I. Political relations
Bilateral political relations between Greece and Ukraine are very good and have steadily developed in all sectors since Ukraine declared its independence (24/08/1991). They are based on century-old historical and cultural ties between the two peoples and are marked by a spirit of cooperation. Greece wants to promote bilateral relations further, taking into account the sizeable Greek community in Ukraine and the existing possibilities for the development of economic and trade cooperation.
II. Diplomatic Representation
Our country’s diplomatic representation to Ukraine includes our Embassy in Kyiv, set up in 1993, and the Consulates General in Odessa and Mariupol, areas with a sizeable number of Ukrainian citizens of Greek descent. There is also a branch of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture in Odessa.
Ukraine has set up an Embassy in Athens and a Consulate General in Thessaloniki.
III. Framework of Treaties
The framework of treaties covers practically all aspects of cooperation between the two countries, especially in the economic sector: The following treaties should be flagged up:
- Friendship and Cooperation Agreement between the Hellenic Republic and Ukraine (1997).
- Agreement on Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation.
- Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments.
- Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation
- Agreement on International Road Transport.
- Shipping Agreement.
- Agreement on Judicial Assistance in Civil Matters.
IV. Bilateral Contacts
Previous visits by Greek officials to Ukraine include the visit of the former President of the Hellenic Republic in 1997, the Greek Prime Minister in 2002, and the Greek Foreign Minister in 2000.
Greek high-level officials have also had meetings with Ukrainian counterparts on the sidelines of international conferences: Prime Minister Karamanlis met with the President of Ukraine, Mr. Victor Yushchenko, during the Council of Europe Summit in Warsaw on 16/5/2005, and Foreign Minister Ms. Bakoyannis met with the former Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Mr. Arseniv Yatsenyuk, on 24/6/2007, on the sidelines of the BSEC Summit Meeting in Istanbul.
Furthermore, Ukraine’s former Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Buteiko, visited Athens on 09/02/2006 within the framework of his European tour as Special Envoy to the Ukrainian President, responsible for briefing on Ukraine’s Euroatlantic aspirations, during which he met with Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Valinakis. On 22/06/2007, a meeting was held between Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Kassimis, and the then First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Mr. Ogryzko, within the framework of the latter’s European tour as Special Envoy to the Ukrainian President responsible for efforts to find support for the recognition of “Holodomor” - the famine of 1932–1933 in the Ukrainian SSR – as a genocide.
On 20/9/2007, the Ukrainian President Mr. V. Yushchenko - following a private visit-pilgrimage to Mount Athos – visited Athens for a few hours and was received by the President of the Hellenic Republic as part of a protocol meeting.
On the sidelines of the Special Council of Foreign Ministers of BSEC and EU member states (Kyiv, 14/2/2008), Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Valinakis met with Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Nemyrya and Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Yeliseyev, with whom he discussed issues of bilateral interest as well as Ukraine's European perspective. The two Deputy Foreign Ministers initialed a Memorandum of Cooperation on European issues.
The President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, carried out a three-day unofficial visit to Ukraine from 15 to 17-4-2008, following an invitation by the State University of Mariupol, which awarded Mr. Papoulias with an Honorary Degree of Doctor. As part of his visit, the Greek President had a short protocol meeting with the Ukrainian President in Kyiv, which confirmed the good climate reigning over bilateral relations. The Greek President also visited Nizna (northeastern Ukraine), the entrepreneurial base of the distinguished Greek merchants of the 17th and 18th century, Rizaris and Zosimas. The Ukrainian President reciprocated the visit on 4-6/11/2008, having accepted an invitation by his Greek counterpart. In Mariupol, Mr. Papoulias was awarded honorary citizenship and had meetings with representatives of the local Greek community. He also attended the inauguration of the Institute of Greek-Ukrainian Friendship and Hellenic Studies, as well as the cultural center of the Greek Community “Meotida”.
Finally, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Gorin, competent for Ukraine’s Euroatlantic relations, visited Athens on 19/05/2008 and met with Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. T. Kassimis.
V. Cultural and Educational relations
Cultural relations between Greece and Ukraine are regulated by the bilateral Cultural Agreement signed in 1996, providing for cooperation and exchange in education, science, language teaching and dissemination and covering issues related to culture, mass media, sports and youth. In implementation of the Agreement, the first Greek-Ukrainian Cultural Programme was established for the period 2002-2005, and is still valid until the signing of a new programme.
There is great interest in Ukraine in the Greek language and culture. Ukrainian Universities in three cities have Modern Greek language chairs (Kyiv, Simferopol, Mariupol) and two others have Greek language departments (Odessa, Lviv). The Universities of Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Patras and the Aegean have established contacts with Ukrainian universities conducting Greek language programmes and hosting Ukrainian students and professors in Greece.
The branch of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture operates in Odessa, and has set up the Museum of the Filiki Heteria (Society of Friends) in collaboration with the History and Folklore Museum of Odessa. The official inauguration of the Odessa Archaeological Museum – considered to have the largest collection of Greek archaeological finds in the wider area of the former Soviet Union – was financed by the A. G. Leventis Foundation and thanks to the support of the Greek Ministry of Culture.
VI. Greek community
There is a significant Greek presence in southern and eastern Ukraine, which can be traced back to ancient Greek and Byzantine settlers. According to the official 2001 census, Ukrainian citizens of Greek descent amount to 91,000, although the number reaches up to 200,000, according to the estimates of the Federation of Greek communities of Mariupol.
VII. Embassy Details
Last modified: October 2008