“We have discussed the issue of pandemics many times at European Council level. We are indeed facing a fourth wave. It is primarily about the unvaccinated. the vaccine “.
This was the message of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his joint statements with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
“We do not allow entry to any enclosed space without a certificate of illness or vaccination and we have tightened the measures for outsiders as well.
“I believe that Europe will move fast in the markets for new medicines,” he added.
We were concerned about the pandemic, the outbreak is besieging the whole of Europe. We have about the same cases per capita. The same measures apply everywhere. The fourfold choice is not to close the economies again, to do many tests and to keep our distance, to strengthen the health systems and the general vaccination and the third installment is the solution, said the prime minister.
Referring specifically to Mr. Route, Mr. Mitsotakis stressed, at the end of their meeting that he is one of the longest-lived leaders in Europe.
“His experience and clear vision are helping the discussions on both the bilateral and the Community agenda,” he said.
The defense of our sovereign rights is a matter of principle for Greece
Protecting European and national borders and rescuing persecuted people on the other. The common opponent is the miserable traffickers, said the Prime Minister, emphasizing that what happened in Evros a year and a half ago, is unfortunately repeated today in Belarus. And Europe now realizes that this instrumentalization of refugees by authoritarian regimes can affect it.
We also discussed the new EU asylum pact. It must distribute the burden of the flows fairly and be decisive towards third countries.
We discussed developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the constant slippage of Turkey, often in aggressive rhetoric. For Greece, it is a matter of principle to pursue an honest dialogue with each of its neighbors.
A matter of principle for Greece is the defense of our sovereign rights. We remain calm in the challenges, armed with the force of international law and our decisive defense readiness.
The dual approach in the European Council is right. In the end, our neighbors should choose for themselves if they can and want to walk the path of Europe, the Prime Minister underlined.
Common lines
The line is common on issues concerning Libya. To hold the elections, to observe the ceasefire, to respect the resolutions of the Security Council and to withdraw all the mercenaries, Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlined in the joint press conference with Mark Rutte.
We will have the opportunity to discuss them at the summit on Libya on Friday in Paris.
Later in the dinner we will discuss other issues of our rich bilateral agenda. The Netherlands is one of the largest investors in our country.
Our common agenda in tackling climate change. Greece is a protagonist in green policies.
You will remember, friend Mark, the constant calls for reforms in my country. The difference is that now Greece is making cuts and implementing them itself. Greece of 2021 has nothing to do with Greece of 2015 when it came very close to its expulsion from the eurozone, the prime minister said.
Friend Mark is right when he describes the situation in Libya as relatively complicated. I consider it a mistake that we have not participated in previous meetings. Greece will take part in an international conference for the first time, the prime minister added.
“We have opened embassies and consulates in Tripoli and Vegas. We want Libya to be able to face its future on its own without interference from third parties, without the presence of foreign troops and mercenaries, without concluding completely illegal agreements. I am referring to the Turkish-Libyan memorandum which is illegal without any legal value “.
Immigrant
“I know that in your country you can ask questions directly. “I do not allow you to insult me in this building,” he said in response to a question from a Dutch journalist about immigration.
“I do not want you to accuse me of expressions and accusations that are not supported by evidence regarding the refugee. We have saved thousands, 200 people were in danger of drowning in the south of Crete and we save lives every day. At the same time, we are blocking the flows from Turkey and we are calling on their Coast Guard to return them. “Therefore, instead of blaming Greece, you should blame those who exploit people,” he said in a joint news conference with Mark Rutte.
“We have a very tough but very fair immigration policy. 50,000 people have come to Greece of which 10,000 were Afghans who have been granted asylum. Have you ever been to Samos? You have not gone. You will not come to this building to insult me. If you go to Samos you will find a very good structure with hygienic conditions, playgrounds and it has nothing to do with what we had in the past. “I do not allow anyone to point the finger at this government and accuse me,” said the prime minister.
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