It is with great pleasure and honor that I welcome today to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs of Algeria, Ahmed Attaf.
Greece and Algeria are bound by historic ties of friendship, founded both on our shared principles and values, as well as on our common geography.
We are located in the Mediterranean neighborhood, at the strategic crossroads of three continents, where all of today’s global challenges converge: maritime security in navigation, trade, migration, climate change and terrorism.
As Mediterranean countries, we share a common understanding of these challenges and the same vision for a sea of peace, stability and prosperity.
Your visit today, honorable Minister, constitutes a tangible confirmation of our joint resolve to intensify dialogue and deepen our bilateral cooperation across multiple fields.
It also follows the 5th round of political consultations between our countries, held in early 2025 in Algiers, headed by the Greek Deputy Minister, Alexandra Papadopoulou.
Greece and Algeria maintain excellent cooperation within the framework of the United Nations Security Council, as elected members. Algeria represents, within the UNSC, the group of Arab countries with which Greece has always maintained close, brotherly relations.
In this context, we join our voices on the basis of International Law, the UN Charter, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, the peaceful settlement of disputes and good-neighborly relations.
We worked closely together recently during the UN Security Council consultations on the annual renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission MINURSO, the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. And in particular, I must praise the Minister for the extremely creative attitude he maintained and his decisive role in bringing about this resolution.
We make full use of our participation in the UN Security Council to address other critical issues, in which we jointly play a significant regional role.
We discussed the situation in Gaza. Maintaining the ceasefire is extremely critical, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid. The reform of the Palestinian Authority is also of pivotal significance, so as to create the conditions necessary for launching the political process that will lead to a two-state solution.
Greece will be actively present in the day after in Gaza and stands ready to contribute to the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis and the reconstruction of the area.
We also discussed the situation in Libya. Greece fully respects Libya’s sovereignty and supports the resolution of the Libyan issue through the conduct of fair and free elections, free from external interference, with a view to establishing a representative government.
Regarding Africa and, in particular, the Sahel region, where the security environment is the most complex globally, we must take action to prevent the spillover of conflicts and to mitigate the suffering of civilians.
The Mediterranean plays a decisive role in achieving our national objectives, which are at the same time objectives of the European Union: energy diversification, the management of irregular migration flows, regional connectivity and the consolidation of security.
In a period of intense geopolitical uncertainty, the strategic upgrading of the European Union’s relations with the countries of the Southern Neighborhood, through the new Pact for the Mediterranean and the strengthening of the partnership cooperation, is a strategic priority for Greece.
Honorable Minister,
During our meeting today, we discussed the wide array of opportunities for further strengthening our cooperation in the fields of energy, trade, tourism, and technology.
We have set as a milestone the convening of the Joint Interministerial Committee in early 2026, which will inject new momentum into our bilateral relations.
With these thoughts, and with the sincere fraternal solidarity that we feel towards Algeria and the Algerian people, I would like to welcome you, honorable Minister, to Athens.
December 10, 2025