Greece needed some twelve hours to take official position on the Russia-Ukraine developments and Tuesday morning it announced that it will stand with its allies in the European Union and the NATO.
At an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis early in the morning, the Council of Foreign Affairs and National Defence (KYSEA) the situation was evaluated and the possible repercussions for Greece were examined, especially the supply of natural gas as Russia covers 40% of the country’s needs.
. Among others, measures that must be taken so that Greece does not face a problem with the supply of natural gas.
After the KYSEA meeting, government spokesman Yiannis Oikonomou said: “Greece is acting in full coordination with its partners in the EU and its NATO allies in dealing with the situation, which constitutes a breach of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and of the fundamental principles of international law.”
Economou said that the Greek authorities in Kiev and Mariupol are ready to assist Greek citizens and ethnic Greeks living in the area as required. All scenarios regarding the supply of natural gas were examined during the meeting, he added, while giving assurances that all necessary measures have been taken to ensure the uninterrupted supply of natural gas to Greece.
short time later, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement in line with the EU:
“Russia’s recognition of the illegal and unilateral declaration of ‘independence’ of Ukraine’s separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk constitutes a blatant violation of fundamental principles of International Law, Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and the Minsk agreements.”
“We have repeatedly stressed that Greece stands for respect of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of all states and condemns any decision that contravenes these fundamental principles of International Law,” it added.
“In the context of its commitments to the European Union and NATO, Greece will consult and coordinate with its European partners and allies regarding the response to this decision,” the foreign ministry statement concluded.
Greece has 2 allies now. France and Britain. Russia use to be allied too before defying their supposed troop withdraw as much as we trust peacekeeping given the recent 3 foot hole in a Ukrainian kindergarten wall.
Armed conflict has no place in a modern day Europe.
This may be the beginning of the end of our special relations with our Northern brother who must hold human value paramount in its so called peacekeeping than invasion.