Sakellaropoulou: An excellent opportunity to confirm the validity of the Treaty of Lausanne

"The 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne is an excellent opportunity to confirm its validity and the stable framework it created, which continues to be a pillar of peace in the region," President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou said on Monday at the opening of the international conference for the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne, co-organised by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy.

"According to fundamental principles of international law, the treaties defining the borders cannot and do not expire. Nor can they be revised unilaterally by a contracting party, without the consent of the others," she said, adding that "the final territorial settlement is the very cornerstone of the Treaty. Only on such a solid foundation can friendship between peoples and the peaceful coexistence of states be maintained."

Welcoming the work of the conference, Sakellaropoulou pointed out: "The Treaty of Lausanne is indeed a landmark treaty, which established the national borders in our neighborhood and in the Middle East, with the aim of restoring peace after the disastrous World War I. The centenary of its signing is an excellent opportunity to confirm its strength and the stable framework it created, which continues to be a pillar of peace in the region."