Today, I have the great pleasure of welcoming my dear colleague Heiko Maas to Athens. And it’s an important day – a day on which Europe decided how to handle the crisis. A decision that makes us even more optimistic about the future of Europe.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Minister Maas on Germany’s assumption of the Presidency of the Council of Europe for the current semester. I wish him good luck. I am certain he will be successful. He is one of the most experienced of my colleagues in the Council.
Heiko and I had an in-depth discussion that covered our bilateral relations, current European Union issues, and regional issues.
We talked about the pandemic. He was kind enough to congratulate us on how we handled it. The truth is, Greece and Germany responded promptly and successfully.
We also confirmed what we all know: that our relations are at a very good level. At the luncheon, right after these statements, we will discuss economic issues. As you know, the Greek-German Economic Forum inaugurated by Chancellor Merkel and Prime Minister Mitsotakis in March is a solid foundation on which to build future cooperation. And Germany will be the honoured country at the 85th TIF.
I won’t hide the fact that the situation in the eastern Mediterranean dominated our talks. Turkey’s illegal and provocative conduct is having a serious impact, not only on peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean, but also on the cohesion of NATO and on Turkey’s relations with the European Union.
Ankara is ignoring our urgings to cease its illegal conduct. It is ignoring our urgings to respect International law. It is ignoring our urgings to honor its commitments, including the 2016 Joint Statement on migration.
As you know, a few days ago it targeted a French vessel. We all remember Turkey’s exploitation of the migration issue in February and March, and of course we all remember the recent decision to convert Hagia Sophia from a museum into a mosque. An affront to the panhuman resonance of the monument – a monument that is a symbol of peaceful coexistence and diversity.
At the last meeting of the Council, in Brussels, we decided to prepare a text of options that will contain measures that can be implemented against Turkey if Turkey continues its illegal conduct.
But I want to repeat what I always say: that Greece is also open to dialogue. But on certain conditions. And these are not Greek conditions. They are self-evident. These conditions are respect for International Law, for the International Law of the Sea, and for good neighbourly relations. And of course, dialogue under threat is out of the question. Greece will not help to legitimize the violation of international legality.
I remind you that yesterday was the 46th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Forty-six years during which a wall divides another European capital. Nicosia. I assume that the German side is especially sensitive on this point. And of course, 16 years during which part of the European Union, the northern portion of the Republic of Cyprus, remains under occupation.
Rather than engaging in dialogue in a constructive spirit, Turkey is flagrantly violating the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus.
And now I come to Libya.
Six months after the Berlin conference, Libya is in powderkeg. At the latest Council meeting, we called on Turkey directly to show a constructive stance and cease its violations of the arms embargo. Greece supports the efforts of the UN and the Berlin Conclusions for de-escalation and a return to dialogue, for a political solution to the Libya issue.
And we believe that the Egyptian plan can contribute in the desired direction.
Moreover, operation ‘Irini’, which is aimed at imposing full implementation of the arms embargo, is a very positive piece in the puzzle of the solution to the Libyan crisis. Only a Libyan-owned solution that is the product of negotiations can be viable, and of course, the prospect of such a solution is only made more distant by continued external interventions in Libya.
We also talked about the European perspective of the Western Balkans, which, like Germany, we fervently support. It is a perspective that contributes to the consolidation of stability and security in the region. But it is a perspective, of course, that can move ahead only through compliance with the conditionality that has been set.
My dear Heiko, your arrival in Athens today was a great pleasure. I look forward to continuing our discussion during the working lunch, and allow me, once again, to welcome you warmly to the Greek capital.
[…]
JOURNALIST: I would like to ask you this: The Egyptian Parliament gave the green light for a military operation in Libya. How concerned are you by that? Could this lead to direct conflict between Turkey and Egypt in Libya? My second question concerns Hagia Sophia: Mr. Dendias, the Greek government’s reaction to this move on the part of Turkey was clearly negative, with a threat of consequences. What consequences do you have in mind, Mr. Dendias? And Mr. Maas, what is your stance on the issue of the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque? What is your assessment of the situation?
N. DENDIAS: Thank you for the question. Regarding the Egyptian Parliament’s decision, it is not for Greece to comment on its decisions. What I want to say is, our position on Libya is a position that pursues the goals of the Berlin Process – in other words, achieving a ceasefire, initially, and then peace in Libya.
Consequently, Greece is concerned at the escalating tensions in Libya. If I’m correctly informed, I understand that the Egyptian Parliament’s decision provides for possible hostile activity on the part of other players in Libya. And it is a decision that is essentially a defensive stance on the part of Egypt. But in any event, we are in favour of a ceasefire being achieved in Libya.
We believe that the worst thing that could happen for Europe is for Libya to become another Syria. So, with the capabilities we have, we will do everything we can to bring normalcy back to Libya.
Regarding Hagia Sophia, I want to be clear about the following: We believe the Turkish leadership was completely mistaken in making this decision, and we think it is inexplicable. Turkey itself chose to have Hagia Sophia converted into a world heritage monument. This was a correct choice. Because Hagia Sophia belongs to all of humanity. It doesn't belong to just Christians or Muslims. It is part of our common cultural heritage.
Of course, Greeks are right to be especially sensitive about this monument. And Greece did not threaten Turkey with measures. Greece does not consider Hagia Sophia to be a Greek-Turkish issue. It sees it as an issue that concerns the global community, and the moves we make will concern raising the awareness of the global community and promoting the protection, by UNESCO and the global community, of the monument status and history of Hagia Sophia. Thank you.
JOURNALIST: My question is for the Greek Minister. For years, Germany has essentially acted as the debt manager in Europe. Major fiscal and spending cuts, etc., were imposed in Greece. Now there is a large Union debt. What is your assessment of Germany’s new role? Do you feel closer to this Germany than in the past? And to the German Minister of Foreign Affairs. In terms of asylum law, given the very tough negotiations in Brussels, do you think we are essential further away than we have been till now from a common asylum system, or are you optimistic?
N. DENDIAS: Thank you for your question. I think it is a question being asked and answered on the right day. A day that, as my German colleague, Heiko Maas, said, is a very good day for Europe. A day on which we proved that Europe can react effectively to challenges.
Allow me to say that the initiative from Chancellor Merkel and President Macron on the way the European Union should handle the coronavirus crisis was exemplary. I realise that such an initiative, which involved a large sum of €750 billion, would cause debate, would cause second thoughts, might cause such a long meeting of the European leaders, as we saw in Brussels in recent days. Four whole days of negotiations!
But the takeaway is the successful outcome: the common European response.
And since you were kind enough to remind me of how difficult things were for Greece during the years of the economic crisis, I must say that every Greek woman and man who remembers that crisis certainly feels better in the European family of today. But of course, to get to a specific point like today, it is understandable that you must first go through a process of anguish and mistakes. And Greece happened to be the country that suffered this great anguish. But Greece feels very good about the current European reality.
July 21, 2020