Athens, 9 March 2022 (TDI): Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias met his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg in Vienna. Both Foreign Ministers discussed the current Russia-Ukraine crisis. The two also discussed various issues including the Balkan area, challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Eastern Mediterranean region as well.
FM @NikosDendias‘ statement following his meeting with #Austria FM @a_schallenberg in #Vienna
Read➡️https://t.co/llVMzjdwMb pic.twitter.com/4I8g8n2dE1
— Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών (@GreeceMFA) March 8, 2022
Ukraine Issue
In the meeting, both state ministers reiterated that the Ukrainian crisis is a huge crisis and has raised great challenges. At the same time, both were optimistic that this crisis has created unity between them, which was unthinkable just a few days ago.
They discussed sanctions and their coordinated response against Russia. They said that their position is very clear and demanded other countries associated with the EU must apply these sanctions. In addition, they stated that all countries that recognize international law should have a common position on the matter.
Other Issues
The two ministers discussed the Balkan area along with the Ukraine crisis. They shared concerns about the challenges of the Balkan region in general and the western Balkan in particular. Dendias thanked the Austrian government for adopting the European agenda for the Western Balkans. He shared his opinion on the issue of western Balkan, saying western Balkan would fall to other parts of the world if it is not given hope of joining the European Union.
In the meeting, Both ministers showed their deep concerns over the challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They both agreed to work together and to complete the agreement so that the negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia can finally begin. They also talked about the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Greek foreign minister thanked his Austrian counterpart for his warm hospitality. He also thanked him for their continued support within the EU and his condolences on the Greek lives lost during the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Greece has a significant minority in Ukraine and around Mariupol, numbering about 150,000 people.
At the end of the meeting, the Greek Foreign Minister invited the Austrian foreign minister to visit Athens.
