The director of the Prime Minister’s Press Office commented on the latest developments in the Middle East and Greek-Turkish relations, Dimitris Tsiodrasin his appearance on the show “Morning Greece” of ANT1 and to journalists Giorgos Papadakis and Maria Anastasopoulou.

Speaking about Greece’s stance on the Middle East issue, Mr. Tsiodras said that “what Mr. Mitsotakis – and yesterday in Israel, but also in Egypt, at the conference called by President Sisi – is that Israel has the right to self-defense. He cannot continue to live with Hamas by his side. That is, he must take some actions in order to dislocate it. From there on, with which intervention, a humanitarian crisis should be avoided”.

He also emphasized that, as the prime minister said at the conference in Cairo, “Hamas is not the Palestinian people. The Palestinian Authority has taken a very measured stance from the beginning. And the solution, ultimately, after any military intervention, should be political. It cannot be done otherwise.”

“We have a strategic relationship with Israel, but you know very well that we have developed very good relations with the Arab world as well. And traditionally we have, but also during the Mitsotakis government. With Egypt we have excellent relations, with the United Arab Emirates we have excellent relations, with Saudi Arabia as well”, pointed out Mr. Tsiodras.

In a question about the Greek-Turkish relations and if the positive climate that has been cultivated in recent months is affected by the developments in the Middle East, Mr. Tsiodras emphasized that “for now, no, it does not seem that this course is being reversed. And the telephone conversation that the Prime Minister had with President Erdogan was in a good mood.”

He added that “there is a climate of instability in the region fueled by what we are seeing lately between Israel and Hamas. An additional point of instability I think would be at the expense of everyone and I think this is being perceived. Therefore, we see that the contacts continue as normal and the Supreme Cooperation Council is scheduled to take place in Thessaloniki, at the beginning of December. And yesterday, the Minister of Immigration, Mr. Kairidis, was in Ankara, who had very positive talks.”