JOURNALIST: Welcome, Minister. Thank you for responding to our invitation. Let us begin with the dramatic developments in the Middle East. Can you tell us how Greek diplomacy is evaluating the events there and whether the proposal for humanitarian pauses, which Greece also supports, has any chance of success?
G. GERAPETRITIS: Greek foreign policy is a foreign policy of principles. Greece may be a small country geographically, but it has acquired significant diplomatic capital in recent years thanks to its consistent foreign policy. A foreign policy based on principles, a foreign policy that is not transactional. Consequently, we address all major crises in the same manner, whether they occur in the Middle East, Ukraine, or Armenia and Azerbaijan. We will consistently maintain our stance in favor of International Law, against revisionism and against attacks. We cannot accept any act of terrorism and we always support the one who is on the defensive.
JOURNALIST: Since you have recently visited Israel alongside the Prime Minister, I would like to know if you believe that equal distance is maintained vis-à-vis Palestine.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Precisely because we have a policy of principles, I can say with certainty, that we have a very specific policy, one that is not based on balance but on justice. From the beginning, we said that Greece is against terrorism. We unequivocally condemn terrorism and any form of violence against people, but we are in favor of humanism. In the sense that, as in every conflict, there must be humanitarian corridors, the vulnerable must be able to receive the necessary medical assistance and civilians must certainly not be targeted.
We have already met with the Palestinians on several occasions. We met in Paris and in Egypt. And I want to tell you that tomorrow, I myself will travel to the Palestinian Authority’s seat in Ramallah, where I will hold a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority and the Foreign Minister. It is a visit that precisely aims to seek solutions.
JOURNALIST: So tomorrow you are travelling to the West Bank, to Palestinian Territory.
G. GERAPETRITIS: I will be in Ramallah, in the West Bank tomorrow. My feeling is that exactly due to our significant diplomatic capital, we always play a crucial role. All sides come together, and I believe we will proceed by leveraging this capital. As for the humanitarian corridors, I sense that we need to work on all possible alternatives. We all realize the inherent right to defend oneself, which we have recognized to Israel from the very first day. We are absolutely in favor of humanitarian pauses. We distinguish the Palestinian people from Hamas. Hamas remains a terrorist organization that holds hostages. However, this does not overturn the fundamental humanitarian principle that sustainable humanitarian corridors must exist.
JOURNALIST: Let us turn the page, and discuss Greek-Turkish relations. I am interested in hearing Athens’ expectations for the upcoming High-Level Council that will eventually convene in Athens and your assessment of the huge delegation accompanying the Turkish President. In diplomacy, I guess, everything has its own symbolism.
G. GERAPETRITIS: First of all, I should note that the High-Level Council’s agenda has not yet been finalized, thus anything that may be heard is still under discussion. What I want to emphasize is that, after many years, we have managed to establish a communication channel with Türkiye that allows us, and I think this is extremely important, to avoid crises whenever disagreements arise. And we continue to have many fundamental disagreements. There is the fundamental disagreement pertaining to the pseudo-state, marking its bleak anniversary today. Furthermore, there exist serious disagreements on the interpretation of the Middle East. This, however, should not prevent us from sitting at the same table, looking at the issues that unite us, namely the positive agenda which can work positively for both sides. Yet, we need to look at the major issues that divide us. We all realize that we may have different starting points on many issues, such as the delimitation of the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone. There are issues though, that we can sit down and discuss.
JOURNALIST: Allow me, however, to ask you a more specific question. Hasn’t Erdogan's extreme stance that is completely opposite to what we and the West defend in the Middle East issue, affected our dialogue? Won’t it impede the discussion we have had, for instance, regarding a new migration agreement in Europe? Doesn’t it affect Türkiye's accession perspective?
G. GERAPETRITIS: Everything is assessed and this assessment is obviously related to the facts. When there is a significant crisis in your neighborhood, the Middle East, or Ukraine, it is evident that the situation changes swiftly. It is vital that these fundamental differences, which we may have on crucial issues, do not affect our bilateral relations. Geography has made us neighbours. On numerous occasions in the past, the tension that was caused led us to the brink of war. Our belief, as well as that of the Prime Minister and the government, is that we will not back down from issues concerning our major national interests and that matters pertaining to national sovereignty will never be put on the table because they are beyond any negotiation.
