On the issue of Greek-Turkish relations, after yesterday’s Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting, as well as relations with the neighboring Balkan countries, the Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned George Gerapetritis speaking to ERT.

As he specifically stated: “I think that after yesterday’s meeting we are entering a new phase in terms of Greek-Turkish relations and the Greek-Turkish debate. This phase is governed by a normality, as the prime minister said, productive normality. And what do I mean by normality?

First, that there is a regular periodicity in the contacts. We are at regular intervals and will continue to be that way. The second is that we don’t have to have multiple deals generated every time we’re there, there are major issues to manage. We should meet and talk regularly.

And the third, and I think more important, is to be able to discuss and disagree without causing tensions and potentially crises.

Because our core position is that we always focus on those that are mutually beneficial. But we should also discuss issues that are difficult and we disagree without necessarily creating conditions of tension. Results are there, and I think the results are evident both at the level of rhetoric and at the level of the field. Any hostile rhetoric has disappeared in the last ten months. We have calmed down in terms of the tension that has been caused in previous years, but also on the ground, we all realize the value of having almost zero flows from our eastern border, as well as having no airspace violations. I think these are situations which are very important for the well-being of the country.”

Pillar of stability in the region

He went on to say that: “I particularly want to emphasize that in an era in which hostilities in our wider region are unprecedented, I think being able to have a pillar of stability in our own region, a calm is extremely important to the question of how long last, my view is that it can last. I feel that the dialogue that is taking place now, with whatever disagreements are recorded, is a dialogue that is honest, governed by a mutual understanding. We realize that there are issues on which there can be no convergence and these issues also have their own historical burdens. On the other hand, I think both sides understand that, especially today, it is of great value to be able to have greater peace in our region and above all to have a greater perspective.

I want to emphasize the fact that the main issue of international politics on which we disagreed yesterday, which is the issue of the Middle East, is currently in a particularly complex phase. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is also in a particularly critical phase and I would like to emphasize that there are also fields that can potentially cause very big crises, especially coming from Africa. The situation that exists today in sub-Saharan Africa creates conditions of great pressure both in immigration and in the economy, but mainly in the humanitarian sector. Being able to discuss with Turkey and have this understanding, I think is important for as long as it lasts and our own effort will be to make it last for a long time.”

The agenda of the discussion

Mr. Gerapetritis stated that: “First, issues of sovereignty are not in the discussion. The Turkish side may indeed have its own positions regarding sovereignty and the issues that the Turkish agenda has always included. However, in our discussion issues of sovereignty are not going to be included. Second, in terms of exercising our own sovereign rights, there is none no exchange. Greece fully exercises its sovereignty, fully exercises its sovereign rights. It is our belief that we can discuss and find solutions to the issues without giving up any of our rights. And there has been absolutely no disenfranchisement, you will allow me to say. At this moment there is indeed a great calm in the Aegean.

I think that the times when we experienced uncontrollable situations are not far away. In 2015-2016, we had 1.2 million refugees and immigrants from our eastern borders. Idomeni and Moria are not too far away. Furthermore, let me say that hostile rhetoric was a daily occurrence for Greece. The air battles in the Aegean carried the risks of accidentally having a war conflict. These are all very fresh. I want to tell you the following. I am not naive, nor naive. I know that there are very strong positions of Turkey, which go back decades. What I want is for us to be able to discuss in a deliberative spirit, to be able to disagree civilly without creating tensions and judgments and on the other hand to promote a positive agenda with mutually beneficial agreements that can advance our bilateral relations. No surrender of sovereignty, no discussion of sovereignty.”

The marine parks

The Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that: “I am very clear and I repeat that if you have seen any retreat lately, please tell me about it, because I also read the announcements of the opposition for continuous retreat, without mentioning even a single elementary argument and an objective fact. The answer is clear. The marine parks will be done. Marine parks are essentially the epitome of protecting the marine environment, which is extremely critical for our country and is extremely useful in my opinion for all Mediterranean countries.

It was next to the big conference that took place in Greece with the participation of 125 states and international organizations for the protection of the seas and oceans. With commitments of around 400 to the amount of 11.5 billion, Greece has declared that it will make two marine parks on the basis of environmental criteria. We are currently in the study phase to define the technical environmental criteria. When these are completed, then the parks will be placed on the map. These are issues that go back to Greek sovereignty and actually concern the sustainability not just of Greece, but of the planet.

EEZ and continental shelf

On this subject, Mr. Gerapetritis stated that: “the issue of continental shelf demarcation and Exclusive Economic Zone is a major issue and this is because it is the underlying issue from which multiplicative tension is produced. And I really think that if at some point we manage to resolve these issues of determining the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone, we will have a long and lasting peace in our region. For now, we have not raised these issuesas you said, is our pursuit and I think there is a mutual position on these issues with Turkey, that it is useful in the next period to discuss the issues.

This will be decided by the two leaders, who will have the opportunity in the near future to meet more times, and we will receive the mandate to have this discussion. I want to say that as you know, there is a very long history in the delimitation discussions that are taking place in the context of the alleged investigative orders. Unfortunately, even though we have multiple rounds, 63 rounds of investigative orders in the past, we have not been able to get to a point where we can agree on demarcation or even agree to refer this dispute to international jurisdiction.

I think the historical moment is right for us to be able to do it discussion this and to bring to our homeland a long and fruitful one Irene. When these conditions will mature depends, I think, on two factors. The first factor is to further establish good understanding and honesty between the parties. And the second is to evaluate the agreements that have been signed so that a good and beneficial result has been produced. I want to tell you that only on December 7, within the framework of the visit of the Turkish delegation, 15 agreements and memoranda were signed. Very important in my view and these agreements should be evaluated when we make sure that the positive results have been produced, that a climate of honesty and good understanding has been established, we will move forward.”

The tourist agreement

As Mr. Gerapetritis mentioned: “With the efforts of the Greek government, in coordination with the European Commission, we started a program for visits by Turkish citizens to ten of our islands. This program, in addition to the enormous economic value it has for our islands, because it lasts throughout the year, it expands the tourist season and the tourist product itself, but it has a very great value because it brings together the citizens of the two states . I think there has already been great satisfaction on our islands, but also on the part of Turkey for the implementation of this agreement. We want to bring such type of agreements, so that there is a good understanding and a good diplomacy at the level of citizens now, so that we can let’s discuss even the most difficult ones.”