“Greece condemns, as a position of principle, any violation of international peace and security carried out by military through any state, against independence, against sovereignty and territorial integrity of another state,” Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said at the UK Security Council meeting on Ukraine, adding that “Greece’s stance on Ukraine has been completely clear from the beginning of the war.”

And he went on to say, among other things: ‘It is not easily understood why the amendments proposed by the European Security Council members were not accepted. Who would disagree that the Security Council considers a fair, lasting and total peace between Ukraine and Russia? Who would disagree that the solution should be aligned with the United Nations map as a whole – and not selectively – and with the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of states? “

The Foreign Minister stressed that we should repeat the basic principles of international law and the fundamentals of the United Nations, while praising all the efforts made to end the suffering and disaster in Ukraine.

And ended by saying: “It is evident that in any peace initiative from now on, Greece will support those efforts that could lead to a comprehensive, fair and enduring peace, which would ensure a better future for the people of Ukraine.”

The entire intervention of Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis at the UK Security Council meeting: Ukraine:

Thank you, Mr President, for speaking to me and would like to thank the permanent Chinese delegation to the United Nations for convening this very important high -level meeting.

Exquisite, colleagues,

Eighty years ago, this Security Council was tasked with the unique mission and the absolute responsibility to maintain peace and security and to establish the prohibition of use or threatening the use of violence around the world.

A noble task, which often proves incredibly difficult in practice. Our meeting here today takes place amid multiple crises around the world.

In all these crises, Greece’s foreign policy, as a founding member of the United Nations, has been consistently determined by its commitment to international law and respect for international conditions defining international borders.

Greece condemns, as a position of principle, any violation of international peace and security carried out military through any state, against independence, against sovereignty and territorial integrity of another state.

In this context, Greece’s stance on Ukraine has been quite clear from the beginning of the war, which has been entering its fourth year.

There is a need to work towards an end to the suffering and disaster that takes place in Ukraine.

We need peace.

War must stop. We all agree on it. And we praise all the efforts in this direction.

However, it is important to refer to international law, to explicitly reference to the United Nations Charter in the resolution.

The truth is that it is not easy to understand why the amendments proposed by the European Security Council members were not accepted.

Who would disagree with a word, which would say that the Security Council is calling for a quick end to the conflict? Who would disagree that the Security Council considers a fair, lasting and total peace between Ukraine and Russia? Who would disagree that the solution should be aligned with the United Nations map as a whole – and not selectively – and with the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of the states?

It is not easily understood why we cannot agree on these basic fundamental principles of international law.

If these Security Council meetings we want to be essential, we must repeat the fundamentals of the United Nations in every possible occasion.

This was the message that the General Assembly sent a few hours ago with the adoption of the new resolution to “promote a comprehensive, just and enduring peace in Ukraine”.

Exquisite, colleagues,

The country, which I have the honor of representing here today, is a steady fan of peace.

Therefore, it is evident that in any peace initiative from now on, Greece will support those efforts that could lead to a comprehensive, fair and lasting peace, which would ensure a better future for the people of Ukraine.

Thank you