JOURNALIST: But have they ever ceased raising them?
G. GERAPETRITIS: This is very clear from our side, whether Türkiye raises them or not. We are never going to discuss them. To be honest, I want to say that issues concerning sovereignty, demilitarization of islands, or any other pertinent matters have never been raised at Foreign Ministers’ level. I have to tell you that even if they were brought up, I have never had any mandate neither from the Hellenic Parliament nor from the Greek people to enter into such negotiations.
JOURNALIST: I believe you are also taking note of Türkiye's rhetoric deviation from the Western camp. Apart from the necessary diplomatic decorum, isn't there a concern that Türkiye might return to a rhetoric of revisionism?
G. GERAPETRITIS: We assess all scenarios. I don't know if having to use diplomatic language was criticism or a compliment on your part. I, however, always respond with clarity. I want to tell you that we are getting prepared for all scenarios. You will never find us unprepared for any eventuality. However, we want to engage in the dialogue in good faith, honestly, prudently, step by step. We will never make leaps and we always appreciate and re-evaluate the sincerity of the parties. To be honest, I want to emphasize that so far, at the bilateral level, and at least at the level of my counterpart, the Foreign Minister, we have had an extremely frank relationship. Whenever we have had to speak - and we have done so many times to resolve issues, even minor political ones - this has been done. Crises have been de-escalated, and tensions have been avoided. Therefore, I would like to underscore that every time we sit at the table with Türkiye, we will bear in mind to vigorously defend our national interest. But on the other hand, it is, I believe, the Greek government's responsibility to look ahead, to take into account future generations and build a prosperous future.
JOURNALIST: I will come back to the migration issue, because I understand from the news reports that it is very high on the agenda of the upcoming contacts. How will Türkiye's stance on the Middle East affect the negotiations we want to start at the European level? If I recall well, the Turkish President stated a few days ago that the Europeans will beg Türkiye again with respect to the migration issue.
G. GERAPETRITIS: We understand that Türkiye is a host country for a very large number of refugees. Approximately 4.5-5 million refugees are currently in Türkiye. Therefore, it is indeed a place where refugees and migrants end up. It is self-evident that the migration issue is a Euro-Turkish one. Though still inactive, the EU-Türkiye Statement of 2016 exists, defining the framework of cooperation between the European Union and Türkiye on border protection and returns. We will sit at the table as an EU member state, evaluating the stance of all parties, including Türkiye. It is very significant, and I want to emphasize that we, the 27, concluded a Pact on Migration and Asylum after extremely complex, long negotiations. The Pact, in my opinion, provides the guarantees that Europe will no longer be a migration receiving route, but it also highlights the EU's humanitarian character whenever there is a crisis. It is a fair measure, and I believe that any change in Türkiye's stance cannot affect Europe's stance. Regarding the complex issue of migration, I wish to point out that the European Union's unified stance - namely, the search for a common path - is more significant than relations with third countries.
JOURNALIST: One last thing. Will we hear the word "Hague" in December?
G. GERAPETRITIS: The Hague is a very important city that, as you know, hosts multiple buildings, and international organisations. It is a wonderful city to visit. I am sure that in the future, we will hear it in some context. What you are obviously alluding to is the issue of the delimitation of the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone. I want to be honest. We are not there yet. We are quite far from having a common understanding of the process, the method and the content of a referral to The Hague. On the other hand, it is an opportunity to be able to discuss issues that have been going on for decades. I am of the opinion that inaction has never been beneficial. It is extremely important to extend the time of peace and detente in our broader region, as it is a condition of prosperity. Moreover, longevity and prosperity in a much more distant future depend on the resolution of the major issues. And this is definitely one of them.
JOURNALIST: Thank you very much and have a good trip to the West Bank tomorrow.
G. GERAPETRITIS: You are welcome. It was my honor.
November 15, 2023