Through SKAI 100.3, Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis characterized the conversion of the Chora Monastery into a mosque as a disappointing development, stressing however that it will not affect the visit of Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Ankara on Monday.

On the contrary, added the foreign minister, we will be given the opportunity to put the issue before the Turkish leadership so that they realize how important it is for the entire world.

Regarding the relations with Turkey, Mr. Gerapetritis stated that it is important that in the last year we have not had any violations over the airspace and at the same time in the migration field we have a dramatic reduction in migration flows.

“We have established communication channels and we discuss any disagreement at the highest level, before a crisis occurs,” said Mr. Gerapetritis.

At the same time, he clarified that our sovereignty is not a matter of dialogue.

For the visit of the Albanian prime minister Eddie Rama in Athens he described it as untimely and added however that we will not prevent it but will provide the necessary security.

He pointed out at the same time that the issue with Fredis Beleris and the management he received is connected to whether the European acquis is in sync with what is happening in Albania.

Regarding the result of the elections in North Macedonia with the overwhelming victory of VMRO and the historic defeat of the social democrats, Mr Gerapetritis said that we are monitoring the developments and are ready for all scenarios.

“I hope that there will be no change in foreign policy. There must be faith in the implementation of the Prespa agreement,” said the foreign minister and meaningfully added that North Macedonia’s European path goes through the observance of the Prespa agreement.