Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ statement following his meeting in Lisbon with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal (13.01.2021)

«Thank you so much, senor Ministro. [A few words in Portuguese] I am sorry that’s as far as I can go in Portuguese.

I would like first of all to congratulate you and Portugal on assuming the Presidency of the European Union Council for the next 6 months. And it’s clear that you have a very challenging task ahead of you, but I am so confident that you will do an excellent job. And if I may say, Greece will fully support your efforts.

We were for many years, the two European Union members – Greece and Portugal – that were further apart geographically: one on the eastern edge, other on the western edge of Europe. But we are both southern countries, we joined in the 80s following a period of political instability for both of us, we are similar to the sense of size, we have many things in common.

My visit today comes just two days after Prime Minister Mitsotakis was here, who met his counterpart Prime Ministe Antonio Costa. The focus of our discussions with my dear friend Augusto today was on several issues. First of all, the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency, the developments in Eastern Mediterranean, migration, the European Union enlargement process.

I was briefed extensively by the Minister on the priorities of the Presidency. I underlined during our meeting that in this regard Greece fully supports the key issues that will be addressed in this context. Enhancing the transatlantic relations with the US, we would help in any way on this regard. Hosting a summit between EU and India, we remain absolutely convinced that we should enhance our relationship with this emerging world power, this big democracy. I am looking forward also to meeting with my Indian counterpart as soon as conditions will allow. We had a meeting in Athens which had to be canceled because of COVID. And of course, we look very much forward to the European Union-Africa Summit.  We seek to enhance the relations with the African continent. I have invested in this endeavor and I will continue to do so. And Portugal’s role, which has special ties with Africa, especially with the lusophone countries, can be of pivotal importance.

Regarding the Eastern Mediterranean, I had the opportunity to inform Minister Santos Silva on the latest developments. I underlined that despite the relative calm on the past few weeks the situation remains very volatile. I stressed that Greece is always ready and willing to engage in a constructive dialogue with Turkey, but of course on the basis of International Law, and in order to discuss that single issue that needs to be addressed, the delimitation of Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.

In the spirit of the above, following an invitation by the Turkish side, it has been agreed that we are going to have the next round of the exploratory talks in Istanbul on the 25th of January. In this context, let me underline that the December 2020 European Council conclusions called not just for a sustained de-escalation for the resumption of these exploratory talks, but also for a smooth continuation. So, we look forward to a constructive attitude from Turkey and to the abstention from any provocation from their side.

With my colleague we addressed migration thoroughly. I have to express my thanks as Greece for Portugal’s support in this endeavor. By accepting the relocation of refugees on its territory Portugal has given a great example, and also by contributing to the protection of the European Union’s external borders. Greece, as an European Union frontline state is calling for an equitable migration and asylum pact that will ensure a just and fair sharing of the burden among our family, the European Union member states.

Last but not least, I discussed with my Portuguese counterpart the issue of the European Union enlargement process. The countries of the Western Balkans are looking towards Europe and they are undertaking reforms in order to be able to join our European family. Greece’s position is that we should keep the door open and encourage them, as much as we can, in this path. Failure to do so will not only endanger the reforms, but will endanger the European experiment in its totality.

My dear colleague, muito obrigado, thank you so much for hosting me today.»

Replies to journalists' questions


Question: A question to both Ministers. Did you discuss the next step about the EU – Turkish relations in view of the next EU Summit in March and if you see any role for the Portuguese Presidency in order to ease the tension in Eastern Mediterranean?

N. Dendias:  Thank you dear Augusto. You said it all. The only thing I would like to add is that Greece has always been a very strong advocate of the close relations between European Union and Turkey. But, as you have rightly said, under one condition:  that Turkey abides by the international law. And I have to say this is an obvious condition. International law is part of the European acquis and the European Union cannot change its nature and cannot “sell its soul”. So, it’s in Turkey’ s hands. If Turkey abides by international, law it will find a ready hand from Greece to help towards coming closer to the European Union and even helping the prospect of European Union membership in some distant future. Turkey has to abide by the international law. That’ s that.

Question: Mr Minister, yesterday the Greek Parliament approved a draft bill about extending the nautical miles in the Ionian Sea from 6 to 12 miles. It was suggested that this measure can be applied in the Aegean Sea. In this context, how does Greece see the perspective for concessions/negotiations with Turkey, what is Turkey’s position regarding this issue?
And a second question regarding relations between Greece and NATO. During these recent tensions in Eastern Mediterranean, the Greek government suggested there was some support in the approach of NATO regarding Greece and Turkey, in favour of Turkey. And how do you see that situation. Thank you very much.

Dendias: Thank you for your questions. First of all, what you said is exactly accurate. I was in the Greek Parliament yesterday, introducing a statute, a law [with] which Greece expands its territorial waters in the Ionian Sea from 6 miles to 12 miles. And also, I said clearly to the Greek Parliament, but for everyone to hear, that Greece has the sovereign right to extend its territorial waters according to UNCLOS, that is extending its territorial waters from 6 miles to 12 miles everywhere, in the south of Greece, or in the Aegean. That is our sovereign right. And that is not negotiable. You don’t have to negotiate according to UNCLOS with another country, in order to expand your territorial waters. We expanded our territorial waters to the Ionian Sea, without negotiating with our good friends the Italians or without negotiating with our friends the Albanians, who by the way, they have expanded before, without negotiating with us. Such was their right. So, we are not going to negotiate on this with Turkey. And if you give me the opportunity to say how unacceptable it is that Turkey has issued a threat of war against us, if we exercise a sovereign right provided by international law. What they call a casus belli in Latin. My colleague, who is a professor, is very much familiar with the phrase. It is unacceptable in the 21st century for one country to issue a threat of war against another country, if the other country exercises a right under international law.

On NATO. What we have said is NATO is an alliance, maybe the most successful alliance in the history of humanity, and a very useful alliance, if I may say so. But it is at difficulty when it is addressing differences between member states. And it is keeping sometimes equal distances. But if one is at fault and the other one is right and the Organization keeps equal distances, then it does a disfavour to the one who’s right. Thank you.

Question (inaudible) on the issue of closing the borders due to Covid and whether more strict measures should be adopted.

N. Dendias: Well, I don’t have much to say. For us is not that easy, because we border with a number of countries that are not EU members. But we have always acted in coordination with the EU authorities, having into our mind the health of our citizens, but also the health of the citizens of all the countries around us in the difficult equation to try to save as much of the economy as possible. Let’s hope that the vaccination of the population will get us the quickest out of this very very difficult situation for the economy and the societies»