Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias participated in the 16th Economist Cyprus Summit, held online today, as the keynote speaker in the ‘Energy diplomacy in turbulent times’ panel.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted the importance of energy as a key factor for development and regional stability, stressing that Greece is systematically pursuing cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region, as demonstrated by the trilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms promoted by our country, such as those with Egypt, Israel, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and other countries.
He noted that, in this context, the EastMed Gas Forum, a recently founded international organisation, has earned a positive response from other major international actors, including the United States.
He stressed that the bilateral agreements on the delimitation of maritime zones that Greece recently signed with Italy and Egypt, the agreement with Albania to refer the issue to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, as well as similar delimitation agreements signed by the Republic of Cyprus with Egypt, Lebanon and Israel, are part of this endeavour.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs underlined that partnership initiatives in the region are open to all interested countries, as long as they respect International Law and the principles of the UN Charter – not just in word but also in deed.
Unfortunately, he added, Turkey appears to see energy as a pretext for promoting its expansionist aspirations in the region, jeopardising regional peace and stability without hesitation, ignoring the resolutions of the United Nations regarding the Cyprus question, repeatedly engaging in provocative and illegal actions against Greece, involving its military in the ongoing crises in Syria, Libya and elsewhere, and voicing aggressive rhetoric or instrumentalising migration and religion.
Focusing on Cyprus, in particular, the Minister of Foreign Affairs further stressed that Turkey is treating energy findings in the Cypriot EEZ not as an opportunity for discussion and a peaceful settlement of the Cyprus question, but as an opportunity to blackmail the government of the Republic of Cyprus, ostensibly invoking the rights of Turkish Cypriots, who are also victims of Turkey's expansionist agenda. And one cannot focus on the energy sector while disregarding the key issue: Turkey's refusal to recognise the Republic of Cyprus, a member state of the United Nations and of the European Union.
In closing, the Minister reiterated the potential of energy for progress, development and stability when the road of diplomacy, cooperation and international law is chosen, as opposed to the prospect of increased inequality and endangerment of peace due to the unilateral pursuit of faits accomplis and gunboat diplomacy.
To read the full text of the speech in Greek click here, in English click here.
November 24, 2020