The message that “we are not going to let Greece become a tank of irregular migration” and that “if required there will be greater rigor on these issues” was sent by the Foreign Minister, George Gerapetritis Wednesday morning.
“The previous March 2020 is clear,” he added Foreign Minister Admitting, however, that “the degree of difficulty is much greater because we are talking about an open sea. But there are opportunities under international law to be implemented. “
“If the phenomenon continues with large boats full of people, then be sure that we will have a great deal of tightening of the frame,” Mr Gerapetritis added.
As he explained, “At the moment Sudan, which is the immediate neighboring country, has 20 million displaced from the civil war and 2 million in Libya And Egypt and it is a potential bomb for Europe. At the moment the situation in Africa is blunt, they are events that are obviously calculated but not always controlled. Italy also has the problem that Greece has from the flows from East Libya from Western Libya. ” He noted, in fact, that “if the frigates had not been sent, they would have told us why the Navy is not activated.”
“Greece will ensure that migratory flows are controlled. There will be rigor for surveillance and this is part of the European Commission, “the Greek Foreign Minister added, noting that” Greece is the only European country to have excellent relations with Egypt and the Arab world. The right foreign policy is to have balanced diplomatic relations with both governments in Libya. There is mobility to find a solution to make the Libyan state uniform. In practice we will expect the functional improvement to migration and geopolitical issues. “
The opposition’s simplicity is alarming
In terms of The involvement of yesterday’s visit to Benghazi of the European Commissioner for Immigration with the Ministers of Immigration Italy and GreeceMr. Gerapetritis said, “I realize that there was an organizational dying that led to the breach of diplomatic protocols. It is not something organized by Greece. “
On the occasion of the opposition’s reactions, he commented “the simplicity with which the opposition perceives geopolitical phenomena is unintentional”, adding that “there will be an effort to have a functional relationship with Eastern Libya.” “Greece has to talk to Libya because it is its immediate neighbor.”
“We have never left Libya, he is always at the center of interest. Greece must have a balanced relationship with Libya, “he added, referring to a” productive discussion with Haftar “while estimating that” there will be a good relationship with Libya “.
In particular, for the turquoise He said that “it exists but it is invalid and non -existent and we are arranging to remind all international organizations. “Tourcolibycus is neutralized in practice by exercising the country’s sovereign rights. When you actively exercise your rights there will be a reaction with the journey. At first glance, Libya seems to have complied with the midline, “the foreign minister said.
Asked what was discussed with Haftar Regarding the marine zones, Mr Gerapetritis said “we realize that at the time the eastern side under Haftar is in the phase of the evaluation of the maritime zones but we are clear that Greece has a direct maritime border with Libya, we are ready to discuss EEZ”
Turkey
In terms of relationships with Turkeythe Greek Foreign Minister said that “the climate is a functional relationship that maintains the problems that the two countries have. Greece did not expect that Turkey would withdraw from its positions. It is obviously that when Greece exercises the rights, some will be annoyed. But this fact will never prevent us from exercising rights. The marine spatial planning reflects the rights of Greece in European acquis. “
As he also said, “the maritime parks will proceed. There is no shelf for the cable, will be done normally »
“Greece exercises the field that no one has dared, if there are reactions we will manage but we will not back down because of the reactions. Greece maintains its righteousness to exercise the expansion of territorial waters from international law, it was the Mitsotakis government that made it to the Ionian Sea, Greece will continue to grow. Greece is always standing with international law and does not have trading relationships »