FM Gerapetritis meets with UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan

Athens, Greece.- The Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, on Wednesday met with his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi.

The two foreign ministers discussed the strengthening of strategic relations between Greece and the United Arab Emirates, transport corridors, regional issues, developments in the Balkans and the Middle East.

On Tuesday, Gerapetritis presented a five-point plan for the violence that has erupted in Middle East, in his address to the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Ministerial Meeting held in Muscat. He also highlighted the need to cooperate in addressing the repercussions of the climate crisis, following “a horrible summer throughout the Mediterranean Basin”.
The minister’s speech was as follows:
“Under normal circumstances, today, I would speak about climate change and the EU – GCC cooperation. A discussion that is very acute and pertinent. We had a horrible summer throughout the Mediterranean Basin with extensive wildfires and then extensive floods. We had a lot of people who actually died because of these destructive phenomena. So, we need to coordinate our efforts on environmental protection and energy transition, on civil protection.
And in light, of course, of the COP28 that will take place in the region in a couple of months, please, allow me to say a couple of words concerning the current crisis, the Middle East crisis.
Obviously, we clearly condemn all forms of terrorism and violence, irrespective of nationality, religion, race, or any other criterion-and we need to make a firm commitment to ensure that peace and stability will remain in the region and there is not going to be a spill-over effect. We have to unite our efforts, and we have to work together. In this respect, please allow me to unfold a five-point plan that I propose in this respect.
First, unanimous condemnation of violence, terrorism, and inhumane treatment.
Second, immediate release of all hostages and abductees.
Third, abstention from any act of aggression against civilian targets.
Fourth, assurance of humanitarian assistance and humanitarian corridors in order to make sure that there is no life in danger.
And five, call for a special summit concerning the Middle East situation with the participation of the United Nations, the European Union, the Arab League, and the two parties involved, Israel and the Palestine Authority.
I believe, fairly, that it is a matter of immediate action, and we need to join forces in this respect.”

source:amna.gr