Speech by the former Prime Minister at the event marking the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Panhellenic Women’s Organization “PANATHINAIKI”
The keynote speaker at the first anniversary event to mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Panhellenic Women’s Organization “PANATHINAIKI” was the former Prime Minister Costas Karamanliswho referred to the national issues and the recent tensions caused by Turkey.
“With discounts on issues of national sovereignty, peace is not redeemed. The opposite. “Discounts like this only increase bulimia and intensify the hegemonic aspirations and expansion of the neighbors.”
And he continued:
“The view that there is mutual responsibility for the tension in Greek-Turkish relations, that the Greek stance is rooted in maximalism, that we must show greater flexibility and compromise, that we can not refuse to expand the agenda of issues to be resolved that it loads Turkey is always wrong. Wrong because he misreads Turkey. Because it is based on wrong data and leads to illusions. Mainly in the illusion that it is enough to show some obedience and everything will be settled for the benefit of all. I do not question the sincerity of intentions and the patriotism of anyone. I respect everyone’s perceptions. However, I would like to emphasize that the adoption of such behavior would lead to serious, perhaps fatal, damage to national interests and would further discourage the other side.
From time to time, as recently as possible, there is talk of co-operation. According to the narrative, the joint benefit of the mineral wealth deposits in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean would be a strong incentive to overcome disagreements and lead to a mutually beneficial settlement. But it overlooks this narrative, two essential factors. Firstly, that co-exploitation is not conceivable unless what is belonging to each party has been clearly delimited beforehand in accordance with international law. And secondly because it is based on the assumption that the exploitation of any existing mineral wealth is the main motive for Turkey’s behavior. On the contrary, its overall behavior, its rhetoric and its constant escalation of challenges, its questioning of international law and international treaties, the very ideology of the “Blue Homeland” show that its real aim is to overthrow it in its favor. status quo in the region and the imposition of its hegemonic status “.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, the former prime minister stressed that “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is illegal, unacceptable and condemnable.” He predicts that “it is possible that the war will extend beyond Ukrainian territory. Either in the wider neighborhood or elsewhere. Intentionally or by mistake, by miscalculation or provocations “.
At the same time, he warns that “a protracted conflict runs the risk of the West-Russia confrontation taking on a global dimension, evolving into a confrontation between the West and a broad anti-Western front.”
