I would like to thank Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Al Safadi for his generous hospitality.
It is a great honour to be in Amman today to discuss about the crisis in the region and to confirm the excellent level of the relations between Greece and Jordan.
Our historical ties have been forged over the centuries, and mutual esteem permeates our peoples.
Greece has consistently expressed its appreciation for Jordan’s stance and the kingdom’s important role in protecting Muslim and Christian shrines in the Holy Land.
Jordan is one of the crucial actors in the region, with whom we share a common vision: which is to live in a secure, stable region free of wars, rivalries, and disputes.
A prerequisite for this is finding a sustainable solution to the Palestinian issue. Greece has long and consistently supported the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, which will coexist peacefully with Israel, within internationally recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borderline, and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
We are profoundly concerned on many grounds.
- On the ongoing loss of civilian lives
- On the current humanitarian situation, that has reached devastating dimensions
- On the growing anxiety in the West Bank,
- On the possibility of a crisis spillover in Lebanon,
- On the peak of tension in the Red Sea, which endangers the security of navigation in a very crucial region.
It is crucial that we all do everything in our power to de-escalate the crisis.
Being a member of the EU and an interlocutor of all sides, Greece is willing to offer good offices to assist in mitigating the effects of the war, de-escalating tension, and avoiding regional flare-ups.
Greece, pursuing a consistent foreign policy based on International Law, has, from the very first moment, condemned all forms of terrorism.
It has also emphasized the need to protect civilians, release all hostages and respect human life.
We emphatically raised the need for a prolonged humanitarian pause from hostilities to establish sustainable corridors for the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.
I would like to praise Jordan’s significant efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Greece is in favour of opening more humanitarian corridors and to allow free flow of all necessary materials.
We need to alleviate the pain and the suffering of civilians in Gaza. We must all do whatever we can to provide food supplies and medicaments. And of course, we need to restore essential facilities and networks in Gaza.
Further, population displacement scenarios cannot be acceptable.
Greece believes that it is time to start a serious discussion regarding the day after, so that a political perspective for peace in the region can be opened up.
We believe that the role of the Palestinian Authority in this perspective will be essential and must be supported, since it is our only credible interlocutor from the Palestinian side.
Honourable Minister, my dear Friend,
Greece and Jordan have enjoyed over time a remarkable stability in their respective regions.
Our common goal remains the promotion of peace and security in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. And we will proceed together on the basis of this objective.
I thank you for your warm welcome here in Amman.
JOURNALIST: Mr Gerapetritis, in which way could Greece, first of all, being a member of the European Union, provide its good offices, as you said, in the direction of de-escalating the crisis?
G. GERAPETRITIS: I think there are two ways to deal with the situation from our viewpoint. The first is to assist in every possible way to allow for further humanitarian aid. The truth is, as we discussed with the Minister that humanitarian aid now provided for Gaza is not enough and would not be enough given that there is a tremendous catastrophe in the broader region. So, I think what we can do is work together with our fellow members of the European Union in order, first, to establish further corridors for humanitarian aid. Second, to allow additional budget to reconstruct the destroyed region and provide food, water, and medicines. And, of course, to allow for the reconstruction of essential facilities. Obviously, it is a matter of human need to restore water and electricity in the broader region.
What I suggest is that we need to see the day after. It is important to work with all interested parties, the European Union, and other like-minded countries to see how this collective trauma could be terminated. Greece, from the very beginning, took a very principled stance. This is why I think we have a credible diplomatic capital. We talk to all interested parties, and I think we could be of meaningful aid in this respect. We clearly support the UN Security Council resolutions. We need to actively and promptly proceed to an international peace conference to see how we can promote the idea of a sustainable future of prosperity for all nations in the region.
JOURNALIST: Question regarding Jordan’s role in protecting Muslim and Christian shrines in the Holy Land.
G. GERAPETRITIS: We believe that Jordan could be a true custodian, not only for the Christian and Muslim shrines but also for the preservation of multiculturalism and tolerance in the broader region. Jordan has traditionally been a state and a nation of moderation and tolerance. This is why we consider that the Kingdom could be a genuine guarantor and custodian of this characteristic of the Middle East, being a place where all cultures and religions may flourish equally.
JOURNALIST: Question on Greece’s role in the current crisis in the Middle East
G. GERAPETRITIS: What came on the 7th of October was indeed something that caused a huge collective trauma for the Israeli people. This is an undeniable truth. The same is true for the Palestinian people after the 7th of October. There is also a collective trauma for the Palestinian people as well. So, I think it is now important to take a very strong and bold step ahead. We have just to see the future and see how we provide both the Israeli and the Palestinian people with a sustainable peace formula. I think it is important at this very moment, proactively and promptly to proceed with a genuine peace formula. And this is why I place particular emphasis on the huge efforts that the Minister is making at this very moment with other allies in the Arabic world. So, I do think that there is a place for peace. And I think it is of utmost importance not only for the stakeholders, for Israel and Palestine but also for all other nations of the region and the whole world, to secure a sustainable tranquility in the broader region.
Everyone has to work for this purpose and we should do this in a coordinated manner. This is the reason why I am here today; I was in Saudi Arabia last week, I will be in Egypt tomorrow, and I will see my Palestinian counterpart in a few days. I recently spoke with the Israeli Foreign Minister. I think nations that consider themselves moderate and forward-looking have to work together in order to produce peace. Because, after all, it's the people's lives. We have to stop what is happening now in Gaza. We have to see the future.
January 15, 2024