Earlier, US Secretary of State Nikos Dendias had a telephone conversation with US Undersecretary of State Wendy R. Sherman about the situation in Ukraine and the Western Balkans.
As he points out in a post on Twitter, Nikos Dendias informed the US Undersecretary of State about the recent provocative rhetoric of Turkey.
During a phone conversation today, I discussed with U.S. @DeputySecState W.Sherman the situation in #Ukraine & #WesternBalkans and briefed her on Turkey’s recent provocative statements. pic.twitter.com/rr22u03fec
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) January 4, 2022
The Turkish government’s stance “is an epitome of irrationality”, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said earlier in a statement after meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud.
The Foreign Minister referred to the escalation of the Turkish aggressive rhetoric against our country, which, as he stated, “has taken on dimensions that we had not seen for years”. The Turkish government has engaged in a constant distortion of the truth and of every concept of international law, including the law of the sea”, he said.
“They threaten Greece with war if we exercise the inalienable right to expand our territorial waters, as explicitly provided by International Maritime Law”, he said, adding: “Turkey has opposite of our islands the largest amphibious force and the largest amphibious fleet in the Mediterranean and at the same time demands that we demilitarize our islands. That is, to renounce the recognized right of self-defense, as provided for in the UN Charter”.
Greece and Saudi Arabia committed to defending international law of the sea
Mr. Dendias noted that “both Greece and Saudi Arabia are committed to defending the International Law of the Sea and to the freedom of navigation”.
“Both countries are in favor of peace and stability in countries in the region, such as Iraq, Libya and Syria. And of course we support the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of third countries”, he added.
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The Greek Foreign Minister referred to the close ties of the two countries in defense, trade, investment, energy, culture. As he pointed out, significant steps have already been taken in the last two years, starting with the defense agreement on the basis of which a set of Patriot defense missiles was sent to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“Greece feels that it contributes to the security not only of Saudi Arabia, but also to the energy security of the wider region and Europe”, he said, adding that “the two sides are at an advanced stage regarding the conclusion of other bilateral strategic and economic interest agreements”.
Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia: We must take advantage of every opportunity given to us to strengthen our relations
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia underlined the need for Greece and Saudi Arabia to take advantage of every opportunity given to them to strengthen their relations.
“I assured the Foreign Minister that we are interested in strengthening the defense, cultural, trade relations with Greece”, he noted and pointed out that the two ministers talked about the economic, trade relations between the two countries.
As he pointed out, at the meeting the two sides stressed the interest of the two countries in the fight against terrorism in the region and the strengthening of stability and the importance of peace.
