“As far as national issues are concerned, the government has given a clear response to the other side of the Aegean. And this is a national answer. None of us in this room, we have all sworn in faith in the Constitution, is entitled to or is entitled to negotiate whatever it is in a minor or to formulate any view of it. I think this is our common position. Our sovereignty and sovereign rights. Beyond that, you may judge – you have every right – some regular movements as sufficient or insufficient, appropriate or not. But I think there is a national direction and a national sympathy at the base. “
This was typically stated in Parliament, the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, responding to the PASOK President’s strong criticismNikos Androulakis, for the subordinate, as he argued, the government’s attitude towards Turkey’s provocative claims in Cyprus and the Aegean. But the interest … then grows:
“As far as the Ministry of Defense is concerned, I must assure you that there is no chance that the Armed Forces will not perform their constitutional duty that is to protect the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights. That’s it. Have no possibility of negotiation. Negotiate – if someone negotiates on behalf of the country – the Foreign Ministry. The Ministry of Defense does not negotiate, protects, prevents, this is its constitutional role. And I think, there is no different view of this, “Mr Dendias added, with clear spikes against the Foreign Minister.