Dendias underlines respect of int’l law, UNCLOS in high-profile official visit to India

Greece’s standing position on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and security of maritime navigation were detailed this week to Indian leadership during Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias’ official visit to New Delhi.

In a statement on Wednesday, following the conclusion of talks in New Delhi with Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Dendias reminded that India was also a signatory to UNCLOS and a member of the UN Security Council.

Referring to his meeting and working lunch with his counterpart, Dendias noted that “…As expected, we first discussed the crisis in Ukraine and I conveyed Greece’s positions…We agreed that this development is entirely incompatible with international law; the attempt to change borders through violence, as well as the lack of respect of territorial integrity, is entirely beyond the framework of international law.”

Other issues discussed were efforts to boost bilateral economic ties, the situation in the east Mediterranean, as well as the Cyprus problem. “Cyprus has historic relations with India, dating from the era of Archbishop Makarios and Jawaharlal Nehru,” Dendias said.

During his official visit, Dendias was also received by Vice-President Naidu, to whom he relayed the best wishes of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

In an address to students and faculty at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Dendias underlined that both countries respect international law and UNCLOS, with international diplomacy’s attention increasingly turning maritime and littoral issues.

He stressed that Greece welcomes India’s Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, he cited ties of the island republic with India, particularly India’s support at the UN General Assembly for Cyprus’ independence, which eventually led to its membership in the UN and the European Union.

In concluding his address, the Greek foreign minister also announced new initiatives, such as the signing of a cultural and educational exchange program between Greece and India for the period 2022-2026 and the reinforcement of the Chair of Greek Studies at the University with a visiting professor from Greece in the coming academic semester, as well as a new collaboration between the Greek Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies and the Greek chair of the JNU.

While in New Delhi, Dendias received a call by his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, who expressed his gratitude to Greece on behalf of his government and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the humanitarian aid Greece has sent to Mariupol.