Dendias meets Russian counterpart in Sochi
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Monday met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Sochi.
In a tweet, Dendias said discussions focused on bilateral relations and regional developments.
Reports said talks were held in a very cordial atmosphere, with references to the role of the ethnic Greek diaspora in Southern Russia as well as the Saints Cyril and Methodius. The two brothers from Thessaloniki created the Cyrillic script, now used by the Russians, in the 9th century.
Lavrov spoke of “close historical ties” between the two countries, while Dendias said the meeting was an opportunity to discuss bilateral and regional issues with the hope of creating an even stronger relationship and of understanding the broader issues in question.
Analysts interpreted the meeting as part of an effort to restore a functional basis to the two countries’ bilateral relationship.
Dendias will later travel to Anapa and Gelendzhik on the northern coast of the Black Sea where he is expected to meet with representatives of the ethnic Greek diaspora on Tuesday.
