Dendias for Turkey: “We oppose the threat of war with the International Law of the Sea”

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“Issues that touch our national sovereignty are not amenable to discussion or questioning”

A clear and strict message to Ankara that “threats do not deter us” and that “to the threat of war we oppose the documented citation of our arguments, which are based on International Law and the International Law of the Sea”, he sends with his interview to the Parapolitika newspaper, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias. It also declares in the most categorical way that issues related to our national sovereignty are not amenable to debate or dispute.

Depicting the picture of bilateral relations, he points out that in recent months, Greece has been faced with an escalating threat from Turkey, characterizing as unacceptable and unthinkable the exercise of policy with the threat of the use of force, how much (or how much) rather when the threat is launched by a country to an ally. Faced with this situation, it shows that Greece has chosen to respond to this unprecedented verbal escalation of threats with calmness and determination, it does not become complacent and continues soberly to deconstruct Turkish views and claims, without getting involved in personal disputes and characterizations , always hoping that at some point the opposite side will make the “transcendence” required, so that the two countries come to an agreement based on International Law and the Law of the Sea.

At the same time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs makes it clear again that constructive dialogue with Turkey is always desirable, under one, however, inviolable condition: that it will be conducted on the basis of respect for International Law and the Law of the Sea for the only difference, the delimitation of the continental shelf and the EEZ in the Aegean and South-Eastern Mediterranean. However, he laments that for an unprecedentedly long time, Turkey has been undermining the climate that would be necessary as a condition to start a dialogue, making unacceptable claims, even questioning the sovereignty of our islands and proceeding to a crescendo of threats against our country, while, with unimaginable and often insulting expressions, he not only undermines any possible understanding, but at the same time, poisons the relations between the two peoples.

In this context, he states that at this stage, and in view of the pre-election period in Turkey, he is not optimistic that this situation can be reversed. However, he considers it important, “even under these conditions, or better because of these conditions, that we can at some level talk to each other to avoid unpleasant situations”. As for whether Turkey’s uptick in aggression is linked to Turkey’s upcoming elections, he acknowledges that timing plays a role, but says he’s not sure it’s solely for that reason.

In response to a question about the government’s plan to extend territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, the Secretary of State categorically states that it is a unilateral, inalienable, non-negotiable right of our country under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of the Sea (UNCLOS). “It is an inherent right and it is up to the respective government to decide when, where and how to exercise it, with the exclusive aim of defending the national interest” he clearly emphasizes.

Then, unfolding the framework of the internationalization campaign of the Turkish challenges, he emphasizes that it is coordinated, bears fruit and that it is a continuous effort “which we will continue even more intensively and targeted”. He adds that in recent times, most of the time, “the absolutely unacceptable statements of Turkish officials make our work self-evident, in the sense that they do not even need further comments.”

In particular, with regard to the attitude of Greece’s partners in the EU, he states that they fully understand the stakes and condemn the threatening rhetoric of Ankara, verbally, as well as in writing, with announcements in which it is commented in an absolutely negative way and categorically condemns its attitude neighbor overall.

Regarding NATO, he emphasizes that “at the level of member states, to a large extent, the same applies, but it is known that we would like the formulation of the Secretary General’s positions to be more clear and categorical”.

Referring to the USA, he points out that one cannot overlook the sanctions they have imposed on Turkey regarding the purchase and renewal of military equipment, nor the frequent interventions of the State Department representative, in questions about Turkish provocation towards Greece.

Asked when the co-promissory note will be signed with Albania for an appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague regarding the delimitation of the EEZ, Nikos Dendias replies that in the meeting he had a few days ago with his Albanian counterpart in Tirana, it was established that the common will to proceed the negotiations, within the framework of the political agreement that has existed in principle, for the referral of this dispute with the conclusion of a co-signatory in The Hague. “We believe that we are approaching the time when we will sign the relevant co-promissory note. In a spirit of cooperation with the Albanian Government, this issue can and will be resolved.”

Regarding Libya, the foreign minister makes it clear in all tones that our country’s position is clear and remains unmoved. “We are always ready for dialogue and cooperation with the government that will emerge in the country from the elections, so that the elected government in question represents the real will of the people of Libya,” he declared. Unfortunately, he observes that at this moment, Greece, the entire international community and much more the Libyan people themselves, are facing a transitional government scheme, which, contrary to its legal obligation and commitment, is hindering the immediate conduct of elections. “And most importantly for us, he is making illegal agreements with Turkey to the detriment of our country,” he adds.

Finally, regarding yesterday’s episode of orthostatic hypotension that he suffered during the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Monastery of Xenophon on Mount Athos, Nikos Dendias reports that it turned out to be nothing serious.

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