Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ speech at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) (New Delhi, 23.03.2022)

Mrs Vice- Chancellor,
Distinguished Professors,
Members of Academia,
dear Students,

Good afternoon, ” Namashkar”

Thank you so much for this very kind invitation to address this distinguished audience in this prestigious University. I consider it a great privilege that there is a Chair of Greek Studies within the University, the “Dimitrios Galanos Chair”. The Chair is named after the Greek scholar, who translated Sanskrit texts in the 18th century. It successfully promotes the study of Greek Language, Literature, History, Philosophy and Culture in India.

I would therefore like to express my deep appreciation to all Faculty members for your tireless efforts in this respect.

You all know that Greece and India share historical ties since Antiquity.  Our relations date even before Alexander the Great. In the 5th century B.C., Ctesias in his work Indica (Ινδικά) made India known to the Greek world. The passage, of course,  of Alexander the Great marked the start of the Hellenistic era in the Indian Subcontinent. “Greece, geographically and historically, or to put it better, the whole Hellenistic world has been India’s Gateway to the European continent, to Europe.” This is what the Honorable President of India, Mr. Ram Nath Kovind, rightly pointed out during his visit to my country in 2018.

Through the ages, we have managed to build a strong relationship, based on respect and friendship. A relationship that, I have to say, is on its way to become a strategic one.

India’s role in our century and in the future cannot be overstated. India is on track to become one of the largest economies, being at the same time one of the major actors in global affairs. India shares a prominent role among developing countries as well as in innovation and technology. Soon, India will become the most populous country worldwide, but at the same time with the proud achievement to be a solid and vibrant democracy.

And in this way, we share a bond: Greece has been the birthplace of democracy and India is the biggest democracy in the world. And of course, as such, we have a lot of common values to share.

Amongst others, respect for International Law and the International Law of the Sea. It is remarkable that the epicentre of diplomacy’s attention increasingly turns not to continents, but to the seas, to the oceans, even to the rimlands. The importance of oceans and of natural resources have been at the core of various geostrategical theories of power and influence. They have developed since the early 20th century, viewing geography as a determinative factor in geopolitics.

Prominent among these approaches is the theory of Alfred Mahan.  His theory focuses upon sea power, the oceans, lines of communication and commercial use. In that sense, whoever controls the sea, controls the world. Such theories showcase the importance of coastal regions and oceans as the centre of gravity of our policies.

Both our countries are oriented towards the oceans and the sea as a space guaranteeing unhindered communication among countries and people.

Two maritime areas of immediate interest for India and Greece are the Indo-Pacific region and the Mediterranean Sea, in particular for Greece the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It is our common belief that the promotion and respect of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS as we call it, is the cornerstone to enhance stability in these regions.

In this respect, this Convention is crucial for a truly “Free and Open” Indo-Pacific. The region that will shape the trajectory of global politics in the years to come. Greece, adhering to the principles of International Law, welcomes India’s “Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative”. It is my firm belief that Greece can work together with India in its quest for a prosperous, peaceful and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

Taking into account of course that Greece, by a historical paradox, is the country with the largest merchant fleet in the world. And of course, a true supporter of the rules-based order of the Sea.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Talking nowadays about International Law, the Russian military invasion against Ukraine marks a turning point. It revives nightmares of interstate wars and of spheres of influence.

●    Respect of territorial integrity,
●    national sovereignty and independence of all states, as well as
●    abstaining from the use -or the threat of use- of force in international relations,

constitute for us fundamental principles of International Law.

They also constitute the main pillars of Greek foreign policy. Adherence to these principles is a prerequisite for the enhancement of stability where there are tensions and where instability now persists.

And our region is not an exception. We are consistently in favour of dialogue in order to de-escalate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

However, this is not always the preferred option from the part of our big neighbour, Turkey.

Linked to the above, is the Cyprus Question. This, also, for Greece, is a top agenda issue in its foreign policy. And I do know the strong bond between Cyprus and India. It is sufficient to recall that Archbishop Makarios was the only European leader who joined forces with Prime Minister Nehru in the anti-colonial Bandung Conference of April 1955. This conference was the one that eventually led to the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement.

In 1957, in the United Nations General Assembly, Foreign Minister Menon was one of the first advocates of the independence of Cyprus. Minister Menon advocated for the unconditional independence of Cyprus and nothing less. Today, Cyprus is a UN and EU member state.

And we, Greece, have consistently been fully supportive of the UN-led efforts for a viable bizonal, bicommunal federal settlement in Cyprus; In line with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

We recognize the valuable role of India in this regard as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am particularly pleased to announce before you a few important initiatives:

I co-signed today the Cultural and Educational Exchange Programme between Greece and India for 2022-2026. This Programme constitutes a tangible proof of our mutual desire to enhance cultural and educational opportunities.

I am also glad to announce the reinforcement of the Chair of Greek Studies with a Visiting Professor from Greece in the coming academic semester. The inauguration of cooperation between the Greek Institute of Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Studies and the Greek Chair of the JNU is another significant step.

We welcome the organisation of an International Conference on Greece and India at the JNU in the second semester of 2022, by these two respected Institutions.

In the coming months, Greece also plans to increase its outreach towards Indian Academic Institutions. This, through the official electronic Platform “Study in Greece”.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It was such a privilege to share our outlook with you today, in the premises of India’s leading intellectual Institution. I wish I would have had the opportunity to address you in a better, calmer international context. In this regard, if I may be allowed, to quote the famous answer of Polonius to Hamlet: Though this be madness, yet there is a method in it. However, our answer to this madness of today’s world cannot be anything else but Cartesian logic, enlightenment and human empathy between civilisations. As the ones you are trying to create between India and Greece

Thank you so much.