Dendias with Belgium Foreign Minister: We stand against illegality in the name of our European authorities

The provocative behavior and provocative claims of Turkey regarding the casus belli and the islands of the Eastern Aegean were touched upon by Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias during his meeting with his Belgian counterpart Hadja Lahbib.

In joint statements after the end of their meeting in Athens, Nikos Dendias thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium for the position of principle that Belgium maintains both in the bilateral context, but also in the context of the EU, NATO and the UN.

It is noted that today, commemorating the 104th anniversary of the end of the First World War, at 11:00 in the morning of November 11, 1918, symbolically the statements of the two foreign ministers began at 11:00. “Like today 104 years ago, at the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, in the eleventh month, the bloodiest war in the history of mankind up to that time, World War I, ended. A war in which Greece and Belgium found themselves on the same side, just as in the Second World War. And that is why Belgium signed together with Greece the Peace Treaty with Italy, in 1947, known as the “Treaty of Paris”, by which the Dodecanese were granted to Greece” noted the Minister of Foreign Affairs, highlighting the historical ties that connect the two countries.

Regarding the bilateral contacts, said that they have been upgraded after several years, while also referring to the recent visit of the royal couple of Belgium to Greece. He conveyed that Greece considers Belgium an important country with which it can develop much more the channels of communication and common understanding of the enormous problems they face.

Referring specifically to today’s meeting, he said that they discussed ways to deepen bilateral relations, cooperation in the European Union, NATO and the UN. Regarding the UN, he pointed out that there is mutual support for the two countries’ candidacies for the Security Council (Greece 2025-26, Belgium 2036-37). He also congratulated Belgium on its recent election to the Human Rights Council (2023-25), noting that Greece strongly supported the Belgian candidacy.

Focusing on trade relations, Nikos Dendias emphasized that he agreed with his Belgian counterpart that the two countries can do much more, adding that Belgium is an important economy within the EU. In addition, he underlined that Greece is a favorite holiday destination for the Belgians and that the upward trend was very significant.

Furthermore, the two ministers discussed the cooperation between Greece and Belgium in energy sector and renewable energy sources, with Nikos Dendias noting that Belgium has an excellent know-how in floating energy production possibilities. In this context, the Greek Foreign Minister informed the Belgian Foreign Minister about the possibility of Greece becoming a natural gas and energy hub in the Balkans and Central Europe.

Addressing the Belgian foreign minister, she expressed thanks for teaching the Greek language in universities and schools in Belgium and for the role played by the operation of the Belgian School of Athens. At this point, he mentioned a recent initiative of the Belgian embassy in Athens, in collaboration with the Municipality of Korydallos, for the mural in the 4th-5th Gymnasium of Korydallos created by a young Belgian artist, Kitsune Jolene, on the topic of environmental protection.

Afterwards, the two ministers discussed the major challenges concerning the region, such as the issues created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Both countries stood up against illegality in the name of our European authorities” said Mr. Dendias. The two sides also exchanged views on the Middle East and the need to take initiatives from the EU. “The EU cannot be absent in the Middle East,” the foreign minister stressed.

In addition, they discussed the major problems in the African continent, with the Belgian Foreign Minister informing N. Dendias about the issues in the Great Lakes region, while they agreed that the EU should show an active interest. For his part, Mr. Dendias informed about his visits to Africa and underlined Greece’s absolute willingness to help, with the possibilities it has. As he underlined, if the problems originating from Africa are not dealt with at their root, they will come and knock on our own door.

Finally, he did not fail to express, on behalf of the Greek government, his sincere condolences for the loss of a police officer, who fell in the line of duty last night in Belgium.

It is noted that at the start of the extended talks, Nikos Dendias raised with his Belgian counterpart the issue of the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, noting that it is the first time that the talks with the United Kingdom are so serious.

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