Greece is watching with great care the new facts that are being shaped on the geopolitical scene – and not only – in the midst of the revised Trump foreign policy attitude, as Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis points out in the “National Preacher”.

Mr Gerapetritis will be in New York and Washington this week as part of Greece’s involvement as a non -permanent member in the UN Security Council, while still talking about the course of Greek -Turkish dialogue and the hiring of Loby company in the US by the USA by the US. Greek government.

‘National Preacher’: Mr Minister, we would first like to have a more general reference to your visit to the US.

G. Gerapetritis: First of all, I would like to tell you that I feel great joy and pride that I visit New York at a time when Greece holds a member of the United Nations Security Council. It is an extremely important opportunity to further highlight our country’s role and diplomatic footprint on the international stage.

Greece, after a strong diplomatic struggle, is becoming a co -producer of global security architecture in a particularly critical geopolitical context for the next two years. The issues that will be concerned with the General Assembly and the Security Council next week will be the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. A few days ago, I completed a first round of important contacts in the wider Middle East, Qatar, Jerusalem, Ramamala, Amman, Abu Dhabi and Damascus. I also traveled to New Delhi, where I had a particularly constructive discussion with my Indian counterpart, inter alia, to implement the Great Vision of India – Middle Eastern – Europe (IMEEC). Greece is actively present in an area of ​​its wider neighborhood, where historical changes are taking place. We do not have the luxury of being spectators of developments. We have to be part of their co -shares.

During my stay in New York, I will also have the opportunity to meet with representatives of the community and exchange views on issues that concern us. I will then go to Washington, where I will have high level of contact with the new American administration, members of the House of Representatives and Senate. I will also have the pleasure of visiting Johns Hopkins University and chatting with students about Greece’s position in the world.

EC: Would we like a first perspective on the new doctrine of the new US government and the attitude towards EU countries, both geopolitics and commercially and whether this can affect Greek -American relations?

G. Gerapetritis: Greece and the United States relations are deeply strategic. The Greek government had worked closely and constructively with the American side and during the first term of President Trump. We therefore have every reason to believe that something similar will happen now.

Regarding the declarations of the new US administration, which seem to create a new landscape on the international stage, we are watching developments with great care. And as an EU member state we must recognize that it is necessary to upgrade the role and dynamics of the EU at all levels, in order to successfully respond to the challenges of a difficult predictable international environment.

As far as our own I would like to emphasize that Greece is not a few. It remains committed to principles and values, to settle disputes through diplomacy and dialogue, with respect to international law and the United Nations Charter.

EC: What are the goals set by hiring Lobby in America?

G. Gerapetritis: There are many different groups of influence in the United States that use states to enhance their image and presence in bilateral and, of course, multilaterals within international organizations. Lobbying in the US has been a completely legitimate institution for decades, which has been used by many countries, often larger and stronger than Greece. We have no reason to doubt the strategic nature of Greek -American relations and the willingness of the two sides for their further deepening. We are strategically investing in this country and at the level of public diplomacy to promote our image and national interests in the US.

After all, we do not overlook the role of the Greek -American relations. And I would like to express my gratitude for its achievements and its decisive contribution as a key body of mild power to build narrow ties with the US. We rely firmly and over time on the help, support and advice of our expatriates.

EC: What is the importance that Greece’s participation in the Security Council can have as a non -permanent member?

G. Gerapetritis: In an ever -changing geopolitical landscape, Greece’s position on the UN Security Council is at the same time a great honor and great responsibility. On the one hand, Greece has in recent years been able to get out of successive crises, economic, immigration, health, energy, geopolitical and developing a powerful international footprint. Thanks to our commitment to international law, but also to the development of sincere relations with states in all lengths and widths of the Earth, we look forward to being a bridge between the North and the South, the East and the West.

But this is our great responsibility. When about a quarter of states is in some form of intensity or conflict, Greece will do everything possible to restore the true meaning of peaceful resolution of disputes, as it crystallizes the statute of the United Nations.

EC: The big question for the Greek community and all Greeks is the dialogue with Turkey and where are we now heading?

G. Gerapetritis: For the sake of personal integrity, I could not as a foreign minister be able to move from my basic position as an academic teacher, in favor of peace through a consultant approach. Whether it is the functioning of democracy or international relations, we are obliged to seek to resolve differences through dialogue. Of course, in order for the dialogue to be efficient, it must be structured and carried out honestly. For more than a year and a half, the structured dialogue with Turkey has drastically limited airspace violations, has boosted cooperation in migration, boosting bilateral trade and has significantly increased the number of visitors from Turkey to the east islands. Aegean. Most importantly, however, it has ensured that crisis can be avoided through the communication channels we have developed.

On the other hand, it would be unrealistic to expect that Turkey would abandon claims that have been up for many decades. Greece has made it clear from the outset that it would not discuss sovereignty issues. We recognize a single difference that can be brought before international jurisdiction, namely the delineation of the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone. Turkey is still related to the debate about resolving other issues, which cannot be accepted. Therefore, the positions of the two countries are significant.

In any case, the dialogue should not stop. We do not have the luxury of inactivity and immobility. Greek diplomacy will continue to work for peace, with confidence and without phobic syndromes, with respect to international law and without concessions in our national interests.