Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, following his meeting with his Slovak counterpart, Ivan Korčok (Bratislava, 08.10.2020)

It's a great pleasure to be in Bratislava today.

Thank you for your hospitality in the Conference and thank you for your hospitality here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I am very glad to say that our bilateral relations are excellent.

Of course, that is not a reason not to enhance them even further.

We have lots to do and I hope after this calamity of Covid passes, we will have the opportunity to enhance our relations, especially in the fields of the economy, with more cooperation, which will be mutually beneficial.

Also, I had the opportunity to explain to my Slovak colleague the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

We understand that this is a situation that needs a deep understanding from all our European colleagues.

I have to say, dear Ivan, that we are grateful for your support during the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs but also for your support in the Council of the leaders, of the Heads of State.

We are grateful for your principled position.

It is absolutely important that European solidarity is shown.

European solidarity is what will show the way forward.

And it was an opportunity for me to explain the details of the Turkish unlawful behaviour in the region and of the way Turkey is ignoring International Law and International Law of the Sea.

And also, it was an opportunity for me to brief you on the issue of Varosha, the city of Varosha in Cyprus, where the Turkish behavior is absolutely against the Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.

We also had the opportunity to talk about Nagorno-Karabakh and how dangerous that can be.

There is an important element that is always present in the crises around our region, and this is Turkey.

Turkey has invaded Syria, Turkey has invaded Iraq, Turkey has sent jihadists in Libya and now Turkey is also present in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Turkey is becoming the disruptor of stability in our region.

I really expressed the hope that Turkey will change course.

I had the opportunity to have a brief meeting with Minister Cavusoglu today in Bratislava and I hope that this meeting will work towards that direction.

Again, please allow me to thank you for your hospitality.

It was a great opportunity to be here.