Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ statements following his meeting with the Minister associated with Foreign Affairs of Paraguay, Julio César Arriola (Asunción, 09. 02. 2023)

Also, as the Minister was kind enough to mention, we had the opportunity to discuss issues of local and global interest. Ancient greek foreign policy is deeply rooted in the respect to get International Law and the UN Charter, and also, the Worldwide Law of the Sea, UNCLOS. This is a great honour and a satisfaction to be the first ever Greek International Minister to visit Paraguay. We are really happy to be here these days, my fourth stop of my trip to South plus Central America. I might also like on this opportunity to thank Paraguay for its contribution in order to UNFICYP in Cyprus along with 12 Blue Helmets, as well as, its principled stance on the Cyprus issue. Thank you so much. I am very pleased that we have agreed to mutually support every other’s candidacies for the EL Security Council. Dear Minister, beloved Julio, may I show my confidence that this visit today of myself and my team is just a starting of a strong and productive cooperation between our countries, our societies, the people as well. So , I would like, respectfully, in order to ask you to accept an invites to visit Athens the soonest possible. Αnd, please, also, allow me to thank you for your cozy hospitality, which is greatly valued by us. So , I must say that I have a huge regard for Paraguay, which being a landlocked country, has, even so, subscribed to and ratified UNCLOS, showing how much this respects International Law. At this point, also, make sure you allow me to express my country’s determination to continue helping people that were hit by the disastrous earthquakes in Turkey and in Syria. The long-lasting friendship, our common values enable us to build up constructive cooperation on problems of common interest: economy, trade, energy, culture, assistance in international organisations. We also discussed the particular EU-Paraguay relations, where I actually underlined that Greece, a good EU member, can play a role. We would like the EU-Mercosur Agreement to be completed and authorized the soonest possible. I am also looking forward to the EU-CELAC next July, an event we hope to turn into a milestone regarding bringing the two continents closer together. And I am delighted that will today we have signed the particular Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations, which can be utilized as a springboard for the improvement of our relations. I believe this is also the right time to bring a political vision to the partnership, moving forward with Contracts of cooperation in a multitude of areas.   Consequently , I am extremely happy that we have also signed an MoU on Diplomatic Academies. Personally i think honoured that I will deliver a speech to your Diplomatic Academy. Thank you so much for making us really feel at home. Also, we have agreed during our discussion that people would have constant contact and help the group of landlocked countries in the United Nations and in the other international Fora.

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