Giorgos Gerapetritis from Qatar: Greece plays an important role as interlocutor of all parties for peace in the Middle East

“I was in Qatar today at an extremely difficult time for the wider region, at a difficult time for humanity as a whole, with the Middle East on fire, with the risk of spreading hostilities on many levels, in Lebanon, in Syria,” he said. Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis in his statement to ERT, after the completion of his visit to Qatar.

“Freedom of navigation is at stake in the Red Sea. The need for an immediate cessation of hostilities, so as to ensure sustainable peace and restore stability, is more necessary than ever,” he stressed. As he pointed out, he had the opportunity to discuss with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, as well as with the Minister of State, responsible for development issues, to discuss the issues of the wider region.

“Qatar has an extremely important mediating role in the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East […] Greece, for its part, performs an important role as an interlocutor of all parties based on a foreign policy of principles that gives us the opportunity to speak in terms of rigor and integrity with all those who participate in the processes for peace in the region”, he underlined characteristics.

Also, he noted, he had the opportunity with the prime minister and the minister to discuss the upcoming trip of the Emir of Qatar to Greece next month and to explore the possibilities for the development of bilateral relations in a framework of beneficial mutual cooperation.