G. GERAPETRITIS: Today's EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Ministerial Meeting occurred in a climate affected by Hamas’ terrorist attack against Israel. This attack violates all principles of International Law, calling for urgent and active intervention by the international legal order. In addition to the EU meeting with the Gulf countries, I had the opportunity to hold one-on-one meetings with all my Gulf counterparts, as well as extensive telephone conversations with the Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Jordan, to be able to coordinate our action to bring about a cessation of hostilities and ensure that the rules dictated by humanism and the rule of law will prevail.
I would like to highlight that we, Greece proposed a five-point plan to de-escalate tension and break the vicious cycle of violence. This includes immediate cessation of hostilities, primarily as concerns civilians, immediate release of all hostages and abductees, immediate opening of humanitarian corridors to ensure access to health services, and a unanimous condemnation by the European Union and the Gulf countries of all forms of terrorism. I believe that the time has come for an international consensus, for a forum that would address the core of the issues, condemn terrorism, and prevent such events in the future.
JOURNALIST: Minister, are there any updates regarding the repatriation of Greeks currently in Israel?
G. GERAPETRITIS: Under harsh conditions, and while all countries are trying to repatriate their citizens, from the very beginning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through our Embassy and the Consulate General, has made extraordinary efforts to ensure the safe and secure repatriation of the Greek citizens currently in the region. As you are aware, 90 citizens have already returned by plane.
This afternoon, we have scheduled a flight of the state-owned Israeli Airlines, bringing back another 90 citizens. With this, all Greek visitors in Israel will have been repatriated. Additionally, we've already arranged for a chartered aircraft so that all Greek citizens residing in Israel and wishing to return to our country can do so tomorrow. This ensures that everyone wishing to return to Greece can do so securely, according to international aviation regulations.
October 10, 2023