We are dismayed at reading the unfounded news articles concerning the stance Greece supposedly maintained with regard to the Council Conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process at the recent meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council (18 January 2016). We make the reminder that the Council unanimously adopted the Conclusions in questions, which are almost identical to those of July 2015 and reiterate the European Union’s longstanding positions.
These malicious articles follow on others published in the past regarding Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias’ alleged non-participation in the ceremony for the raising of the Palestinian flag at the United Nations and Greece’s stance on the matter of the labelling of products from settlements in the occupied territories; products that Greece does not import.
We would recommend to everyone that more care be exercised in drawing conclusions regarding the Greek stance on the Palestinian question; a stance that is unwavering. Respecting international law, Greece never recognized the settlements in the West Bank and has always been in favor of promotion of the Peace Process for the settlement of the Middle East issue and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that will coexist peacefully with Israel, within internationally recognized borders on the basis of the pre-1967 line, and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Moreover, we must not forget Greece’s declared readiness to provide its good offices – as an honest mediator, a partner of Israel, and a country with a tradition of friendship towards the Arab countries and the Palestinian people – so that it may contribute constructively in this direction.
January 20, 2016