Dendias: “As we get closer to the Turkish elections, the risk of a deliberately provocative move increases”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, will go tomorrow, Monday, October 17, to Luxembourg, where he will participate in the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) of the European Union, where he will inform his counterparts about the recent signing of the illegal, invalid and non-existent ” memorandum of cooperation’ between the government of national unity of Libya and Turkey.

The topics on the agenda are the Russian attack on Ukraine and relations between the EU and China.

Under the heading “Current Affairs”, the foreign ministers will exchange views on current international and regional developments, including developments in Ethiopia, Iran and Lebanon, as well as issues related to the 27th Conference of the United Nations Climate Convention ( COP27) which will take place in Egypt in November.

Message to Ankara: “In Turkey’s interest to have a friendly and reliable neighbor” – “As we get closer to the Turkish elections, the risk of an ‘accident’ increases”

Turkey, with its generally aggressive rhetoric and with the unimaginable expressions of its government officials against Greece, is undermining the creation of a climate that would allow constructive dialogue, based on International Law, the minister emphasizes in his interview on “Sunday’s Step” Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, while expressing the hope that this will change.

In particular, Nikos Dendias sends the message that it is also useful for Turkey to realize that it is in its interest to have a friendly and reliable neighbor that belongs to the same alliance, but also to the EU and that “it should also realize that as we claim not even an inch of its territory, we demand the same from it”.

In fact, he reiterates that the dispute is solvable within the framework of International Law and the International Law of the Sea.

As Nikos Dendias observes, the escalation of the rhetoric from the Turkish side has reached unprecedented levels and he proclaims that vigilance, vigilance, unity and composure are required and that in the face of the escalating threat, Greece is shielding itself.

He also estimates that “as we get closer to the Turkish elections, the tension will not decrease and the risk of an accident or possibly a deliberate provocative move increases.”

Referring to immigration, he speaks of its instrumentalization and of continuous efforts to tarnish the image of our country, through the continuous dissemination of false news.

In this context, the Minister of Foreign Affairs points out that in the diplomatic field he has undertaken to inform friends and allies, as well as to strengthen the network of relations we have created. “None of our contacts happen by accident. It is part of a wider strategy” he makes clear and notes that the understanding of our partners is confirmed and their public positions now echo the need to apply International Law, the European Acquis and common sense, citing as the most recent example the attitude of Germany and of Great Britain.

Continuing on the same wavelength, he expresses the assessment that this alignment with positions that Turkey does not embrace, as well as the upgrading of our country’s role in the wider region, in the last three years, causes irritation in the neighboring country.

Subsequently, Nikos Dendias refers to the conclusions of the European Council of March 2021, which refer to the taking of measures against Turkey in the event of a relapse, stressing that they continue to apply. “Both our country and the European institutions, such as the Commission, which every year publishes the progress report of the candidate states, we closely monitor the Turkish behavior” he additionally underlines.

When asked if the expansion of territorial waters south and east of Crete is an issue that is on the table, Nikos Dendias answers that it will be done when the government considers it to be in the national interest, pointing out that the expansion must be preceded by a technical preliminary work , such as drawing straight baselines and closing bays. Preliminary work which is nearing completion, informs the Minister of Foreign Affairs and notes, however, that this preliminary work is not in itself a harbinger of other developments. “We have emphasized that this preparatory work has started from Crete in order, whenever the government deems it appropriate”, to have the possibility of expanding the territorial waters, he clearly emphasizes.

Regarding Turkey’s relations with Russia, he considers it self-evident that if Turkish companies have transactions with Russian entities that have been sanctioned, this should be examined and the prescribed measures taken. In fact, he declares that Turkey cannot be a detour route for Russian exports and imports of products or services that are subject to sanctions.

Responding to the cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense, he described it as flawless and said that it is permanent at the level of ministers and other actors.

Regarding the new “memorandum” between Turkey and Libya, Nikos Dendias makes it clear that there was no “collusion” regarding its signing. “We knew that Turkey was trying at every opportunity to “activate” the illegal, invalid and non-existent “memorandum” of 2019. This possibility and the associated risk of further destabilization of Libya, as well as the wider region, we had urgently raised with the our interlocutors, from Egypt, France, Germany, the USA and others. And of course we had also raised this with our Libyan interlocutors” he says and recalls that within a few hours of the relevant announcement the “memorandum” was condemned by the Libyan Parliament and the majority of the High Council, but also the immediate resounding reaction from the EU, the US , Egypt, Cyprus, Germany, United Kingdom, France etc. “This could not be done if there was no preliminary work with allies and partners on the issue of Libya, and in fact over time,” he explains. In addition, he notes that the memorandum signed with the Turkish side contradicts the agreement of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, as the transitional government does not have the right to enter into agreements that bind the country internationally.

In this light, the Minister of Foreign Affairs makes special reference to Greece’s relations with Egypt, stressing that they are more than just strategies. “They are relations of vital importance for our country” as he explains and points out that it is no coincidence that in the three years he has been Minister of Foreign Affairs he has visited Cairo twelve times and that he meets his Egyptian counterpart at every opportunity. Referring to his recent visit to Cairo, he states that there was a complete coincidence of opinions regarding the developments in Libya and it was decided to continue coordination at all levels. It also states that both sides underlined the importance of the agreement on the delimitation of the EEZ between Greece and Egypt, as well as the joint commitment to its protection.

Finally, Nikos Dendias makes it known that he plans to move to Kyiv very soon, if the conditions there allow it. “It will be my third visit to Ukraine since the start of the war, as I have already visited Odessa twice. This visit marks our full adherence to the principle of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and all states in general. Greece defends International Law as a basic principle” emphasizes and highlights as a key concern of Greece the protection of the Greek community, a large part of which lives in areas under Russian occupation and therefore inaccessible, at least at the present time. “We hope, at the first possible opportunity, to be able to offer our help to the Greek expatriates, who are still on Ukrainian soil. And of course, we will continue to demand justice for any war crimes that were committed,” he emphasizes.

RES-EMP

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