to express my unconditional gratitude for the contribution of Ukrainians to the development of the Greek economy. About thirty thousand Ukrainians – a very significant number – work on Greek-owned ships in the world’s largest merchant marine. We really appreciate their input.

And, of course, thousands of our Ukrainian friends visit our country every year. I hope that this year we will meet them again. As you know, we recognize the vaccination certificates, which I mentioned earlier to the minister.

But we can do much more. We can strengthen our bilateral ties and our trade. And, of course, we can have an honest, ongoing and ongoing dialogue because both countries face challenges.

I would suggest that the basic principle for both countries is the following, which is standard practice for Greece: strict adherence to international law, strict adherence to the peaceful settlement of disputes, strict adherence to refraining from threats or the use of force.

As I said, I say this now and I will repeat it at the direction of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, and this has always been the position of Greece.

This is what we firmly affirm in all international forums and organizations in which we participate, including the European Union, NATO and the OSCE, and this is what we will continue to do, even though it is costly for us, but it’s a matter of principle.

We can become an ideal ally and source of assistance to Ukraine in its European course, because we want to strengthen these relations. We are a country in the east of the European Union, and Ukraine is not far from us. At this stage, if we were to formulate an opinion, we would suggest that Ukraine make full use of all the provisions of the Association Agreement and continue what its government is already doing, namely the necessary reforms.

We also support Ukraine’s choice to strengthen ties with NATO. We are actively involved in protective measures for Ukraine through our airbase in Aktio, the periodic presence of our navy in the Black Sea and in general with the armed forces that we contribute as a permanent member of NATO.

Since I always want to be honest, I must say that we are surprised when Ukraine does not join the decisions of the common foreign policy of the Union – unlike all countries that seek to strengthen their ties with the European Union – especially in the case of actions that violate the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of the member states of the Union and are contrary to international law. In the end, I think that this is the basis on which Ukraine itself seeks the support of the international community to protect its rights and enjoys our support. We hope that soon Ukraine will be in line with European foreign policy.

With regard to the challenges facing Ukraine, the European Union has consistently and repeatedly reaffirmed its support. The European Union supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine based on the fundamental principles of international law. The European Union has taken a number of practical steps to implement this principles-based approach. This approach is based on the condemnation of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as the restrictive measures imposed against the Russian Federation in response to the crisis in Ukraine.

Greece has clearly expressed its principled position in all international forums in which we participate: we support international legitimacy. We always condemn its violators. We explicitly ask everyone to streamline [свои позиции] in the foreign policy of the European Union.

And we applied this approach in the case of Ukraine. I must say that in all cases we followed the same approach. We take the same approach with regard to Turkey’s persistent illegal and aggressive actions against Greece and the Republic of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the wider region. For us Greeks, respect for international law, respect for international law of the sea remains the foundation of our principled foreign policy. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not an à la carte choice. Can not be. This can never be.

We firmly believe that a common set of rules shared by all is the only foundation for peace and stability. The individual position is always – let me say – a very big trap. This may have some short-term side benefits; this is some kind of long-term loss.

JOURNALIST: I would like to ask the ministers if they discussed strengthening the status of the rights of the Greek diaspora in Ukraine and if there will be any specific measures.

N. DENDIAS: Thank you for your question and thank my dear colleague for the assurances he gave you. We discussed this matter privately, and I would like to reiterate the assurances he just gave you and which he previously gave me personally – and I say this to his credit – that there is no previous or next law that restricts rights Greek minority in Ukraine. Instead, the services of a representative of this minority are used to develop a bill to expand and strengthen the rights of the minority, which, as I said earlier, is a bridge of friendship between two states and two peoples and the embodiment of the historical presence of Hellenism in the Black Sea for millennia.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=334012538278638

After that, according to the trip plan, Nikos Dendias will go to Odessa, where he will visit the Museum of the Friendly Society, as well as the Greek Park, and also meet with representatives of the Greek communities, as well as with businessmen working in the area.





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