“My vision is one of lasting peace in our neighborhood and prosperity for both our peoples”
JOURNALIST: The positive dynamic in the bilateral relations, the Athens Declaration, the positive agenda, the prospects for resolving issues, and the future of Greek-Turkish relations.
G. GERAPETRITIS: It has been almost 15 months since the two countries' leaders decided to launch the dialogue between Greece and Türkiye in a structured way. Both sides have shown a remarkable will to direct our bilateral relations towards a different path during this period. The Athens Declaration of December 2023 marks a significant milestone of our mutual will.
Tomorrow, I will welcome in Athens the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, with whom we have achieved, step-by-step, a level of trust that allows us to discuss with sincerity, thus preventing crises. We will discuss bilateral and international issues and prepare the High-Level Cooperation Council between Greece and Türkiye, scheduled for the beginning of next year.
Without disregarding the historical legacies of the past, we must build strong bridges of friendship for the future. My vision is one of lasting peace in our neighborhood and prosperity for our peoples.
JOURNALIST: Greece’s armament program. Against whom does Greece intend to use the weapons purchased.
G. GERAPETRITIS: We are a profoundly peaceful nation. We believe in dialogue and the peaceful resolution of disputes on the basis of International Law and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. At the same time, we cannot ignore the current security threats. We live in a period of unprecedented geopolitical instability and volatility in the post-war world. Our wider region finds itself amid two armed conflicts in Ukraine and in the Middle East. Under these circumstances, we must ensure the defensive shielding and the strengthening Greece’s deterrence. Our goal is to never have to use our defensive armaments, since that would mean that our diplomacy has failed.
JOURNALIST: The EU-Türkiye relations and the European Union’s stance on the normalization of relations between Greece and Türkiye.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Our region and the world cannot afford any more sources of tension. Greece and Türkiye must live in peace. I firmly believe that this is in our mutual interest. We do not hold on to stereotypical perceptions. We try to bridge our differences and, in case they cannot be bridged, we try at least not to let them lead to crises. The alternative of permanently increased tensions, hostile rhetoric, and the constant risk of a “hot incident” does not serve anyone’s interests. First and foremost, it does not serve our two peoples’ interests.
Greece and Türkiye collaborate in the framework of international organizations. In addition, Greece has consistently supported Türkiye’s European Union accession process. I believe that the prevalence of the positive climate will also benefit the EU-Türkiye relations. While I understand the international community’s legitimate desire to maintain calm in our region, the relations between Greece and Türkiye are not determined by external factors. We alone must find the way to peace and prosperity.
JOURNALIST: The developments in the Middle East.
G. GERAPETRITIS: As regards the Middle East crisis, Greece maintained a principled stance from the very first moment. At the same time, we insisted on the need to achieve a lasting and sustainable ceasefire, on ensuring the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to the affected areas, on the unconditional release of the hostages, and on developing a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of Gaza. And, of course, we highlighted the need to provide a tangible vision for the establishment of a Palestinian state within the framework of the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. The spillover of hostilities into Lebanon and the broader Middle East is even more worrying. Despite multilateral efforts, the international legal order has failed so far in ending the hostilities and providing a solution in accordance with international law. There is no doubt that it is the duty of all states, with no exception, to respect the principles of the United Nations Charter and fundamental human rights. There is no room for concessions in this regard.
JOURNALIST: Delimitation of the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone between Greece and Türkiye.
G. GERAPETRITIS: The delimitation of the continental shelf and the EEZ is the only issue between Greece and Türkiye that can be brought before international jurisdiction. This is not only our position, but it is also a provision of the International Law of the Sea, which stipulates that the delimitation of the continental shelf between states with opposite or adjacent coasts shall be determined by agreement on the basis of International Law and, if no agreement can be reached within a reasonable period, the states concerned shall resort to the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the basis of an agreement. The national sovereignty of states cannot be subject to debate or international jurisdiction. However, on the issue of the delimitation of the continental shelf and the EEZ, I believe we can proceed, in a coordinated manner, to a substantive discussion in a mutually constructive spirit. I am convinced that a definitive resolution of this issue would be decisive for upgrading the relations between the two countries at all levels, also avoiding any potential tensions. I am fully aware of the difficulty of the task, but it is our duty to try. And, in any case, we must maintain our good cooperation and the beneficial communication channels.
JOURNALIST: Marine parks and marine spatial planning in the Aegean. The Turkish public opinion believes that the environmental protection initiatives are being used to change the status quo in the Aegean.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Let me point out that, in my opinion, the reactions concerning this issue are disproportionate. The Greek side is, as always, clear and sincere and has no intention whatsoever to mislead. The two marine parks in the Aegean and the Ionian Seas, with boundaries that are defined according to strict environmental criteria, do not affect the rights of others. These initiatives should unite our peoples, all the more so when we both face the same challenges. As regards maritime spatial planning in the Aegean, this is an obligation stemming from the European Union law, an obligation that Türkiye should also take into account in the framework of its European path.
JOURNALIST: Developments regarding the Cyprus Issue.
G. GERAPETRITIS: The improvements in the relations between Greece and Türkiye are already creating better conditions regarding the Cyprus issue. I believe that the Turkish Foreign Minister and I share the view that no problem can be solved without dialogue and constructive thinking. The informal meeting between the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot leader, under the auspices of the Secretary General of the United Nations, is a first step towards the necessary resumption of the discussions. We remain at the disposal of the Secretary-General to contribute to the dialogue towards a just, sustainable, and functional resolution of the Cyprus Issue within the framework of the relevant UN resolutions. A united European and prosperous Cyprus would constitute an extremely powerful universal symbol in a world full of divisions.
November 7, 2024