Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis’ statements following his meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt Sameh Shoukry (Athens, 20.05.2024)

Before I begin, I would like to express my condolences to the Government of Iran and the Iranian people on the loss of their President and Foreign Minister. My sincere condolences on behalf of Greece and the Greek government.

It is with great pleasure and honour that I welcome to Athens my dear friend, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry.

A genuine ally of Greece with whom we have built sincere relations of cooperation and trust, and whose experience and wisdom are valuable both for our bilateral relations and the geopolitical stability of our long-suffering region.

I have to warmly thank the Honorable Minister for his great efforts for regional and global peace and prosperity.

Apparently, we are united, with Egypt by geography. We are united by the Mediterranean Sea, the most important crossroads of communication and interaction between peoples, but also by our ancient history, and civilizations, for which we have a mutual admiration.

Dear Sameh,

Greece considers Egypt a cornerstone of security in the Eastern Mediterranean and a leading power in the Arab world.

The current situation and the unspeakable tragedy unfolding in Gaza must come to an end.

Allow me to thank, in addition to you, the entire Egyptian leadership for the active mediation role you have undertaken in the region.

Greece will continue to do its utmost and offer its good services to achieve an immediate and sustainable ceasefire.

To this end, our collective efforts should be intensified in order to bring the hostilities to an end, release the hostages, and ensure the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid to those in need.

We should always be clear: further expansion of hostilities in Rafah will have dramatic consequences and must be avoided at all costs.

A sustainable peace cannot be achieved without a resolution of the underlying political issue, that is a two-state solution on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions with the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, within the pre-1967 borders, ensuring Israel’s security as well.

However, our concern does not end there. The crisis's spillover to the Red Sea and the wider Middle East directly threatens the economy and global trade, but above all, it creates new hotspots of humanitarian crises. Any direct or indirect coercion of mass population movements constitutes collective punishment that is not acceptable under International Law.

Furthermore, the situations existing around Egypt, particularly the deteriorating one in Sudan, also create greater regional instability and uncertainty.

Greece, considering Egypt a major pillar of stability in a volatile environment, attempts to support its friendly neighbour in every way, both at multilateral and bilateral levels, but also, of course, within the European Union.

In this context, we actively promoted the signing of the EU-Egypt Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership, which we consider absolutely crucial for both Europe and Egypt.

In these adverse times, the strategic relationship between Athens and Cairo is not only necessary but also exemplary. The 2020 Agreement on the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone between Greece and Egypt, is an example of good neighbourly relations and correct implementation of the International Law of the Sea.    

Additionally, an important chapter of our relations is our trilateral cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus in various sectors, including energy, tourism, environmental protection, and entrepreneurship.

Dear Sameh,

We are particularly pleased with the Joint Declaration to establish the High Council of Cooperation, signed by the Egyptian President and the Greek Prime Minister in Cairo last March.

In this regard, we wish to convene its 1st Session in Athens promptly.

Here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we are working systematically and in cooperation with the relevant ministries to prepare for it.

In this context, I would like to emphasise the significance of "GREGY", one of the most emblematic electrical interconnection projects, transferring "green" energy from Egypt to mainland Greece via a submarine cable.

We are delighted that, at a Greek initiative, this project has been included in the EU's List of Projects of Mutual Interest.

We also discussed the migration issue with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, which is of common concern.

On the one hand, we examined ways to address and limit illegal migration.

On the other hand, we assessed the situation regarding legal migration routes since, as you are aware, agreements are already in place for the recruitment of Egyptian workers in the fishing, construction, and agricultural sectors. This project will be extremely significant for your country and the constantly growing Greek economy.

Honorable Minister,

our historical ties in the fields of education and culture, cultivated for decades by the historic Greek community in Egypt, should be strengthened.

A few days ago, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou visited Alexandria, Egypt and inaugurated, with great emotion, the renovated House of one of the greatest Greek poets, Constantine Cavafy, who was born and lived in Egypt, in cosmopolitan Alexandria.

His poetry is just one example of the many that unite us.
Nearly 130 years ago, Cavafy wrote in his famous poem 'Walls':

With no consideration, no pity, no shame,
they have built walls around me, thick and high.
And now I sit here feeling hopeless.
I can’t think of anything else: this fate gnaws my mind –
because I had so much to do outside.
When they were building the walls, how could I not have noticed!
But I never heard the builders, not a sound.
Imperceptibly they have closed me off from the outside world.

