The Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke to ERT about the conclusions of Mitsotakis’ visit to Ankara and the meeting with Tayyip Erdogan, as well as the recent challenges from the president of North Macedonia – who calls his country “Macedonia” – and Edi Rama’s speech in Galatsi George Gerapetritis.

For North Macedonia: The Greek side demands compliance with the agreements

Speaking about this issue, Mr. Gerapetritis said that: “The bottom line is the reaction on the part of the official opposition, which you will allow me to say is a false and particularly simple reading of the complex situation. First of all, there is absolutely no begging on the part of the Greek side.
The Greek side demands compliance with the agreements.
You know very well, that from the moment an international treaty is ratified in the parliaments, it acquires a force superior to the laws. Neither of the two states can unilaterally revise this agreement.
So, even when it disagrees with what is included in the Treaty, it must implement them.
I want to point out in particular the different institutional treatment in the two states.

The Greek government today, as the opposition, during the ratification of the Prespa Agreement, had very specifically and clearly formulated its disagreement in individual chapters that had to do with gray issues, which could potentially cause tensions and it seems that indeed cause tensions.
Nevertheless, when we came to government and in the context of the continuity of the state and also the constitutional requirement that no government can unilaterally revise treaties, we implemented it and demanded its compliance and on the other hand this is what we will continue to do.
And I really listen with curiosity to the argument that is put forward because the memoranda, the memoranda on the other side of the Prespa agreement, were not ratified, and we are accused, slandered for that.

I think there could be no greater justification of this policy, that is, of making the ratification of the memorandums dependent on full compliance, than what happened.
Because the crucial thing is that at this moment there seems to be a dimension in the political leadership of North Macedonia.
We will bring it to the Parliament, I have said it repeatedly, when there is the critical political time, that is, when the Greek side is convinced that there is full compliance. Because we all know that there are points where the neighboring country has not complied.

And I am certainly not referring to the name, but to other issues. Now let me tell you about what happens with the name. First of all, let’s look at the specifics, the institutional ones. The name Republic of North Macedonia appears in the Prespa Agreement and according to the same agreement with article 20, with the penultimate article, the question of the name cannot be modified under any circumstances.
Well, it is not one of those matters that can be amended even by mutual agreement.

So there is absolutely no question of amendment, as it was agreed by both sides and ratified and binds both the current Greek political order and the political order of North Macedonia.
Secondly, at this moment it is not only the pressure exerted by Greece, it is the pressure exerted within North Macedonia.
Mr. Meletis correctly referred to the announcement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that demanded of North Macedonia that it demanded full compliance from the president, the announcement of the Ministry of Justice that characterized the swearing-in as non-existent.
And of course I would like to point out that the policy that the new President seems to be adopting is also against the public opinion of North Macedonia.

The third and most important I think is that the Greek side reacted with readiness and with extremely fast reflexes. With the initiatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the community authorities were immediately informed.
There were announcements that we don’t usually have such an immediate reaction from the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council and the representative of the European Union and at the same time there is an international position. In other words, many countries issued a statement in this direction.
So there is a concerted reaction towards compliance.

And the third and important, what will be our next steps. We demand compliance with the Prespa Agreement. It is international law and must be applied, applied. We will configure the framework so that there is a full implementation.
We all understand that the new political leadership may have a different point of view ideologically, worldview-wise, but there are also issues that are beyond their will. It is not a matter of self-determination of each political official. We all understand this, it is a matter of compliance with the agreements and the Greek government will act in this direction. Allow me to say, all this is an institutional right which is attributed to the member states of the European Union.
We are clear with regard to North Macedonia, it is expressly a condition for its accession process that loyalty and faithful implementation and good faith implementation of the Prespa Agreement.
So this is a prerequisite for the accession procedures to proceed.
We are watching very closely and will act in this direction. This was also emphasized by the leadership of the European Union itself.”

For Albania: Minority rights are a purely European issue

Regarding relations with the neighboring country, Mr. Gerapetritis said: “As far as Albania is concerned, we understand that the rule of law, the rights of minorities, democracy, the guarantees of the Community acquis are not a bilateral issue, it is a purely European issue.
Greece, you know, many times we are blamed for these issues, I want to emphasize this and take the opportunity to bring it to the attention of the Greek people.
We are in favor of the peace of the Balkans and we are in favor of the European course of all the states of the Western Balkans.
After all, Greece was the one that took the lead and accelerated the process in 2003 in Thessaloniki.
But we should bear in mind that fundamental concessions cannot be made and for this reason there is a very strict surveillance on our part.

We understand first of all that there is a certain historical point in Euro-Albanian relations. Right now the fundamentals chapter hasn’t even opened. The first chapter that will be opened is precisely the observance of fundamental freedoms.

We understand that all the issues that concern Himarra, all the issues that concern the rights of minorities, the issues that concern the observance of the political rights of all citizens, will be raised precisely when the chapter on the fundamentals is opened and there all the issues will be evaluated Heimarra issues.

So right now the Greek side is watching. It is in a very strict situation in terms of our surveillance.

I think that in Europe there is a full understanding of the phenomenon, the European leaders, like the European commissioners, have been informed about the situation and I think that when the time comes, the Greek side will put the issues in their objective dimension”.

On Rama’s visit: Greece is a democracy – It will not forbid a European leader to come and address its diaspora.

Referring to Mr. Rama’s recent visit and speech in Galatsi, the Foreign Minister said:

“I hear the aphorism “But why did he come”. Indeed, Mr. Rama’s visit was untimely. Because we are a year before the elections in Albania, while we are just a few days before the elections in Greece for the nomination of the members of the European Parliament.
But Greece is a state of law, it is a democracy. Greece is never going to forbid a European leader to come and address its diaspora. I consider it to be in the hard core of democracy.

I too, like the prime minister and all the leaders, when we go abroad we meet the Greek diaspora. There is never a chance that this communication will be banned and so when the opposition comes and mentions that you know, you should be more strict, they mean to deny entry to Mr. Rama? The answer is clear. No.

We will remain at any political price, if you want, to have a strict policy of principles, faithful application of international law, retreat in terms of the fundamentals, the Greek government will not do. So, even when we disagree on the timing, we will always accept that a foreign leader has the right to address his citizens.”

Finally, Mr. Gerapetritis emphasized that: “I am extremely worried about the developments in the wider region, especially for the Middle East. In the coming days, Greek diplomacy will once again take the initiative on the issues of the Middle East. I will welcome to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the in the coming days and the Egyptian foreign minister, who has a key role in the discussions that are being held to find a sustainable solution. I think that the entire world at this moment demands that there be a complete ceasefire and humanitarian aid to stop this disaster.”