The developments in Syria, the Cyprus issue as well as the Greek-Turkish issues were at the center of the meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritiswith the president of SYRIZA, Socrates Famellouon Wednesday morning (11/12).

The meeting took place in the framework of the foreign minister’s briefing of the leaders of the political parties on the developments in Syria.

“We had a substantial and constructive discussion with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Gerapetritis. We discussed all the issues of the wider region about the country’s foreign policy and peace and security issues. We talked about the Middle East. I pointed out that the fall of the authoritarian and dictatorial Assad regime and the emergence of the jihadist forces in power in Syria is a development that keeps the worries in the wider region and there should be an intervention by the international community and Europe and Greece so that we can pass the as soon as possible in a state of law with democratic procedures, with respect for territorial boundaries but above all with inclusion and respect for ethnic or religious minorities and wider civil society” said the president of SYRIZA, after the end of the meeting with the head of the Greek diplomacy.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Mr. Famous said:

“I conveyed to him my experiences from my recent visit to Cyprus. And we discussed the fastest possible restart of the talks from where they were interrupted in Crans Montana in 2017 so that we have a solution to the main problem of Cyprus and we are at 50 years since the criminal invasion and occupation by the Turkish forces. The solution should be a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality without guarantees and without occupation troops. And in this direction, Greece should also contribute, and the negative developments in the Cyprus issue cannot leave the Greek-Turkish dialogue unaffected.”

“And obviously there should be the corresponding connection with Euro-Turkish relations. Why divisive choices cannot be accepted because we are talking about European territory and the rights of European citizens, which we have been told by all sides that must be restored and guaranteed as a European family. Regarding the dialogue with Turkey, I want to make it clear that SyRiza has always been in favor of dialogue. This dialogue should have a beginning, middle and end. That is, The Hague and the discussion about the continental shelf and the EEZ. We believe that this discussion about calm waters should not underestimate the challenges,” he said, referring to Greek-Turkish relations.

And he added:

“And calm waters cannot mean questioning sovereign rights. The basic issues of dominance and defense are red lines for us. We will contribute to this dialogue and generally contribute to the dialogue on diplomacy on national issues without having any partisan reflection or if you want to serve a partisan agenda. We contribute with strict criticism but we also contribute with suggestions. Because for us, patriotism is not just a word and they do not follow practices that the New Democracy had unfortunately followed in the past.”

“However, we also discussed the role of Greece in terms of general issues of peace and security. Greece, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, will have an important role in the coming years. And that important role is to take initiatives. Our political priorities which are political priorities priorities of peace and security. Corresponding initiatives must be taken in the Middle East, the Palestinian issue remains open there. It must be resolved based on UN resolutions. I already mentioned to you that based on the decisions of the UN, the Cyprus issue must also be resolved. And international institutions and politics must regain credibility. I think that this is a big choice that we all have to make together. It must be done by the international community. We cannot only have statements towards the citizens, which are rarely, if ever, turned into actions. This concerns parties as well as international institutions. It also concerns our country in a little while for us to contribute to such a restoration of credibility by making a proposal that we implement the decisions of international bodies” he continued to conclude as follows:

“Why are we worried about the peace and security issues that remain open but also about other big issues that also remain open and are not implemented, such as the climate crisis policies and immigration policies. We want politics to be based on international law and the decisions of international bodies, this is the political choice of SYRIZA-PS. And I believe that this is a policy that favors Greece as well as credibility and prosperity”.