DUBAI — "My visit to the United Arab Emirates today and the signing of the relevant agreements constitute a strategic upgrade of Greece-United Arab Emirates relations," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, as he was departing from the UAE.

"Greece and the UAE are now shaping the framework of a strategic alliance that extends not only to the areas of economic cooperation, but also to the areas of cooperation in defence and foreign policy," the prime minister said.

 "There is now a clear roadmap for how relations between the two countries can become even closer. Both countries are facing the challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean through the same perspective. They remain committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for international law. I would also like to emphasise that this visit to the UAE is another step in the context of the active foreign policy that our country has been developing over the last year. An active foreign policy that has made our country a calm force for stability, security and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean," he added.

The visit of the rime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in UAE. (EUROKINISSI/Prime Minister’s Office/Dimitris Papamitsos)

Greece and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) condemn Turkey's violations of Greece's sovereignty and the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus, as well as its overall aggressive behaviour in the Middle East, the Southeastern Mediterranean and South Caucasus, as a flagrant violation of international law, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a joint statement on Wednesday. 

In this context, both governments call on Turkey to abide by international law and to immediately stop all illegal and provocative actions, the two leaders stated.

"Greece and the UAE underline their steadfast commitment to international law and the UN Charter as the foundation for peace, security, good neighbourhood relations and the peaceful resolution of problems for all the countries of the region," they added.

Both governments reaffirm their commitment to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries of the region. Additionally, Greece and UAE agree on the added value of the further enhancement of their cooperation within the framework of regional and multilateral mechanisms.

"UAE and Greece expressed their concern over the export of terrorism and extremism and reaffirm their common engagement to tackle terrorism and extremism in all their forms, while calling on the international community to adopt a strict stance toward this aggression," both leaders stated.

The visit of the rime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in UAE. (EUROKINISSI/Prime Minister’s Office/Dimitris Papamitsos)

Mitsotakis and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan discuss enhancing bilateral relations

The signing of the Strategic Partnership Declaration as well as the Agreement on Cooperation in the fields of Foreign Policy and Defence during Kyriakos Mitsotakis' visit to Dubai on Wednesday will further strengthen the relations between Greece and the United Arab Emirates.

The Prime Minister, who arrived late on Tuesday in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, was received by the Minister of Industry, Sultan Al Jaber. On Wednesday, he is expected to have a meeting with the Successor of the Throne, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, followed by expanded contacts with the participation of, among others, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and Development and Investments Minister Adonis Georgiadis, as well as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, in charge of Economic Diplomacy and Extroversion Kostas Fragogiannis.

According to government sources, "Greece systematically builds and strengthens international and regional alliances, while increasing its diplomatic capital by participating in the new security edifice in the region."

Other important fields of cooperation with great prospects, the same sources said, are the economic and investment fields, as companies from the UAE are already active in Greece. The UAE is also the most important investor in Greece from the Gulf countries, while areas of mutual interest for economic cooperation are agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, tourism, energy and transport infrastructure.

Visit to UAE constitutes strategic upgrade of Greece-United Arab Emirates relations