“Respect for international law and the practical disposition for cooperation and dialogue remains our compass in relations with Turkey”, underlined the Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis, during the discussion of the programmatic statements in the Parliament.

“It is important to build on the relative settlement of the last period and I intend to work in the direction of a beneficial, for the country, approach. We look forward to good neighborly relations with Turkey and aim to resume talks as well as develop a positive agenda through Confidence Building Measures and strengthening economic cooperation,” the foreign minister said, adding that the prime minister is set to meet with Turko President, on the sidelines of the NATO Summit, in Vilnius next week while Mr Gerapetritis himself “will try to build a relationship of mutual respect, with his Turkish counterpart”.

“Our country seeks to resolve, on the basis of the international law of the sea, the only difference between the two countries, the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf, on the exact model of the agreements we have already made with Italy, Egypt and we hope soon with Albania as well. Continually deferring these issues to the future does not work to the advantage of either country. We will approach this dialogue with the confidence that our strengthened diplomatic position in the international environment gives us”, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Gerapetritis also emphasized that Greece will continue to support the Republic of Cyprus, with the aim of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, which will be based on the decisions of the United Nations. “Finding a just, sustainable and mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus issue remains a top national priority of our country’s foreign policy,” said the foreign minister and added that “an important goal is for Cyprus and the Cypriot people – Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots – to get rid of the Turkish army of occupation and the anachronistic system of guarantees and the rights of anyone to intervene in Cypriot affairs”.

In this climate, the Foreign Minister noted: “We are not going to accept fait accompli on the ground. The solution should be functional and give the reunited Republic of Cyprus the future it deserves.”

Relations with Turkey, the Aegean and the Cyprus issue dominated the interventions of the representatives of the opposition parties.

“Cyprus is a priority of the national foreign policy. Greece is not going to accept any two-state solution. Greece strongly supports and is its national position, a bi-zonal, bi-communal Cyprus State which will be absolutely based on the decisions of the United Nations Security Council. Absolutely no deviation from this,” said Giorgos Gerapetritis.

The foreign minister also answered the questions raised by the opposition parties about the “red lines” of the government. “Sovereignty today is at 6 nautical miles. Greece retains the inalienable, exclusive and unilateral right to extend its territorial waters to 12 miles, whenever it deems appropriate and necessary. Our foreign policy is clear and our “red” lines are clear. We are not going to discuss issues concerning the demilitarization of the islands. These issues go back to the sovereignty of the country and are outside of any discussion and negotiation. We do not discuss matters that belong to our sovereignty. I want to be absolutely clear,” the foreign minister said.

Regarding the discussion, for which, “in the context of an honest dialogue, on the basis of international law”, the government “hopes to open with Turkey”, Giorgos Gerapetritis underlined that “revisionist conditions are not going to be put on the table”. and “revisionism is intolerable by the Greek state and by Greek foreign policy”, “nor can they change, and it would not be legally possible, to change the conditions on which the current status quo is based, such as the Lausanne Convention and the Montreux Convention”.

As reference was also made to D. Thrace, Mr. Gerapetritis, from the preface, made it clear that it is not a question of foreign policy, it concerns the Greek internal legal order. With this in mind, the Minister of Foreign Affairs noted: “We do not recognize any foreign actor as having the right to speak on matters concerning Greek citizens.”

The foreign minister also responded to reports on relations with Egypt. “For us, the critical position of both Egypt and Israel is that our country is a strategic partner for both Egypt and Israel. Regardless of any meetings or the development of soft diplomatic relations that may occur, Greece remains a major, pivotal strategic player in relations with Egypt and Israel.”

Regarding the Treaty of Prespa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the KO of the ND had pointed out in time that there are serious flaws and faults which could highlight issues. “We are closely monitoring the execution of the contract and will do what our national interest dictates. Of course we all understand that it is not possible, in any way, by law, to modify an international treaty which has been passed by the Greek parliament, because it is a source of superior power, in relation to formal laws. “So at this moment, it is a legal fact and we will serve it, without stopping, at any time, the implementation of the Treaty of Prespa and to respond with fast and national reflexes”.

Mr. Gerapetritis also referred to Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ communication with the US Foreign Minister, Anthony Blinken. He said that it was based on the issues that will concern the upcoming NATO Summit and pointed out that Mr. Blinken himself confirmed, subsequently, with his statement, that Greece is a key stable strategic ally of the USA, which is of particular value to the security and prosperity in the region.