"Greece will try to do everything it can to support the prosperity and security of Lebanon and the entire region. This issue is high on the agenda of Greece's priorities. We are close, we are friends, neighbours and we believe in the future of Lebanon," said National Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, who paid an official visit to Lebanon on Tuesday, April 8, at the invitation of his counterpart, Michel Menassa.
Dendias was welcomed at the Ministry of Defence in Beirut by his counterpart, while after the private meeting of the two ministers, bilateral talks were held between the two delegations.
Among other things, Dendias said that Greece welcomes "the formation of the new Lebanese government" as well as "the election of President Aoun."
He recalled that Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis "was the first foreign leader to visit Lebanon after the ceasefire agreement, which shows the importance that Lebanon has for Greece."
"We agreed," he added, "that Greece will make every effort to help Lebanon and especially the Lebanese Armed Forces and we will do everything we can to strengthen our relations, the particularly cordial relationship that we have."
"And we will continue, on our part, to promote defence diplomacy on the basis of regional cooperation based on International Law and the International Law of the Sea. We believe that this is the best for all the countries in the region," Dendias pointed out.
On his part, Michel Menassa welcomed the Greek minister, underlining that his country is proud of its friendship with Greece, a country that is "a beacon of democracy, freedom, culture, faith and human dignity."
"Greece," he added, "is a fundamental pillar of European policy, Mediterranean cooperation and peace in this part of the Middle East, namely in our country, Lebanon."