JOURNALIST: Good morning, Minister.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Good morning. Thank you very much for your honorable invitation.
JOURNALIST: We are exactly one day following your meeting with your Turkish counterpart, Mr. Fidan. First of all, tell us how the meeting went. We read that you raised several issues.
G. GERAPETRITIS: It was a meeting in the context of our regular contacts with the Turkish side, aiming to process issues, shape the agenda for our next steps, and work to de-escalate crises. The meeting was held in a good atmosphere. All the issues that needed to be addressed were raised. Namely, EU-Türkiye relations, since the Turkish Foreign Minister was invited to the Informal Meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers. The main items of the agenda included EU-Türkiye relations, Greece-Türkiye relations as well as the Cyprus issue, which is currently fully underway. Regarding Greece-Türkiye relations, I raised the issues that emerged recently.
JOURNALIST: Among them, the Kasos issue?
G. GERAPETRITIS: The issue of Kasos was also raised. If you want me to say a few more about it, I would be happy to. Additionally, the matters currently at the forefront were addressed, and preparations were made for the meeting between the two leaders, which will take place within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly at the end of September in New York.
We had a discussion regarding the Cyprus issue, which is currently a major priority for me and the Greek government, as efforts are underway within the framework of the United Nations to resume talks. I believe there is a clear understanding that the parties must be brought to the negotiation table. The Cypriot side, with which we are in full coordination and alignment, has a very constructive stance. President Christodoulides has repeatedly emphasized that he will sit down to discuss within the framework of a viable solution that is consistent with UN Security Council resolutions. We are waiting for the stance of the Turkish side. Obviously, without discussion and dialogue, a solution cannot be found. And that is why we are fully ready.
JOURNALIST: For several months, there has been a period of calm in the Aegean, in relation to Türkiye, which we refer to as calm waters. Do you think this calm in the Aegean will continue? Because occasionally, we have also observed some statements from Erdogan.
JOURNALIST: Many commentators and parts of the media suggest that we have made concessions to maintain this calm.
G. GERAPETRITIS: There will always be conspiracy theories surrounding everything. At this moment our stance is extremely consistent, rigid, and professional. I express this with complete honesty towards the Greek people. When I took over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Prime Minister's mandate, we made the decision to proceed with normalization of Greece-Türkiye relations and gradually see how we can address more complex issues that will ensure long-term calm in our wider region. Indeed, I would like to tell you that, after assessing the situation 13 months following the beginning of these discussions and my assumption of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I feel satisfied with how things have progressed. I would just like to remind you how the situation was in previous years. I would like to recall the migration issue in 2015-2016, with 1,5 million irregular migrants crossing the Aegean. I want us to remember hundreds of violations of Greek airspace, which occurred with the risk of a “hot incident” and of course war risks. Certainly, I would like us to recall what was happening in terms of political aggressive rhetoric. At this moment, immigration is not a major problem. It is under control. There is good coordination...
JOURNALIST: The “blue homeland” theory is still present.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Every day, there is coordination so that smugglers can be arrested. Indeed, on the Turkish side, there is a significant level of engagement. I want to point out that, essentially, except for isolated exceptions, there are no violations of Greek airspace. There is significant, good understanding that allows us to defuse crises.
There are two issues, one major and one minor. You referred to the minor issue of Kasos and the survey being conducted there. I would like to tell you again what would have happened in the past in a similar case. What do we have? We have a research vessel that had been conducting surveys within the Greek Exclusive Economic Zone, in international waters. The Turks are raising, illegally, claims in this area on the basis of the null and void Turkish-Libyan memorandum, regarding their continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone. In the past, what would this have led to? It would have led to excessive tension, a crisis. This would have happened, to get a full picture of the situation. Now, what do we have? What happened in Kasos? And I am truly very annoyed because anyone can evaluate...
Allow me to finish my thought, and then you can ask me whatever you like. I would like to say the following: At this moment, I am very annoyed by the fact that there is a distortion of the actual events. Anyone can have a personal opinion on whether the discussion with Türkiye to maintain a relatively calm atmosphere is good or bad.
However, we cannot distort the facts. What are the facts concerning the Kasos issue? First, no crisis arose, and there was no tension that could have caused this crisis. Indeed, just as Greek warships move, so do Turkish ones. However, there was no risk of a crisis at any point. Secondly, and more importantly, the survey was completed. The research vessel completed 100% of the survey according to its schedule. The survey was concluded, and the vessel returned. It is a very significant European project, for which we have the following two facts:
First, no crisis arose. Second, there was no recognition of any right or claim by the Turkish side, and third, and most importantly, the beneficial outcome: the survey research was fully carried out. Therefore, all the talk about concessions, retreats, or the ship returning without conducting research is, with all due respect, baseless and false. Unfortunately, there is an effort to politically exploit the situation.
JOURNALIST: By whom?
G. GERAPETRITIS: It is obvious. A segment of the press believes we should always be in a state of military tension with Türkiye. I respect that, but the mandate we have received is to ensure peace and prosperity for our country now and for future generations. It is not to constantly be on the brink of war.
