Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ address at the Ukraine.30 Forum

My dear colleague,

First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.

The 30th anniversary of Ukraine’ s independence is also – if you allow me to say – an emblematic year for my country, Greece. This year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the beginning of our War for Independence. And what is important to mention here, in Kiev, in the capital of Ukraine, is that we always remember that this War of Independence of ours, this Revolution of ours, started in Ukraine. We always remember that Odessa was the city, where the Society of Friends – in Greece we call it the “Filiki Etairia” – was founded in 1814. A Society with the sole purpose of founding an independent Greek State.

This is why this Ukrainian city, but also Ukraine as a country, are so close to the hearts of us Greeks. And this is one of the many reasons that Greece is, and will always be, willing to assist Ukraine in its European aspirations. We believe that you belong to the European Union, next to us. In this context, Ukraine is a priority partner for the European Union, both bilaterally and also in the framework of the Eastern Partnership.

During the last few years, Ukraine with the support of the European Union has taken very essential steps in implementing very complex, but also very ambitious reforms. And it was very interesting to listen to the speech of your President, mentioning ambition as a main theme. The success of these reforms is pivotal for a better future for Ukraine. A future of a close cooperation with the European Union, in the framework of a tailored relation.

Reforms must be implemented of course, in a sustainable manner, on the basis of our common Euro-Atlantic values and our common Euro-Atlantic principles.

We Greeks are proud that the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, was signed in 2014 during the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The implementation of these Agreements is key in bringing prosperity and welfare to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. In this challenging time, we will support your efforts for the full implementation of the Association Agreement.

Greece has also consistently supported Ukraine’s long-established partnership with NATO. We continue to encourage the country’s efforts towards steadily deepening the ties with the North-Atlantic Alliance. The recent NATO Summit in Brussels reaffirmed the Allies’ commitment to stand by the decisions taken at the 2008 Bucharest Summit. A sovereign, independent and stable Ukraine, firmly committed to democracy and the rule of law, is important to European and Transatlantic security. The Enhanced Opportunity Partner status, granted last year, provides further impetus to the already existing strong partnership. It will undoubtedly promote, inter alia, Ukraine’s participation in NATO’s exercises and training.

With regard to the challenges that Ukraine is facing, the European Union has continuously and repeatedly reaffirmed its support. The European Union supports Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity on the basis of the fundamental principles of International Law. The European Union has taken a series of practical steps towards the implementation of this principles-based approach. This approach is based on the condemnation of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, and the restrictive measures imposed against the Russian Federation, in response to the crisis in Ukraine.

Greece has clearly expressed its principled position in all the international fora in which we participate: We uphold international legality. We always condemn its violators. We are clearly asking everybody to streamline [their positions] with the European Union foreign policy.

And we have adopted this approach in the case of Ukraine. I have to say, we have adopted the same approach in all cases. We have adopted the same approach in the case of Turkey’s persistent illegal and aggressive actions against Greece and against the Republic of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the broader region. For us Greeks, the respect for International Law, the respect of the International Law of the Sea remains the basic pillar of our principled foreign policy. It is not, ladies and gentlemen, an à la carte choice. It cannot be. It can never be.

We steadily believe that a common set of rules, shared by all, is the only basis for peace and stability. A case-by-case position is always – allow me to say – a very big trap. It may have some short-term minor advantages; it is a certain long-term loss.

Thank you for your kind attention.»