Venizelos attends informal Defence Ministers summit in Brussels

Defence Minister Evangelos Venizelos, who is participating in the informal NATO Defence Ministers summit here, stressed the need for a clear message to be sent by the international community for a final and steadfast solution to be found in Libya, in accordance with the principles of democracy and state of law.

Venizelos agreed to the North Atlantic Council (NAC) issuing two initial directives on humanitarian efforts and support for the weapons embargo in the framework of a relevant decision by the UN Security Council.

Venizelos reminded Greece’s contribution to evacuation operations that were carried out since the beginning of the Libyan crisis. He stressed that 24,000 people have been evacuated from Libya with Greek assistance (mainly with Greek ships).

The Defence minister insisted on the need for the solution in Libya to be given naturally through the will of the Libyan people themselves, while pointing out that Greece, being a Mediterranean country and due to its geographical proximity realises very well the importance of the existence of strong regional support.