Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis is in the United Arab Emirates today, Monday.

The strategic nature of relations between Greece and the United Arab Emirates was confirmed in the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during the official visit of Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the UAE.

The following statements were made at the beginning of the meeting:

Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan: “Welcome to the United Arab Emirates. I‘m greeting a friend. We are confident that this visit will strengthen the good relations that the two countries already enjoy. Relations between our two countries, which began in 1976, are dynamic and are developing in all fields.

The strategic agreement we signed in 2020 gave a big boost to these relations. As a result, our financial transactions increased by 76% and this is a result of the strategic agreement we signed. The Emirates are seeking to take these relations forward on all levels, including energy, technology, health and food security.

We are following developments in Ukraine with great concern, because these developments have implications on many levels.

Our attitude from the beginning was to mediate and help on the humanitarian side. For this reason, the Emirates will offer humanitarian aid to citizens in need. We will give whatever help is needed with the assistance of our friends like Greece. To alleviate all these impacts at all levels.

Because this crisis has an impact on the energy sector, we always pay attention to energy security. We are interested in the stability of the energy market as we are also energy suppliers. Despite the crises in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, the region has great potential for development and peaceful cooperation. The Emirates are active in this direction to prepare such conditions. To create partnerships with everyone, no exceptions.

The United Arab Emirates and Greece aim for peace and cooperation. Prime Minister, dear friend, I welcome you once again and I wish to have even greater cooperation and to shape more prospects for the future. “

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: “Your Royal Highness Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, my dear friend Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

It is indeed a great pleasure to be with you today, at the head of a large delegation of ministers and government officials, on my third visit to the United Arab Emirates since taking office.

And the dense contacts between our two countries, at all levels, demonstrate – I believe – the excellent level of our bilateral relations and the common ground we have on a wide range of issues.

At the same time, we are also demonstrating our shared desire to add even more depth to our truly strategic partnership. A strategic relationship that, as you said, was established in 2020, but is now gaining new momentum with the signing of a significant number of memoranda of understanding on a wide range of issues between our two countries.

And this close relationship is based above all on the fraternal relations between our two countries, on our common principles and values, and above all on our unwavering commitment to the principles of international law as the only mechanism for the resolution of disputes and peaceful coexistence and cooperation between peoples.

For my part, I want to assure you that further building this partnership is a conscious, stable and long-term choice on my part. After all, our relationship is also inextricably linked to the wider interests of the European Union in the region.

And you mentioned at length the importance that we all attach, as a result of the invasion of Ukraine, to energy issues. And this is an area where we can strengthen our cooperation much more.

Due to its geographical position, Greece has the potential to become a gateway for natural gas from the Middle East and from the southeastern Mediterranean to Europe. Significant investments are being made in this direction and we would like to explore further the possibility of strategic cooperation and the involvement of funds from the UAE in this direction.

At the same time, Greece is reactivating its own extraction programme to find natural gas within Greek territory. And this is a prospect that may create opportunities for further strategic cooperation. I know your personal interest in the future of energy, in renewable energy.

And on issues such as offshore wind farms, we are ready to move with great speed so that we can structure strategic partnerships to exploit this very important source of wealth for our country.

As a result, the scope of our cooperation can become wider and deeper. And in you I see a steadfast and loyal friend of my country. And I want to thank you for the warm welcome you have given me and my delegation. And let me assure you that Greece will stand by the United Arab Emirates when they feel that their own strategic interests are threatened.

With regard to Yemen, you know that Greece has unequivocally condemned the attacks against your country. And we also condemn the unacceptable targeting of innocent civilians and infrastructure.

Again, my dear friend, I want to thank you for your warm welcome. To renew my invitation to visit Greece, as due to my illness from Covid we had to postpone the planned visit we had planned. I hope that you will soon have the opportunity to visit my island, Crete, so that we can renew once again the bonds of strong friendship that we are building between us. “