Thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s meeting of the General Assembly.
President, Excellencies, Colleagues,
Our meeting here today, marks the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Greece’s foreign policy has been invariably defined by its commitment to International Law, the UN Charter and the respect of international treaties that define borders between states.
Therefore, we condemn in the strongest terms, any breach of international peace and security effected through military action by any state, against the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of any other state.
Based on those principles, on the issue of Ukraine, Greece’s stance has been very clear from the 24th of February 2022.
We have consistently supported all previous calls to put an end to the war in Ukraine, welcomed thousands of refugees from the war-torn country and worked together with other nations to promote relevant UNGA resolutions.
Once again, we call for the cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution.
This war has already caused immense destruction and suffering.
We need peace.
Perhaps peace might not be within grasp, but it might be within sight.
But what is needed is not only a cessation of hostilities, but mostly a comprehensive and lasting settlement through inclusive diplomacy based on the UN Charter and international law. We also need an agreement that will guarantee and act in a deterring and preventive way in the years to come.
The war must stop. We all agree on this. And we commend all efforts to this effect.
Yet, it is important that fundamental principles of International Law enshrined in the UN Charter are explicitly stated.
It is in this vein that our vote was directed earlier today.
We need to draw the right lessons and endow any future peace settlement with credible security guarantees for Ukraine that will deter and prevent the recurrence of war in the future.
Ukraine is not a regional issue. It has a direct impact on global security and peace. It concerns us all in this Assembly.
Ukraine, Europe, indeed the world, need a fair, viable and thus a lasting peace for Ukraine.
Let us support this goal after three disastrous years of war, while at the same time hoping that this could also lead to a model of how to prevent similar calamities in the future.
February 24, 2025