Alan Kelly
Question:929. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will invite his Greek counterpart to Ireland later in 2022. [40267/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 July 2022
Questions (929)
Written answers
Ireland's bilateral relationship with Greece is important and highly valued. I paid a bilateral visit to Greece from 16-17 June 2022 during which I held bilateral meetings with both the Greek Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, as well as Alternate Minister for EU Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis. I had the opportunity to speak to an audience of Irish and Greek contacts at an event marking Bloomsday, organised by the Embassy of Ireland in Athens. In the course of my visit, I also had a valuable exchange with foreign policy experts at an event organised by the ELIAMEP think tank.
Greece is an important EU partner and influential player in relation to developments in southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean. My discussions with Foreign Minister Dendias covered bilateral and EU-UK relations as well as important issues on the international agenda, including Ukraine, the Middle East (Syria, Libya and the Middle East Peace Process), the Western Balkans and EU-Turkey relations. I was very pleased to make what was the first bilateral visit to Greece by an Irish Foreign Minister in some 18 years.
During my visit to Athens, I issued an invitation to Foreign Minister Dendias to visit Ireland, at his earliest convenience, and I look forward to welcoming him here, when he does.
Question No. 930 answered with Question No. 855.
Question No. 931 answered with Question No. 855.
Question No. 932 answered with Question No. 855.
Question No. 933 answered with Question No. 857.