Photo: EUROKINISSI

Ishtartv.com - orthodoxtimes.com

Nov 13, 2025

Greek Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias met on Thursday, November 13, with Lebanon’s Minister of Defense, Michel Menassa, at the Ministry of National Defense in Athens. The discussions focused on regional security, bilateral cooperation, and the urgent need to safeguard Christian communities in the Middle East.

Minister Dendias stressed that the protection of Christian populations in the wider Middle East is a matter of the highest importance for Greece.

“We have condemned every act of violence targeting religious freedom in the Middle East,” he said. “Greece has consistently expressed its support for Christian communities and has made clear its position on the protection of all religious minorities in the region.”

He emphasized that Christians in the Middle East are not simply a minority but indigenous peoples who form an integral part of the historical and social fabric of countries such as Lebanon and Syria.

“For this reason,” he added, “we firmly support the Greek Orthodox Patriarchates and will continue to do everything in our power to assist them in the future.”

Minister Dendias also recalled Greece’s ongoing initiatives in Lebanon, particularly in cooperation with the University of Balamand. He noted that these efforts began during his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs and have continued during his current role at the Ministry of National Defense.

“I recently visited the University of Balamand once again and had the honor of being received by His Beatitude the Patriarch of Antioch,” Dendias stated, highlighting Greece’s longstanding commitment to educational, cultural, and religious cooperation in the region.