Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, met with the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at Maximos Palace on Thursday, to deepen bilateral relations and strengthen areas of common interests.
Mitsotakis referred to the “excellent bilateral relations” between the two countries, stressing that the UAE is a stable strategic partner of Greece, with an important role in both the Gulf region and internationally.
Al Nahyan, who is visiting Greece for the first time in an official capacity since his election as President in May this year, said the relationship between Greece and the UAE is “very important” and that his main concern “is to see that relationship bear fruit.”
“We have worked to build a bridge between our countries. I am very happy that in the last two years we have made great progress and our relationship is at a point where it can be upgraded even more,” he said.
During his visit to Abu Dhabi in November last year, Mitsotakis signed two agreements forging strategic alliances with the UAE in the field of economic cooperation, as well as in defence and foreign policy.
Οι υποδομές που δημιουργούνται στην Ελλάδα στον τομέα της εισαγωγής, αποθήκευσης και επαναεριοποίησης Υγροποιημένου Φυσικού Αερίου, σε συνδυασμό με την στρατηγική γεωγραφική της θέση, την καθιστούν πύλη εισόδου ενέργειας προς την Ευρώπη και γέφυρα σύνδεσής της με τη Μέση Ανατολή. pic.twitter.com/oXSO15KxzN
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) August 25, 2022
In Thursday’s meeting, the pair discussed energy at length, with Mitsotakis informing the UAE President of the important infrastructures being created in Greece for the import, storage and regasification of natural gas.
The Greek Prime Minister noted that Greece occupies a strategic geographical position, making it not only a hub and gateway for energy to enter Europe, but also a bridge connecting Europe to the Middle East.
The Prime Minister also underlined the need to ensure stability and peace in the Southeast Mediterranean, maintaining it is the last thing the region needs when the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine are testing European and international security.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his satisfaction over the fact that the United Arab Emirates will be the honoured country at the 86th International Exhibition of Thessaloniki next month and extended an invitation to the President to attend.
