The Belgian Foreign Minister condemns Turkey’s provocative statements on the Aegean

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Referring to Turkey in particular, she said that it is a neighbor and Greece knows it very well, which is unlike any other.

Greece and Belgium speak with one voice and strongly support the common principles and values ​​they espouse, Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Labib said in joint statements with Nikos Dendias after their meeting.

Referring to Turkey in particular, she said that it is a neighbor and Greece knows it very well, which is unlike any other.

“It is an allied country within NATO and a key player in the region, which at times, let’s face it, has adopted disruptive behavior in our neighborhood. This concerns Greece, but not exclusively,” he added.

In fact, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium made a special reference to the positive agenda that the EU agreed on last year in relation to Turkey to deal with these tensions and sent the message that it remains “if Ankara continues to be committed to our common goals, the de-escalation and cooperation”.

As he explained, this means that bilaterally and at the EU level, Belgium is in favor of continuing the various political contacts and consultations on human and minority rights, consular affairs, the fight against terrorism, foreign terrorist fighters, immigration, economic and trade issues, as well as regional and international issues.

Also, referring to the private meeting with Nikos Dendias, Haja Labib said that he specifically referred to the “bilateral tensions in the Aegean” and announced that he expressed her sadness about them.

In this context, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium condemned the provocative statements and declared that everyone must respect International Law.

In fact, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium expressed the belief that “de-escalation and dialogue is the only way to resolve this kind of bilateral disputes” and congratulated Greece for its constructive attitude regarding the de-escalation of conflicts, stressing that conflicts must be avoided at all costs.

Referring to the meeting with Nikos Dendias, Hadja Lahbib, who today is making her first visit to Greece in the capacity of Belgian Foreign Minister, described it as productive and constructive.

Referring to the 104th anniversary of the end of World War I hostilities, Haja Labib said that today, so many years later, we are facing a war and stressed that “together with our partners in the EU and abroad we have imposed unprecedented sanctions which they have limited Russia’s ability to wage war and we have also offered support to Ukraine as it fights to protect its territorial integrity and for the Republic, which has its cradle here, having been born in your great country.”

He further referred to the “major energy crisis caused by the war” in Ukraine and suggested that in order to address it EU countries make a major shift away from their dependence on Russian energy.

“We are working and partnering with reliable energy suppliers to also accelerate the transition to more sustainable energy sources,” he added. In this context, he said that Belgium has become an important transitor of energy in Europe and underlined that in the coming years the infrastructure for the production of new forms of energy is expected to increase.

At the same time, he highlighted the “important role” that Greece has to play in the energy transition and in matters of energy security in Southeast Europe. In this, he argued, Belgian companies can contribute, particularly in terms of infrastructure for natural gas and offshore wind energy.

During the meeting, Nikos Dendias and Hadja Labib also discussed ways in which Greece and Belgium can help speed up the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU, expressing their country’s full support for their European path. At the same time, however, he highlighted the issue of “better alignment with EU policies, especially foreign policy and travel visa issues” and explained that “if the goals that have been set are achieved, then the EU should move quickly to integrate the countries of the region”.

Subsequently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium expressed her concern and concern “about the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories” and in particular about “the incidents of violence in recent weeks in the West Bank” and urged all parties involved to proceed to de-escalation and avoid any action leading to violence.

He suggested that the priority remains the resumption of credible negotiations based on International Law and with recognized parameters.

This, he estimated, could facilitate a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. He also made clear the importance of the EU being at the table and actively participating in the peace process.

After Athens, the Belgian Foreign Minister will go to Sharm El Sheikh to participate in the COP27 Climate Conference.

RES-EMP

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