Absolutely no retreat. I will say it and keep saying it: issues of sovereignty will never be up for discussion, and on the other hand, we will defend our sovereign rights to the end.
JOURNALIST: Answer, please, about the "blue homeland" theory so we can then move on to Rena Dourou, who is SYRIZA's head of foreign affairs and has issued a statement that we will discuss immediately. The "blue homeland" theory still stands for the Turks, nothing has changed.
G. GERAPETRITIS: The "blue homeland" is an illegal claim under international law that Türkiye promotes. It is a position that has been developed by our neighbor for many years and relates to its perception of the delimitation of maritime zones. It is self-evident that Türkiye will not back down from this position overnight. We all understand that. We are not so naïve to believe that Türkiye's underlying positions will cease to exist just because we sat at the table. On the contrary, we know that these positions exist. This does not negate the fact that we must continue, on the one hand, to move forward with the positive outcomes that we can achieve, and on the other hand, not to back down on anything regarding Türkiye's claims. We cannot go from 0 to 100 in a year. We can proceed step by step so that we highlight these illegal claims. When the time comes, we can delimit it based solely on international law.
JOURNALIST: Rena Dourou characterizes your intervention yesterday with Mr. Fidan as clearly inadequate and below the circumstances. She refers to a critical deficit that reflects the dangers of the current strategy of the predictable ally of the New Democracy government at the expense of our sovereign rights and national sovereignty.
G. GERAPETRITIS: I think Ms Dourou had prepared her statement before I met with Mr. Fidan because it simply does not refer to anything said. Furthermore, Rena Dourou and SYRIZA do not tell us what they would have done themselves. There is a core position. I understand that there is always an exaggeration in the arguments on both sides in the context of political confrontation. But here, there are very specific points, and allow me to highlight the inherent contradiction in SYRIZA's political discourse, which, on the one hand, claims to be in favor of the Greece-Türkiye dialogue, and, on the other hand urges us not to engage in discussions. Here it is. Please read the announcement and tell me firstly, if there is even a single point that specifically mentions where the concession was made during this meeting, and secondly, if there is even one - I'm telling you, even one - constructive component regarding what should have been done and was not.
So, to put it simply, SYRIZA currently does not have any policy regarding national issues. It claims to favor the Greek-Turkish dialogue, without presenting any plan whatsoever on how this will be achieved. On the contrary, we address these issues with seriousness, responsibility, national responsibility, and a duty that I feel towards future generations - I do not want my children to live in an environment where we are always in a state of war readiness. Of course, we strengthen national defense, because we must and because at any moment we need to be ready for every contingency. However, we should not be working for war. We must work for peace and prosperity, and that is what we will do. SYRIZA should finally come and tell us what they would do if they were in power. In any case, let me also say this: the governance of SYRIZA, the governance of 2015-2019, is recent. What exactly did it produce in terms of added value for our sovereignty and sovereign rights? At this moment, I can tell you the tangible outcomes of our policy: Zero violations. Virtually no immigration, considerably less immigration. Do we remember the one and a half million people who crossed the Aegean in 2015-16? Do we remember the hundreds of daily violations?
JOURNALIST: Do you believe you are facing opposition from Syriza or also from your own party, New Democracy?
JOURNALIST: Do you believe that no one has another line?
G. GERAPETRITIS: The line is drawn by the Prime Minister and collectively by the Cabinet and the Government Council on Foreign and Defence Affairs (KYSEA). The Prime Minister's position is clear: Greece is proceeding with prudence and professionalism in discussions with Türkiye. We are ready for all eventualities. We are neither utopian nor naive. We are proceeding step by step. We are making sure that the first step is to set sail in calm waters. If conditions mature, we will address the more complex issues, ensuring longer-term peace. I believe that the Greek government is in favour of this position in a coordinated manner.
JOURNALIST: Concluding, Minister, there has been criticism from both the opposition and the internal opposition, as Christos said, regarding the issue of Skopje and the issue of Albania, our relations with the two countries. I would like your comment on the agreement with Skopje and our relations with Albania.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Regarding North Macedonia, things are clear. Since the new government in the neighboring country and the state leadership, the President, assumed power, there has been a systematic violation of the core principles of the Prespa Agreement. The Prespa Agreement is an international document that, for better or for worse, currently supersedes any provision of law and cannot be unilaterally amended. The agreement is explicit. It refers to the use of the name North Macedonia erga omnes. Therefore, at the moment, the neighbouring country is in breach of the Prespa Agreement.
JOURNALIST: Is there no way to respond?
G. GERAPETRITIS: I assure you that we are responding in an appropriate manner. Τhis response involves, first, the fact that all countries are currently being informed bilaterally, as well as all international fora, and that all necessary actions are being taken. We are always ready for every contingency. If the current situation with the North Macedonian government persists, International Law provides safeguards to force North Macedonia to comply. However, I would like to say that we are in favor of good neighbourly relations. We advocate for the European perspective of all Western Balkan states. Nevertheless, we will not tolerate any form of selective compliance with international law. International law is a package that you can either accept or reject as a whole. The same applies to neighbouring Albania.
JOURNALIST: Minister, thank you very much. All the best.
August 30, 2024