Statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, to Greek reporters, following his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (New York, 4 September 2020)

N. DENDIAS: First of all, meeting with the Secretary-General of the United Nations is always a very pleasant event in itself. He is an old friend of our country with a great deal of experience with the region’s issues.

He gave me the opportunity to explain what is happening in the Eastern Mediterranean, how Turkey’s violations of international legality are creating problems for stability and peace in the region, and we also talked about the Greek-Egyptian agreement,a copy of which I handed to him as a matter of protocol.

I delivered to him a letter from the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with the Prime Minister’s request that he convey it to the Security Council, and we also had the opportunity to exchange some views on the future of the Cyprus issue. How things might evolve after the “elections” in the occupied part.

REPORTER: Minister, is Athens displeased with the document Mr. Stoltenberg submitted to Greece and Turkey?

N. DENDIAS: We haven’t studied the document, and consequently I cannot say whether we are pleased or displeased. But what I want to reiterate is what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its announcements yesterday: that Greece is not negotiating with Turkey. Greece has clearly stated that there can be negotiations with Turkey as soon as the Turkish vessels withdraw from the Greek continental shelf. But not as long as the Turkish vessels remain there.

REPORTER: Is Greece considering appealing to the Security Council regarding Turkey’s threats, which are directed against peace and stability in the region?

N. DENDIAS: All members of the United Nations, including Greece, have the right to appeal to the Security Council. But the timing and the conditions under which this option is used is always a matter that is decided taking into account the realities of any given time.

Thank you very much.