Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos talked by telephone today with UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, who, on his own initiative, contacted Mr. Venizelos in the latter’s double capacity as Greek Foreign Minister and President of the Council of Ministers of the European Union.
Messrs. Venizelos and Eliasson exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine, in light of the recent visits both have paid to the country. Mr. Eliasson conveyed the UN Secretary-General’s concerns at the latest developments in the region and referred to the discussions regarding the sending of international observers to eastern Ukraine. Mr. Venizelos reiterated that the international community’s objective should be respect for international law and safeguarding peace and stability, and that the solutions adopted should be political and diplomatic. He assured Mr. Eliasson that the Greek Consulate General in Mariupol will provide all possible assistance in the eventuality of observers being sent to the region.
Mr. Eliasson also set out briefly for Mr. Venizelos the extremely adverse situation that has taken shape in the Central African Republic and thanked him for the active role the European Union is playing in the efforts to normalize the situation and confront the humanitarian crisis in the African country.
March 18, 2014