The pillar on which the ties between Greece and Japan rest are the common principles and values, starting from respect for international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as stated in the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, in a statement after meeting with him His Japanese counterpart, Hayashi Yoshimasa (Hayasi Yoshimasa), held in Tokyo.
After noting that UNCLOS for Greece is a key principle of its foreign policy, Mr. Dendias stressed that he looks forward continuing the expert dialogue (legal services) between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries on Maritime Law. Respect for the Law of the Sea is also reflected in the decisions of the four-party QUAD alliance, of which Japan, along with Australia, New Zealand and the United States, is a member, he noted.
In fact, he reminded that Japan has signed the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, the Peace Treaty between the Entente Powers and Turkeywhere defined the borders between the countries of the region. «And it is precisely these boundaries that the revisionist forces aspire to redraw“, Pointed out and reiterated the message that revisionism, wherever it occurs, belongs to the past and must be condemned.
I met with Japanese Foreign Minister Y. Hayashi. Common adherence to W. Law & the Law of the Sea connects 🇬🇷 & 🇯🇵.
Agenda: bilateral relations συνεργασία, cooperation in international organizations, developments in Ukraine after the Invasion & in the Eastern Mediterranean, Indo-Pacific, Western Balkans. pic.twitter.com/R8RIrkocyp
– Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) April 13, 2022
Further, the two foreign ministers discussed the situation in Ukraine, after the Russian invasion, with Mr. Dendias thanking his Japanese counterpart for Clear attitude of the authorities of Japan. On the same wavelength, he stressed that Greece, from the beginning, condemned the use of force against territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine or any other country in the world. During the discussion, he briefed his Japanese counterpart on his recent visit to Odessa on the provision of humanitarian aid.
At the same time, the Foreign Minister said that Greece and Japan seek to promote stability and security in their respective regions, building relationships by promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes, as well as rejecting the threat or use of force. He also noted that the two countries jointly support the principle of freedom of navigation on the high seas.
In this context, The two Foreign Ministers discussed the cooperation between the two countries in international fora, mainly at the UN, with Mr. Dendias reiterating Greece’s support for Japan’s candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2023-24 and expressing gratitude to his Japanese counterpart for Japan’s corresponding support for Greece’s candidacy for the next period, 2025-26. In addition, Mr. Dendias and Mr. Giosimassa discussed the close cooperation of the two countries in the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Focusing on his visit to the land of the Rising Sun, Mr. Dendias stated that marks Greece’s new efforts to further strengthen its ties with Japan. In this context, he announced that The Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, extended an invitation to his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishinda, to visit Athens.
Unfolding the thread of bilateral relations, he stressed that the diplomatic relations between the two countries date back more than 120 years, while this year they celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Japanese embassy in Athens.
On the occasion of this year’s anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe, the Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to Japan for the rescue by the captain and crew of the Japanese ship “Tokei Maru” in September 1922, more than 800 Greeks and Armenians, at the time when Smyrna was burning. “We are grateful to Japan for this commendable humanitarian act, which we will never forget,” he said.
Regarding EU-Japan relations, Mr Dendias expressed the common belief for full implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement.
Then he repeated it again his strong condemnation of the launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea. This is a clear violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and should not be accepted by the international community, as he pointed out.
Finally, he did not fail to congratulate Japan to host the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games under very difficult conditions and stressed that Greece looks forward to participating in the world exhibition Osaka 2025 EXPO.
During the lunch given by Mr. Giosimasa to Mr. Dendias after their meeting, the two Foreign Ministers discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations, especially in areas such as tourism, energy and trade, but also the challenges. in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Western Balkans and the Indo-Pacific.
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