New Delhi, Jan 27 (NationPress) European Council President Antonio Costa remarked on Tuesday that both India and the European Union hold a mutual responsibility to uphold international law, with the United Nations Charter being central to this duty. He emphasized that India and the EU are collaborating to expand their shared responsibilities.

During a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after their discussions, Costa stated, "As the world's largest democracies and advocates of multilateralism, the European Union and India share the responsibility to uphold international law with the United Nations Charter at its core. Earlier today, President Ursula and I had the privilege to honor Mahatma Gandhi. I reflected upon his timeless words, 'peace will not come from a clash of arms, but from justice pursued by unarmed nations against all odds.'"

Highlighting his connection to India, Costa remarked, "While I serve as the President of the European Council, I am also an overseas Indian citizen. This personal connection has a profound significance for me. I take great pride in my heritage from Goa, where my father's lineage originates, and the bond between Europe and India is deeply personal."

He affirmed that during the summit, India and the EU reasserted their dedication to promoting a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine. He underscored that PM Modi can facilitate conditions for peace through dialogue and diplomacy.

"Our summit reaffirmed our commitment to fostering a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine, fully respecting its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. This is a pivotal moment. We are backing all efforts to achieve a fair and sustainable peace. Ukraine has demonstrated its willingness, even at the cost of difficult compromises. I know, dear Prime Minister, that we can rely on you to help foster conditions for peace via dialogue and diplomacy," he stated.

He expressed gratitude to PM Modi for hosting him and Ursula von der Leyen as the Chief Guests at the Republic Day celebrations. He noted, "Thank you, dear Prime Minister Modi, for your warm welcome on this significant occasion. We felt honored to be your chief guests for the Republic Day celebrations yesterday, which showcased India's capabilities and diversity. Today marks a historic moment as we embark on a new chapter in our relations concerning trade, security, and people-to-people connections."

"In this multipolar world, the European Union and India are collaborating to cultivate mutual prosperity. However, prosperity cannot exist without security. We must enhance our cooperation to better safeguard our citizens and mutual interests. By working together, we can counter various security threats in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and globally, thereby achieving a new level of strategic trust. This is the importance of our agreement on a security and defense partnership—the first such overarching framework between India and the European Union, marking the initial step towards even more ambitious collaboration in the future," Costa added.