The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis, spoke about Greek-Turkish affairs, the Beleri case, the conflicts raging in Greece’s neighborhood, but also the possibility of Donald Trump’s re-election in the November elections, in the context of 9th Delphi Economic Forum.

“In the past, foreign policy had an element that had to do with the predictability of developments. Today, because there is an asymmetry, but also the trans-territoriality of events, I think our thinking is based not so much on the prediction, but on the management of all possible scenarios. Preparedness is now the big issue,” emphasized Mr Gerapetritis starting his introduction.

Regarding Greece’s relations with Turkey, the Minister explained that “we are not naive or naive to believe that from one day to the next we will solve the problems we have with Turkey, which date back decades. On the other hand, an elementary element of the good relationship we are trying to develop with Turkey is the understanding that the basic positions of the two parties are not going to change.”

He made special mention of the need to decompress tensions: “We understand how important it is to be able to calm tensions. The first thing I said when I took over the ministry is that you don’t avoid tensions, but the main thing is that these tensions don’t cause crises. There have been many opportunities for tensions in the last ten months. But the difference compared to previous years was that these tensions were decompressed due to quick management at the highest level. Instead of having management scale the volume to the point where it won’t decompress, it’s managed from the top down so that there is faster decompression. It is important to have a direct channel of communication,” he stressed.

“I understand those who say that the Turkey it’s never going to change, how an ally will remain unpredictable. But, we must understand that we must have a calm in our region. If we accept that there are countervailing positions in the two parties, then we can have this understanding,” he added.

He noted that “in the last 10 months we have managed to have zero action in the field and have a rhetoric that is far from what we have seen in the past”. “I want Greek citizens to feel confident and calm, I want my children to live in an area without their finger on the trigger.”

“I will never use rhetoric that is disproportionate to the facts. It would be very easy for me to use my Foreign Ministry portfolio for my own benefit. The easiest thing is to become popular on national issues. I won’t do it. I want my country to be beneficial and not popular.” he interpreted.

Asked by the journalist Niki Lymberakis, who moderated the dialogue, about the expectations of the upcoming meeting between the leaders of Greece and Turkey, Mr. Gerapetritis underlined that “the fact that the meeting between two leaders is taking place, should not necessarily produce a tangible result. Should we always have a success bar? No. The answer is that we should at some level de-dramatize the meetings between Greeks and Turks. They are leaders of two countries, they must discuss and be in an honest dialogue.”

Mr. Gerapetritis referred to the EEZ and continental shelf as “our only dispute with Turkey that could be brought before international jurisdiction – and that is the end of the road.”

“I want to leave a legacy of a quiet neighborhood. As long as the underlying problem of the demarcation of maritime zones is not resolved, there will always be tensions. And sometimes we have to look at things bravely. It’s a difficult conversation – one that could have negative consequences for the person leading it, in this case me. Courage means to sit down and see with Turkey how we can have a balanced position which on the basis of international law alone will lead us to a solution of this problem in its legal context, and possibly refer to The Hague or Hamburg, in an international jurisdiction, which will be able to close the demarcation issue”.

When asked about the possibility of his re-election Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States, Mr. Gerapetritis replied “then Trump it is!” Democracy is a polity inherently imperfect, but more perfect than the existing ones.”

“Right now the relations that exist with the US are not current or personalized. They are deep and governed by rules and principles and I want to believe that they will continue,” he added.

Referring to the conflict in Gaza, he reiterated that “Greece today, April 12, stands where it stood on October 7, 2023, and that is why it can talk in terms of honesty and sincerity with everyone. Greece stands where international law stands. What is this? Israel has the right of self-defense within the limits set by international law. We should differentiate the Palestinian people from Hamas. A vision should be given to the Palestinians and that is the Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Speaking about relations with Albania, on the occasion of the Beleris case, Mr. Gerapetritis underlined that “relations with Albania must remain relations of good neighborliness. The matter with Beleris was not bilateral. I have taken it to the international organizations. The way the case was handled is not befitting an advanced rule of law and that is why it is not bilateral, but European.”

He reiterated that despite the specific issue, Greece’s basic position on the issue of the European course of Albania and the Western Balkans is not negated. “We want to see Albania, like the states of the Western Balkans, join the European Union. But respect for the fundamentals, namely the rule of law, democracy, the rights of minorities, is a condition in which no concession can be made.”

Mr. Gerapetritis reminded that the support of Ukraine is very important. “In the case of Ukraine, we have a clear violation of international law, violent, crude, cynical. It is in the West’s interest not to reward Russia’s stance. Ukraine is at a critical juncture. What Ukraine needs is unanimous support from the West,” he said, noting that he understands the fatigue due to the prolonged operation. “However, what is happening in Ukraine is extremely connected to world peace and security. We must continue to support Ukraine,” he concluded.