“It is a great pleasure today to welcome the French Minister of State for European Affairs, Clement Beaune.
The French Minister is on a working visit to Athens, on his way from Cyprus. He already had the opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister and exchange views, to brief him on the latest developments, and we, too, had the opportunity – and we will continue our discussion at dinner – to exchange views.
In any case, what I think is now already clear is that Greece and France have earned the title of strategic partners and strategic allies. And beyond the ties that bind us within the European Union, it is very important that we share the same concerns about the wider region, the region of Southeast Europe, the region of the Eastern Mediterranean, and also about a number of other issues concerning international developments.
We are facing a critical decision in Europe. And this critical decision has to do with the way Europe sees itself. Whether, in the end, Europe decides to show that, within the peaceful means at its disposal, it has a deterrent force and the power to raise a protective shield against outside provocations, such as Turkey’s aggressiveness and provocations, which are directed at Greece and Cyprus.
President Macron and the French government as a whole have become important supporters of the Greek effort to create a wider alliance within and beyond Europe to respond to Turkey’s provocations and aggression.
And against the policy of using force as a means to achieve strategic goals, we advocate for the force of diplomacy, we advocate for the force of international law, we advocate for the force of close and good relations.
In this spirit, along with my dear Clement, we are launching a partnership that I believe will stand the test of time, and I want to thank him for this once again. And through him I want to thank the French Republic for its tireless efforts to support Greece efforts, so that next week, at the European Council meeting, there can be a clear message of support, not just for Greece’s positions, but support Europe’s ideals.
Which means that international relations are handled through the medium of international law, disputes are resolved through constructive dialogue in which there is no room for blackmail or conduct reminiscent of previous centuries.
Dear Clement, it is a great pleasure to be here with you this evening. I would like to thank you for France’s support for Greece’s positions.
And now, I give you the floor.”
September 18, 2020