“The dominant issue at the Meeting of NATO Foreign Minister is naturally the crisis in Ukraine and relations between NATO and Russia. Our policy is and must always be a policy of principles, based on international law and respect for territorial integrity and existing borders.
So from this point of view we are sending a very strong message. A message of the solidarity of the members of the Alliance – a message of support for states associated with the Alliance.
On the other hand, we need to keep the channels of political and diplomatic dialogue with Russia open, because we need to avoid a return to cold-war conditions. We have to effect a de-escalation of tensions. So we need moves that attest to a will to de-escalate, so that we can reach a mutually acceptable solution and state of affairs for Ukraine, as well as for the security of the European continent.
The Greek stance is always one of responsibility; a stance that is mature, cautious. We participate in the central current of the European Union and of NATO, but we are of course capable of understanding the lessons of history and moving based on fundamental doctrines, the first of which is international law, respect for the international legal order. Because for us, for our national issues, this is the main tool, the fundamental argument.”
April 1, 2014