N. DENDIAS: We had a long and interesting conversation with Field Marshal Haftar. As you would expect, it concerned the situation in Libya, the Berlin process and the ‘day after’ in Libya and in the region. We encouraged the Field Marshall to participate constructively in the Berlin process and to try to achieve a ceasefire and restoration of security in Libya, the removal of mercenaries, and recognition that the illegal memoranda between Turkey and the Sarraj government are null and void.
And I must say I was very pleased that Field Marshal Haftar agreed with all of these observations we made. You will see this expressed clearly in his statements as well. I also said that Greece is prepared to assist Libya following a peace agreement, whether through participating in the forces needed to support a truce (n. the international mechanism to monitor a ceasefire) or through the participation of Greek forces in a European operation imposing the embargo on arms and transport of mercenaries to Libya. These actions will help create a better reality in Libya and are a contribution to the future of the Libyan people and Libyan society.
We want Libya to be a modern country, a modern democratic country whose residents are allowed to express their will and be part of the overall stability and security architecture in the region. As you know, Greece is not participating in the Berlin Process, a process that began in 2015. Greece has not participated all these years. But we think, we continue to think, that the current conditions would have lead the host country, Germany, to consider our participation as a positive development. In any event, since we won't be there, we expect Germany, the host country, to serve as the repository of the European position on Libya issues. Ladies and gentlemen, Europe has a clear position. It was expressed at the recent European Council meeting. Our common European position recognizes that the memoranda signed by the Sarraj government and Turkey are null and void. So, as Europeans, we expect Germany to impose and express the European position at the Berlin Process meeting. We expect the same of the other EU member states participating in this process. Thank you very much for being here today.
JOURNALIST: Based on your conversation with Mr. Haftar, what do you think are the prospects for success?
N. DENDIAS: There is no point in my making statements and expressing Field Marshal Haftar’s opinion. These opinions can be expressed by him or [...]
REPORTER: But if what you said about the memoranda, being null and void, is not taken into account, might there be a veto of the European [...]
N. DENDIAS: We want to participate constructively towards the success of the Berlin process. We assist UN processes. I already met, last week in Brussels, with Mr. Salame, the Special Representative. We are doing everything we can to help this process. But at the same time, in this process, we are trying to help not just in our capacity as Greece, but also as a European country. The framework of the participation of all the European countries in this process has been determined by a decision from the European Council. The same European Council decision, our common European position, states that the two Memoranda are null and void. So, every EU country, not just Greece, has the self-evident obligation to support this common position, the position we all adopted unanimously in the Council. So, I don’t want to see things negatively in the form of a veto. I see this as an effort based on our common European position. Of course, if the common European position is not respected, then every European country has the self-evident obligation to defend this position, and I think Greece -Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis took a very clear stance on this yesterday- will defend our common European position. Thank you very much!
January 17, 2020