“Visions, narratives and doctrines that oppose international law, distort history and defy common sense cannot and must not have a place in the modern world,” Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis underscored in his remarks today during the 5th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean, which took place online and marked the 25th anniversary of the Barcelona Process.
In the same context, Mr. Varvitsiotis highlighted Greece’s full commitment to international law and the principle of good neighbourliness, adding that “actions that dispute territorial sovereignty and sovereign rights – including the right to explore for and exploit natural resources – are not only a blatant violation of international law and, in particular, the International Law of the Sea, but also undermine the principle of good neighbourliness.”
The Alternate Minister also noted that Greece is a pillar of stability for the whole region, contributing decisively to regional stability and development. This is why it has created an active network of trilateral cooperation mechanisms in the region – with growing political technical and economic momentum – while at the same time actively supporting Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation. “Only with a common strategic vision can the Mediterranean, our common home, again become a sea of peace and prosperity, uniting its peoples,” he stated.
Mr. Varvitsiotis also stressed the need to respond to the root causes of the migration problem and severely punish human smuggling networks, and he also expressed Greece’s support for Operation Irini. “No attempt to exploit people who are seeking a better future is acceptable,” he commented.
Finally, during his remarks, the Alternate Minister highlighted the issue of combating climate change, as well as the need to combat extremism, terrorism, hate speech and religious exploitation.
November 30, 2020