Statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, on presence of Greek Delegation, under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, at proceedings of high-level week of 74th UN General Assembly

"This week at the United Nations –with the presence of the President of the government, Kyriakos Mitsotakis– was very important for Greek foreign policy.

Greece went through a very deep crisis that led to introversion. We cannot forget that we lost a large portion, about 25%, of our GDP, almost as if there had been a war.

But -as we are assuring everyone, everywhere- Greece is returning, through our constant and ongoing contacts and our will to now play our rightful role; as a member of the EU, a country of the Eastern Mediterranean, a democratic country, a country that has much to say in the Balkans and much to say in the wider region. A country that has decided to again play its role, whether on issues that concern Libya, issues that concern Syria, issues that concern the wider region of North Africa, or even issues of European enlargement and issues that concern the Black Sea – all the issues of our region.

Greece will not remain absent from international fora. We will be here with a clear, European, democratic policy that defends our interests and promotes our principles and values. In this context, we have stepped up our contacts with the Arab world, with all of the Gulf countries, and of course with Egypt, with Libya, and even with the Syrian opposition – in other words, with everyone who has something to say to us and to whom we have something to say. (New York, 27 September 2019)