“Greece will be present in all international initiatives that will ensure peace and international legitimacy in the Middle East.”

This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense to the Foreign and Defense Committee of the Parliament, George Gerapetritisinforming its members about developments in the Middle East.

At the same time, he emphasized that “for symbolic reasons as well as substance, our country will participate with a frigate with a purely escort and defense character in the American and British fleet in the operation in the Red Sea and will assist and support all European and Arab initiatives which will ensure free navigation”.

As Mr. Gerapetritis pointed out, “the situation in the Red Sea is extremely fragile, while the actions of the Houthis have created significant problems in navigation”, and he added that “this constant threat causes a burden on the transit trade and on the insurance premiums of ships, with as a result of which there is a burden on the goods but also on the budgets of the countries”.

“There is already a significant economic recession in Egypt due to the Suez Canal, but problems are also observed in the economies of Jordan and Lebanon,” noted the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Regarding the complaints that the Greek frigate should not go to the operation in the Red Sea, Mr. Gerapetritis commented characteristically:

“Is there any side of the parliament which considers that it is not the country’s duty to support Greek merchant ships and Greek sailors? In other words, do you think that the country has no duty to protect that for which we believe that we have a strong shipping? Should we leave Greek shipping? Do you want us to hide behind those who will be on the mission and we sit back and tell them to do the work? So the response of the Greek state is strict and consistent. Greece will be present to protect Greek commercial shipping and Greek sailors.”

Middle Eastern

Informing about the initiatives regarding the situation in the Middle East, Mr. Gerapetritis said that “a series of peace processes are underway at the political level” characterizing as “more important and serious, the peace effort on behalf of the Arab countries”, which recently visited.

“Basic principles of the plan are the release of the hostages who are being held, a ceasefire and an international conference so that the resolution of the problem and peace in the region have a credible character,” he stressed.

As Mr. Gerapetritis said “there does not seem to be an immediate de-escalation, there is strong concern about the spread of the crisis and efforts are being made at the international and European level, with the hope that they will thrive”.

“The situation at the moment is not good, there doesn’t seem to be any immediate de-escalation and any peace efforts are running into major issues like refugees and hostages.

Greece is one of the countries that takes the lead and has a reliable presence and voice, which is recognized by all parties involved.

The priority of the Greek government is peace in the Middle East. The initiatives undertaken by the Greek government have not been undertaken by any other European country. It is the only country that has direct contacts with all the parties involved, both for the hostilities and for the elaboration of a peace plan, and indeed at the highest level”, he underlined and added:

“There is no other European country that has a stronger and more active diplomacy with the Arab world and such close and meaningful relations and talks.

Peace in the region is universally our priority. End of story”.

At the same time, Mr. Gerapetritis rejected accusations that the Greek government is pursuing a policy in favor of Israel while ignoring the genocide that is being done to the Palestinian people.

“We are neither with Israel, nor with Palestine. We are fair and we will stand by it and that is why we are respected. We are not bipartisan, we are not aeolians and we do not stand today with Israel and tomorrow with Palestine. We have principles in the way we practice diplomacy. And as long as I am at the helm of Greek diplomacy there will be no deviation. We will not do a transactional foreign policy”, he stressed.

Referring to the risk of migration flows from the war in the Middle East, he admitted that “indeed there is a lot of pressure and concentration of population in a small area”, but as he said, “we are very clear”.

“We cannot accept, neither as an international community, nor as Greece, that there is the possibility of mandatory or other relocation of populations. It is something that international law does not allow, it is a collective punishment that we are not going to accept and we will make sure that this is not necessarily done, nor that the population is pushed out due to the conditions, to leave their native land”, he said .

The Minister of Foreign Affairs placed particular emphasis on “the close and substantial relations that Greece has developed with Egypt”, which, as he said, “is the only pillar of stability in the geographical balance of the region”.

As he said, “the cooperation of the two countries is of very great geostrategic importance”, adding that “Greece and Egypt are connected by a huge energy hub, which has been approved by the European Union and will be financed as a project of major interest, which will connect electricity with green energy Egypt and Greece and through Greece, Europe”.

Answering a question from a member of parliament, regarding the efforts for the maritime corridor between Cyprus and Palestine, Mr Gerapetritis appeared hesitant.

“To be completely honest, I don’t see it thriving firstly: for technical reasons, as there is no safe harbor where a ship can sail but also secondly: for politicians, because there is a more general concern from the Palestinians who prefer the land corridors which will directly connect Gaza with the West Bank,” he noted.

For F16 and F35

Responding to another question, on the issue of Greece’s guarantees in relation to the F16s approved by the American Congress for Turkey, Mr. Gerapetritis specifically stated:

“When the time comes we will position ourselves. But I want the committee to feel secure that the Greek interests are absolutely protected also with regard to the supplies made to Turkey. We are doing what we have to do to safeguard the national interests and soon you will be informed when we have the most operational ones”.

Asked to clarify Greece’s interest in purchasing F35 fighter jets, Mr. Gerapetritis stated that “we are still at an extremely early stage, neither the specific technical characteristics nor the finances have been established”.

“There was a first approach for 20 plus 20 F35 fighters at a maximum cost of 8.5 billion, but that is something that will come to the committee and you will evaluate it,” he pointed out.

Mr. Gerapetritis also defended the purchase of F35s from Greece, stressing that “the government didn’t beat the drums or celebrate at all”.

“Greece must have a self-sufficient national defense, not be defined differently and have a strong diplomacy and that is what we are doing. The composition of all these is what will lead to a strong Greece”, he said.

Dora Bakoyannis, president of the Foreign Affairs Committee: Greece does not hide from difficulties

For her part, the president of the Commission, Dora Bakoyannis, pointed out that “under no circumstances should the Palestinians leave their land. “The condition is that they stay there. No country right now, led by Egypt, is willing to take in Palestinians. But the condition is that there is a viable corridor between the West Bank and Gaza,” he said.

“Fortunately, Greece follows a conciliatory policy with the credibility it has as a country that does not hide from difficulties, it is present in the Red Sea and it should be, because it is one thing to make very nice excuses and say we will have the weapons systems but at the critical moment you gain credibility by being present.

And this presence is more imperative than ever”, emphasized Mrs. Bakoyannis.

Comments and observations of Opposition MPs

SYRIZA Member of Parliament, Evangelos Apostolakis, emphasized that “our position and our efforts for the solution of the Middle East must be clear for a ceasefire”.

ND Member of Parliament, Yannis Oikonomou, focused his reflection on the risk of increased migration flows from the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

For her part, SYRIZA MP Rena Dourou pointed out that “instead of Greece taking the lead among those willing to participate in the Red Sea operation, it should have insisted on a European operation”.

The MP of PASOK-KINAL, Dimitris Manzos, referred to the F35s that the country will get, stressing that “Greece should receive guarantees from the US that the F16s it will give to Turkey will not be turned against us”.

KKE Member of Parliament, Giorgos Marinos, described the government’s foreign policy both in the Middle East and in the Red Sea as dangerous, expressing his “complete opposition to the participation of a Greek frigate in the American-British operation”.

The Hellenic Solution Member of Parliament, Pavlos Sarakis, underlined that our participation in military operations should only be under the auspices of the EU.

G. Gerapetritis: In February, the first meeting of the National Council of Foreign Policy

Finally, the Minister of Foreign Affairs clarified that the delay in forming the National Foreign Policy Council is due to the fact that a party has not yet sent its proposal, which it expects in the next few days, and assured that its first meeting will take place in February.