ATHENS – Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Tuesday discussed the situation prevailing in Syria in the light of recent developments and the repercussions of the crisis on the region’s stability at a meeting with the UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen in Geneva.

According to diplomatic sources, Dendias expressed Greece’s support for the UN’s efforts to achieve a political solution in Syria.

Earlier, Dendias addressed the Conference on Disarmament. Diplomatic sources said that it was the first time after many years that a Greek foreign minister had spoken at the specific body.

In his speech, Dendias said that world today faces multiple challenges in the area of global security and noted that the Conference on Disarmament cannot afford to remain deadlocked in interminable negotiations.

In this context, he underlined the need that the conference immediately start essential work towards the adoption of a working timetable. “If this is not possible, then the conference should restart the negotiations,” he said, adding that the form of the supplementary bodies should aim at the building of convergence on all the issues on the agenda.

He sent the message that Greece is ready, as a responsible member of the international community, to do its part, according to its share of the responsibilities, in order for the impasse at the conference to be overcome.

Currently, Dendias is meeting with his counterpart from Armenia and in the evening he will address the Human Rights Council.