Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Athens, Ambassador of Greece to India Dimitrios Ioannou, expressed support for the ‘Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative’. Excerpts from an interview with The Hindu:
What is the Greek position on the conflict in Ukraine, and what does it expect the G20 to deliver on the issue?
As a matter of principle, we condemn the aggression against a sovereign nation and the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine. From the very beginning, Greece took a very clear stance in favour of Ukraine. We supported Ukraine, especially in the humanitarian and financial sectors, but also in the field of military assistance.
What might not be so widely known in India is that there is a centuries’ old presence of the Greek diaspora, especially in the southeast of Ukraine, in and around the area of Mariupol. Those communities were forcibly relocated there from Crimea, where they had been based since antiquity. Following the siege of Mariupol in February-May 2022, the persons of Greek origin became refugees or got trapped in occupied territory.
Greece encourages all international initiatives aimed at restoring Ukraine’s sovereignty and preventing humanitarian crises. We believe the G20 could play a role there as well, especially regarding the food insecurity issue, which constitutes a serious source of concern for the countries of the Global South.
What is the current shape of trade and commerce between the two countries, and what more can be done to improve commercial ties?
We aspire to be the gateway of India to Europe, including [in] trade and investment. In 2022, the volume of our bilateral trade increased by 58%, reaching a peak of €1,32 billion, which is highest for the last five years. We welcome further Indian strategic investments in ports, airports, logistics, renewables, real estate, information technology, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, according to the ‘Greece 2.0 Masterplan’.
