Athens, 1 September 20222 (TDI): Foreign Minister of Greece Nikos Dendias welcomed the Foreign Minister of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs today. Both sides discussed strengthening Greece and Latvia’s bilateral relations.
The two sides decided to enhance cooperation with European Union (EU) and international organizations. They also discussed the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and Ukraine after Russia’s intervention.
I welcomed @GreeceMFA #Latvia counterpart @edgarsrinkevics. Discussions focused on strengthening 🇬🇷-🇱🇻 relations, cooperation. within EU & international organisations, 🇺🇦 after 🇷🇺 invasion, #EasternMediterranean. pic.twitter.com/utPbmMEXr4
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) September 1, 2022
On 1 September, the Foreign Ministers of Greece and Latvia welcomed the Latvian Foreign Minister to strengthen bilateral relations.
Greece and Latvia shared that to assure the security of Europe, it is important to strengthen the EU and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Greece and Latvia supported Ukraine on the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Latvia is one of the countries that have offered Ukraine economic, military, and political support.
Peace in Europe will be achieved only when Ukraine fully restores its sovereignty and territorial integrity. So, both states showed firm support for Ukraine
Greece and Latvia in Gymnich meeting
Foreign Ministers of Greece and Latvia took part in an informal meeting of the foreign affairs ministers EU from August 30-31. The informal meeting is known as the Gymnich meeting held in Prague, the Czech Republic.
During the meeting, EU’s Foreign Ministers discussed global developments influencing the concerns of energy and food security. Moreover, they discussed the EU’s ties with Russia and how Russian aggressiveness may affect those relations in the future.
The conference also included a debate on ending the issuance of visas to Russian tourists and limiting the admission of Russian people into the EU, which was brought up by the several EU Member States.
Greece and Latvia’s relations
Greece recognized the State of Latvia in 1922. Due to Latvia’s brief occupation by Germany and later prolonged occupation by the Soviet Union, relations between the two nations were strained.
Diplomatic ties were reestablished when Greece acknowledged Latvia’s regaining independence in 1991. Since Latvia joined the EU and NATO in 2004, its ties to Greece have become even stronger.
Both states are full members of the EU, NATO, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. There have been parliamentary friendship groups between the two nations for many years.
