It is always a great pleasure to meet with my dear friend, the EU’s High Representative, Josep Borrell.
This time, to visit Kastanies, Greece’s and the European Union’s land border with Turkey.
Here is the place where less than 4 months ago, Greeks, Europeans and the international community, witnessed the unthinkable: the exploitation, on the part of Turkey, of the hopes of tens of thousands of civilians for a better life;
Τhe exploitation of people who were actively directed to this very crossing, misled through a disinformation campaign orchestrated by Turkish officials at the highest level, alleging that these borders were open and that more than a hundred thousand had crossed into Greece and the EU.
This deplorable attempt to blackmail the EU into concessions, failed.
Here in Evros, the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis joined by the Presidents of the EU Council, Parliament and Commission, along with Croatia’s Prime Minister, declared on the 3rd of March the EU’s determination to effectively protect its external borders, in accordance with EU and international law.
In the days that followed, FRONTEX forces deployed in this region and remain here until today.
The EU rejected Turkey’s violation of the March 2016 EU-Turkey Statement and condemned in the strongest terms the instrumentalization of innocent civilians.
Today, following a brief respite due to the pandemic, Turkey has once again declared that its land borders to Europe are open.
At the same time, its coastguard escorts boats laden with migrants to the Greek islands.
But it also persists in undermining security and stability, as well as peace, in the Eastern Mediterranean.
It has caused problems to all its neighbours.
It has been continuously violating the sovereignty of Libya, Syria, Iraq and our EU partner, the Republic of Cyprus.
It is violating almost daily Greece’s national airspace and territorial waters, including overflights of inhabited areas here in Evros and the Aegean Sea by armed warplanes.
In Cyprus, for the sixth time in a year, it is illegally drilling in its EEZ.
In Libya, again in clear contempt for international legality, it violates the UN embargo in pursuit of its neo-ottoman aspirations.
Capitalizing on an illegal memorandum signed with the Tripoli administration, it aims to deprive Europe of its maritime zones, by usurping areas well within the Greek continental shelf. At 6 n.m. distance from islands like Crete and Rhodes.
It blatantly disregards Europe’s repeated calls for respect of international legitimacy.
Greece has tangibly demonstrated its willingness and ability to solve long standing differences with its neighbours, based on international law, the law of the sea and the principles of good neighbourly relations.
These conditions are sine qua non for every EU member, as well as for those who aspire to EU membership.
We are always open to dialogue, but we are not prepared to discuss under duress or help legitimize Turkey’s persistent violations of legality.
Dialogue between neighbouring countries with opposite coasts for the delimitation of their EEZs and continental shelves is the way forward, according to international law of the sea.
Greece has repeatedly stressed, at the highest level, its willingness to discuss this issue in good faith with Turkey and remains ready to do so.
But, strictly in the framework of international law and international law of the sea.
But, this can only be considered if Ankara heeds the international community’s and the EU’s calls to de-escalate tension, abstain from unilateral acts and return to legality.
Disguising the 19th and 20th centuries gunboats as drilling ships of today, painted in red and white colours, fools no one in the international community.
President Emmanuel Macron’s recent remarks on Turkey were as astute and timely as any.
Ankara needs to follow the European example and abstain from its illegal gunboat diplomacy, as most recently manifested when turkish frigates did not hesitate to target a French navy vessel participating in a NATO mission in the Mediterranean.
Dear Josep, please allow me to thank you again for your presence. It is highly appreciated
June 24, 2020