ATHENS — Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar attended the unveiling of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Athens, near the Indian embassy in the city, on Saturday evening. The event was also attended by Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis and the president of the Greece-India Friendship Parliamentary Group, former premier George Papandreou.

In statements afterward, Dendias said that Gandhi was a world's leaders in the 20th century and an outstanding figure in the history of humanity: "The generations of people that are coming have much to learn from his work, his career and his life," he added.

Greece and India were honouring his memory in the most appropriate way, by promoting and working for world peace, stability and understanding between people and to avoid violence in relations between states," he said.

Jaishankar said that Gandhi's message was both universal and timeless, adding that this was recognised throughout the world, while Bakoyannis noted that it was today perhaps more timely than ever before, as humanity was testing its limits due to the pandemic. He also thanked the Indian embassy for donating the sculpture on behalf of the Athens municipality.