The president of ND Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a message of friendship to Turkey from Leros, saying that the two countries are not doomed to live in permanent tension. As he said: “I also want here from the Dodecanese, from the island of Leros, to send a message of friendship to Turkey again. We are not condemned, friends, to live in constant tension with Turkey. But in order to be able to resolve the one basic issue which constitutes our main difference with Turkey, which is none other than the delimitation of the EEZ and the continental shelf in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, we must agree that this issue can only be resolved by good neighborly relations and based on International Law.

No Greek Prime Minister and in no case am I personally willing to put on the discussion table issues that are outside the agenda of Greek-Turkish relations. Issues of demilitarization of the islands, issues of sovereignty, sovereign rights, are outside the context of the discussion with Turkey.

But friends, we are not delusional at the same time. We know very well that the foreign policy of countries does not change from one moment to another. Yes, we are pleased that we have seen a decrease in intensity in recent months in terms of violations and violations of our airspace, but we are under no illusions.

We extend a hand of friendship but at the same time we continue to strengthen our Armed Forces. We continue to protect our borders and continue to build powerful alliances that strengthen our homeland’s geopolitical footprint.”

At the same time, Mr. Mitsotakis said that the ND claims more than 50% of the Dodecanese, while he made extensive references to the refugee situation, as the island had received strong refugee flows, while he noted that many outstanding issues were resolved during the past four years, while he emphasized that in the last four years Greece has strengthened and defended its sovereignty and sovereign rights with confidence and efficiency.

In particular, Mr. Mitsotakis told Lero:

Good day, Mr. Regional Governor, Mr. President, friends, it is with great pleasure that I am today in Leros, in the Dodecanese, primarily because I wanted to say a big thank you from the bottom of my heart.

A thank you for your support to New Democracy, to me personally, a thank you because here in Leros we succeeded and exceeded 50%, a percentage unprecedented for New Democracy. We touched 50% in all the Dodecanese and my goal is to write “5” in front of our percentage in the elections of June 25.

I must tell you that for me this electoral success of ours was a reward for a great effort, which we started in July 2019, in the midst of extremely adverse conditions. We succeeded and kept our homeland safe, we succeeded and put our economy on a growth trajectory.

Moreover, here, in the Dodecanese, in the South Aegean, it is something you see and find out. The economy is doing better, you are the only Region of the country that has a significant increase in population, and this says something about your prospects and about the next day, which I think we all have the right to look forward to, now, with much greater optimism.

You know that we have bent over these four years on the problems of our islands. We resolved many outstanding issues, always in excellent cooperation with the Region. I did not say that we have solved all the problems, but I believe that the situation as a whole in our islands is much better than it was in 2019. This was rewarded by the citizens at the ballot box on 21 May.

And of course, apart from the great progress we have made on the economic front, we have been called upon to manage many major crises, starting with the coronavirus, then an unprecedented energy crisis, with the war in Ukraine, but of course we have also been called upon to manage a very aggressive neighbor. .

I believe that in the last four years Greece has strengthened and defended its sovereignty and sovereign rights with confidence and efficiency.

And of course, because I also remember well the situation that prevailed on the islands on the refugee front – not only in the North Aegean, but also here in your islands -, you remember that when I came to talk to you in 2019 in Rhodes, I had you say “I promise we will deal with the refugee problem at its root” and we solved the problem.

We solved the refugee problem, we reduced immigration flows to a minimum, we created modern structures on our islands. We managed and fought – and it was not at all easy – to keep the VAT low on the five islands where there were and are refugee reception structures.

I want to convey to you how important it is that this policy, a policy of national confidence, can continue the day after the election. What the country needs more than anything today is a stable government. And in order to have this stable government, the New Democracy must have a secure majority in the Parliament in the next elections. And he will have it. He would already have it, mind you, if the simple proportional electoral system did not apply in the previous elections. We would already have a strong majority today, we would have a stable government. That’s okay, we’ll need a “second round”.

We will have the strong government after the June 25 ballot. Because we need a strong government to be able to continue the foreign policy we have pursued in recent years towards Turkey.

Here, too, from the Dodecanese, from the island of Leros, I want to once again send a message of friendship to Turkey. We are not condemned, friends, to live in constant tension with Turkey. But in order to be able to resolve the one basic issue which constitutes our main difference with Turkey, which is none other than the delimitation of the EEZ and the continental shelf in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, we must agree that this issue can only be resolved by good neighborly relations and based on International Law.

No Greek Prime Minister and in no case am I personally willing to put on the discussion table issues that are outside the agenda of Greek-Turkish relations. Issues of demilitarization of the islands, issues of sovereignty, sovereign rights, are outside the context of the discussion with Turkey.

But friends, we are not delusional at the same time. We know very well that the foreign policy of countries does not change from one moment to another. Yes, we are pleased that we have seen a decrease in intensity in recent months in terms of violations and violations of our airspace, but we are under no illusions.

We extend a hand of friendship but at the same time we continue to strengthen our Armed Forces. We continue to protect our borders and continue to build powerful alliances that strengthen our homeland’s geopolitical footprint.

For all these and many more we will be invited to vote again at the ballot box on June 25. I also want here from Leros, from the Dodecanese, to ask you to come to this ballot box with the same enthusiasm. With the flags of our faction high, with the flag of our country high, because our color is blue, which is also the blue of our flag, the blue of the Aegean, the blue of the sky.

To achieve the goal of writing “5” in front of our percentage in the Dodecanese, to elect a fourth member of parliament. And we will achieve it.

And then, have no doubt that just as we bent four years over the problems of the islands, we will continue to take care of you. I always say that it is our duty to stand close to our fellow citizens who are in the most critical corners of our country, those who guard our borders.

To provide you with the possibility of prevention, good health. You know the steps that have already been taken here in the hospital and I also know the shortcomings that exist. We will make sure to resolve these issues as well, but above all to give the young guys the opportunity to know that they can stay in their place, work here and make a difference.

This is the big bet for our country. This is a national bet for our islands and know that the best is yet to come.

We have gone through great difficulties, we have already ridden the wave. We are now in calmer waters and can look to the future with greater optimism.

That’s why I want to ask you again for your support, your love, your trust in New Democracy. Know that just like in 2019, we will not disappoint your expectations. We will do better, our islands will do better, the Dodecanese will do better, Leros will do much better.

Thank you very much for your presence, for your applause, for your love and thank you for the impressive percentages you gave us at the ballot box on May 21st.

Let’s redo them, let’s finish the job. Be well, thank you very much.

Earlier, Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Lakki, where he talked to residents and shopkeepers in the local market.