Greek diplomacy sends a clear message of determination to the Southeast Mediterranean, with the backdrop of visiting the transitional foreign minister of Syria, Assad al -Simbani, in Athens and his meeting with George Gerapetritis.
In a period of geopolitical rearrangements, Greece -Syria approach is particularly important, As it joins Athens’ broader strategy to intercept Turkish penetration into crucial zones of the Eastern Mediterranean and prevent the emergence of a new to the “Turkish Memorandum” standards.
At the meeting, The Greek Foreign Minister reiterated Greece’s support for sovereignty, The territorial integrity and unity of Syria, while calling on Damascus to comply with commitments for inclusive governance, without exclusion of ethnic or religious groups and without foreign interventions. Particular reference was made to the protection of the Christian populations in the area.
At the same time, diplomatic sources make it clear that Athens is not going to stay idle If Damascus and Ankara attempt a common EEZ delimitation in the model of the Turkish -Libyan controversial agreement. At the same time, Greece intensifies its contacts in Libya, seeking to limit – albeit delayed – Turkish influence, with openings in both Benghazi and Tripoli.
The goal is to open road For official EEZ delineation negotiation, With General Khalifa Happere as a potential interlocutor, thanks to Athens’ close contacts with his son. In the meantime, Cyprus, fully coordinated with Greek foreign policy, has submitted verbalization to the UN, condemning the Turkolibyyan agreement as non -existent and non -binding.
Syrian Foreign Minister’s visit and his meeting with the Gerapetritis They are part of a wider Greek strategy of upgrading the role of the country in the SE Mediterranean. Behind the official statements, there is already a backdrop of intense diplomatic competition between Greece and Turkey, with the prize control of developments on EEZ, energy partnerships and regional alliances.