“What the government wants is the definition of an EEZ and a continental shelf based on International Law, we are not there now, we are trying to create the conditions to reach this point”, pointed out the Government Spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, in response to a question from APE- MEB, during the briefing of the political editors that took place today in Thessaloniki.

“The next steps are being determined, there will be a meeting in the spring between Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Erdogan, the exact time will be determined, what needs to be done will be done on a bilateral level, between the foreign ministers, and the rest that must be be done based on the positive agenda, as defined”, said Mr. Marinakis,

He categorically stated that “there is no possibility of any discount in the implementation of the country’s equipment programas this has been announced by the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defense, this is not subject to negotiation” and he noted that if and when there are challenges from Turkey’s side, they will be met with the foreseen actions.

To a question about the attitude of its prime minister Albania Edi Rama in the case of the elected mayor of Heimarra Freddy Belleri the Government Spokesperson replied that “the matter of the legally elected mayor of Heimarra Freddy Beleris is a major one, it is a matter of respect for human rights and the rule of law” and with regard to the Greek government he emphasized that “we are not going to take a step back from this and we will that is beyond our control, with all the institutional weapons at our disposal”.

Regarding the TIF reconstruction project, Mr. Marinakis said that nothing has changed, it will be implemented with the public-private partnership model (PPP) and the relevant announcements will be made in the first weeks of 2024.