“Each act of the dialogue confirms, despite the clear disagreements between the two states, that the dialogue has only positives for both countries. The first and main reason for speaking about our own country, about Greece, is that our positions are heard”, emphasized government representative Pavlos Marinakis in an interview on Nikos Evagelatos’ Live News show on Mega TV Station.

“The Greek position was clearly heard, the truth about the Muslim minority of Greeks in Thrace that had been heard in Athens, was also heard in Ankara. The Greek position was clearly heard, and not only the Greek position, but also the position adopted by our country on the terrorist Hamas” he noted and added “the Greek position on the Monastery of the Country was also heard and it is also proven by Erdogan’s speech that he was, as he had duty to do as the Greek Prime Minister had said, and in the bilateral meeting”.

Mr. Marinakis pointed out that dialogue has benefits. “Because first of all our positions are heard, our opinions are clearly heard. And those who say not to continue the dialogue or to cancel a meeting, do not tell us the most important thing: what we will gain by such a cancellation. The second reason this has benefits is because the violations have stopped, they have been eliminated. Has this new situation helped in the best possible management, on the verge of solving a very big issue which is immigration – I won’t say 100% because there are still flows, but much reduced – annihilation in the Evros, almost annihilation in the eastern Aegean, definitely that it is because Greek policy is better than other states, but the situation with Turkey has helped. The visa, ten islands of the Aegean enjoy the benefits and I say it again: dialogue does not mean an agreement, especially in our dispute with Turkey which is the determination of the EEZ and continental shelf based on international law,” he said.

Also referring to the positives of the dialogue with the neighboring country, he emphasized: “The big picture is that the Greece of 2024 in terms of geopolitical, defense and diplomatic power has nothing to do with Greece until 2019. And regarding the agreements that have been concluded and with everything related. Pay attention, what is the most basic? It is very easy to go down the path of “patriotic speech”, which is in quotation marks, not substantive. Greece has gained from the dialogue. Why; It has not lost an iota from asserting its sovereign rights, it has not even put them on the table, it is not negotiating them, and despite what has been said to the contrary in recent days, all of these have not been confirmed. Never even the current prime minister, and no prime minister throughout history would put them on the table. And I say it again, the benefits are tangible.”

“We have to win step by step. The amount of investment on both sides will be expanded. This is important for both economies, and therefore also for our own economy. The visa facilitation regime will be maintained and you never know, they may expand and have more such initiatives. And most importantly, our positions will be clearly expressed,” he added.

In addition, he emphasized that patriotic crowns are “nice”, but at the end of the day they have no positive effect on the lives of citizens.

Regarding the issue with the President of North Macedonia, after characterizing her statement as unacceptable, reprehensible and unhistorical, which we all strongly oppose, he said that it is also against the Treaty of Prespa and the Constitution of the country.

The government representative underlined that North Macedonia’s accession path is completely dependent on compliance with the agreements.

“It raises very big questions, how is it possible to have an official opposition in the country, which at the moment when the other side makes such anecdotal and outside of the agreed statements, is so important for the passing of the memorandums. And I say the following: Those who were in a hurry for the memoranda, do not answer us, would it be better when the other country does not even accept the basics of the agreement that they voted for, that we have reached the end, that we have done everything? So would it be better? Obviously we’ll wait. We will not rush,” he said.

“We are not in a hurry. We are not willing the day our history is insulted, as much as the opposition cares to sign everything. And I will also tell you something that everyone should understand. Above all are the interests of the country. There is no way for us to enter into the process of small-party confrontation as the opposition does. Greece showed its strength, Ursula von der Leyen intervened, Charles Michel intervened, after the Prime Minister’s statement with the corresponding one, it is a move by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, we will not take a step back. Yes, let’s get to the end of this book, let’s be on the same page, but North Macedonia has not even turned the first page. We will not run faster than our neighbors,” he added.