[from C.P. CAVAFY: Collected Poems Revised Edition, translated by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard, edited by George Savidis]

Unfortunately, walls are constantly being built not only within ourselves but also between people, often without us even realizing it.

It is our duty to work towards bringing people closer together, for an inclusive, peaceful and humane world.

With these thoughts, I welcome once again the Foreign Minister of Egypt.

Dear Minister, dear Sameh, welcome to Athens.

JOURNALIST: Allow me a question in Arabic regarding Greece's position on resolving the crisis in Gaza.

G. GERAPETRITIS: Thank you for your question. From the outset, Greece has maintained a principled stance on the Middle East. We have consistently advocated for strict adherence to International Law, particularly Humanitarian Law. Immediate action is necessary for the release of hostages and the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid. Furthermore, discussions should commence regarding a political solution, recognizing two states within the framework of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Greece enjoys historical friendship with Arab countries and strategic relations with Israel, which allow us to converse with both sides and other international actors in the region.

Greece continues to offer its good offices for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the return of hostages, and increased humanitarian aid. We will continue to do so. We believe that the mediation efforts, initiated by Egypt and Minister Shoukry, should be reciprocated by both sides.

Continued negotiations are essential. Each day that passes exacerbates the existing humanitarian crisis in the region and increases the risk of extending hostilities, leading to new crises and thus affecting not only the people in the region but also the economy and migration. Greece will continue to stand by the people who are suffering and offer its good offices to all parties involved.

JOURNALIST: Considering the imbalance in the Eastern Mediterranean, do you believe that third actors, such as Türkiye, could affect Greek-Egyptian relations, given Ankara's recent efforts to re-approach Egypt and Turkish officials' repeated calls to Egypt for delimitation of maritime zones?

G. GERAPETRITIS: It is our fundamental policy, if I may say so, Minister, to maintain friendly and good-neighborly relations with all countries in the broader region.

Greece and Egypt share a common policy and diplomacy, aimed at peace and prosperity in the broader area and globally. In this regard, it goes without saying that we should engage with other states and always try to find ways to collaborate more effectively, above and beyond the disagreements that obviously exist.

Having said that, I would like to emphasize that our relationship with Egypt is deeply rooted in history and culture. Today, it stands at the peak of a genuine bilateral diplomatic relationship—a strategic alliance that is not defined by third parties. We will work even harder with the Minister, preparing for the first High Council, so that we maintain this positive course, strengthen our bilateral relations, and always share an excellent cooperative relationship at a strategic level.

JOURNALIST: Allow me a question for the Greek Minister. I would like your comment on yesterday's press release by the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding the Pontic genocide, which mentioned populism and far-right groups and called for the Greek government to take a position.

And a second question about whether the Greek government, on an issue that has to do with the crisis in relations with North Macedonia, does it intend in the coming period to take any initiative, perhaps by activating Article 19, in order to pressure the other side to comply?

G. GERAPETRITIS: Allow me a remark regarding what the honorable Foreign Minister has stated. Egypt is a country that has received a significant number of migrants, over 9 million. It is also a country that has suffered economically due to the Middle East crisis and broader conflagration in the region. The European Union should stand by its side and the Greek government will ensure that aid is substantial and constant. It is crucial for Egypt to remain a pillar of stability in a wider region that is under significant pressure. Regarding migration in particular, there is excellent cooperation with Egyptian authorities. In other words, we should establish legal migration channels to utilize Egypt's skilled human resources in the Greek economy. We are making systematic progress in this direction, and the relevant procedures will be completed soon.

Regarding Pontus, the position of the Greek government has been clearly expressed by both the President and the Prime Minister. Paying tribute to the hundreds of thousands of victims who suffered violent displacement or extermination is our duty to keep this dark chapter of our history alive.

Regarding North Macedonia, the position of the Greek government has been expressed. Both Greece and North Macedonia are obliged to respect International Law and the international commitments undertaken. Greece is rigorously monitoring the compliance with these agreements. The government of North Macedonia has not yet been sworn in; thus, we await further developments. There is currently no intention to activate any infringement procedure. We realize that these issues will be assessed by Greek diplomacy and the European Union in the context of North Macedonia's EU accession process.