JOURNALIST: Let's now turn to what we should normally have started our discussion with.
N. DENDIAS: Mr. Chiotis, I’m glad that you’ve returned to normalcy. Although it is mischief that I always fear from you, not normalcy.
JOURNALIST: It’s my obligation to demonstrate both, Minister.
N. DENDIAS: At least you admit it, you’re honest.
JOURNALIST: Absolutely.
JOURNALIST: In any case, we are witnessing a spectacular change in Greek-Turkish relations...
JOURNALIST: A spectacular change? An idyllic atmosphere I’d say.
JOURNALIST: Do you believe it's a truly idyllic atmosphere? Is there a shift in Türkiye’s policy line? I heard Mr. Kalin saying yesterday that it's a strategic shift of Türkiye towards the West. Do you have that feeling?
N. DENDIAS: Let's look at the facts and see what we have ahead of us. Following my visit to Antakya, there was a wholehearted Turkish response, a recognition of the assistance we offered, and a complete change of several parameters towards Greece, such as its rhetoric, as well as violations, whether in the air or at sea, or overflights. Because I have to tell you that during all these months, not only has Türkiye not violated Greek airspace or Greek territorial waters, but also there has not been any flying activity in the Aegean.
JOURNALIST: If I may say so, that's proof, that when that occurs, it's somehow driven. Because when there were violations, we were told by the Turks: "No, for God's sake, we are not doing it as a government".
N. DENDIAS: Of course, of course, it goes without saying. Excuse me, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, I get a full report of violations, overflights, and everything else listed in detail every afternoon. Why? Because it serves as a barometer of our relations with the neighboring country. That’s the reality. It's exactly how you describe it. But...
JOURNALIST: So why have they frozen this activity?
N. DENDIAS: It's obvious, first of all, that there’s an order from above, literally from above. So, there’s a clear choice, which comes from the top and it is a gesture towards Greece. And Greece is not ignoring this gesture. It makes no pretense of not understanding it. On the contrary, it is responding. Why? Because this gesture constitutes precisely the precondition that Greece had set in order to be able to normalize relations with its neighbor and discuss their dispute.
JOURNALIST: And I suppose if the Turkish side ever backs down from its current position, that will be an additional argument for the Greek government. Will it not?
N. DENDIAS: Undoubtedly, undoubtedly.
JOURNALIST: But do you believe that Türkiye is giving up claims that it has on the grey zones? On the demilitarization of the islands?
N. DENDIAS: I have stated publicly that neither we nor Türkiye are naive. We are both aware. But I believe it is quite serious to create a climate which, after the elections, will allow us soberly, if you like, and in a friendly atmosphere, to see if we can resolve our dispute. And there’s also another acquis that has already been accomplished: as long as this climate is maintained, it allows both societies, the Greek and the Turkish, to express their sovereign will, without fear of a “hot incident”. Because if we had had this discussion before my visit to Antakya, you would have asked me, should you as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense remain in your position for fear of a hot episode? In other words, the “hot incident”, or the possibility of a “hot incident” is related in a way to the ability of the Greek people to express their sovereign will under secure conditions. This is off the table, at least for this moment, we are not discussing it.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Kalin stated yesterday that we should now start a direct dialogue between Greece and Türkiye without mediators. What do you think?
N. DENDIAS: On the eve of elections, you understand that starting a Greek-Turkish dialogue runs the risk of turning...
JOURNALIST: What about the day after the elections, if the current governments are re-elected?
N. DENDIAS: It's quite different; Greece is absolutely open to dialogue with Türkiye the day after the elections. Of course, let us not fool ourselves. As regards our sole dispute, this dialogue should be held under specific conditions, namely International Law, and the International Law of the Sea.
But for sure, Greece is ready to talk with Türkiye. We have always been saying this, we have not been hiding and we do not feel any syndrome of guilt, by the way.
JOURNALIST: I’d like to ask another question. These good intentions are expressed by the Erdoğan government. Do you believe that even if in Türkiye the baton is passed on, these intentions will also be expressed by the Kılıçdaroğlu administration if he wins the elections?
N. DENDIAS: I cannot tell.
JOURNALIST: Or does it only concern the Erdoğan administration?
N. DENDIAS: I cannot tell. What we see is the work of Türkiye’s current government. Aside from that, it remains to be seen what the Turkish opposition will do in case Turkish society votes for them.
JOURNALIST: Now what do you think the next steps in Greek-Turkish relations should be? I mean, should we relaunch dialogue at the level of the Secretaries-General of the two Foreign Ministries? Or what we've heard, initiate a discussion on trust-building measures?
N. DENDIAS: Allow me to tell you this. I have a crystal-clear picture of what needs to be done the day after the elections, which I will present to the Prime Minister the day after the elections.
JOURNALIST: Can’t we listen to it now, since we have you on the radio?
N. DENDIAS: Because of the very nature of this issue, I believe it should not be discussed in public. If these things are put in the public discourse, that will not contribute to the cause. Yet, without denigrating the enormous effort that has been made, I have something to say. When a given approach has not resulted in a successful outcome for decades, it is rather naive to believe that continuing to do exactly the same thing will change the outcome.
JOURNALIST: So, are you going to take a different initiative?
N. DENDIAS: We agreed that this is not a good thing to discuss in public.
JOURNALIST: As I see it, the Greek government’s initiatives are on hold due to the upcoming elections. Does this apply to all initiatives? Because you are not only dealing with Greek-Turkish relations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
N. DENDIAS: We have a specific role in the Balkans as well as a specific agenda that extends beyond the Balkans or the Eastern Mediterranean. To the extent that no harm is done to Greek national interests or anything else that Greece serves, it's best not to do so during a purely electoral or quasi-electoral period like the one we are currently in.
However, there’s the initiative that we have undertaken on Syria, under which countries’ representatives Mr. Pedersen, the UN Special Representative will come to Athens. This is the first time that Greece is actively involved in issues regarding Syria. Of course, we will take this initiative. I will be there as well, we will take a stand, and we will try to facilitate the process.
Or regarding the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, if something is required, we are, of course, ready to contribute. The world does not stop because of our elections.
April 6, 2023