The government’s decision to establish national maritime parks in the Ionian Sea and the Aegean makes Greece a pioneer in the field of marine ecosystem protection in the Mediterranean and therefore widely accepted by ecological organizations, international organizations and civil society. ” G. Gerapetritis In an interview with the newspaper “TA NEA”.
As he pointed out with the new national marine parks, about one -third of national territorial waters will enjoy greater protection and upgrade their surveillance. He noted that with the completion of the planned institutional process, public consultation and issuing a relevant Presidential Decree, environmental studies on the new Aegean maritime parks will launch.
“Greece does not accept any suggestions for what to do in its territorial waters, and we have made it clear with our response to Turkey’s reaction,” he said, adding: she added:
“Nothing is going to stop us from exercising our rights and implementing our national policies. We proved it with maritime spatial planning as well as the call for research and utilization of maritime land south of Crete, at Chevron’s interest. “
He pointed out that he declares “world -views opposed to the logic of immobility”, as “this perception of beneficial immobility that has exacerbated Turkish claims over time and remained our own negotiating position.”
He noted that since September 2023 “we have chosen to place our bilateral relationships in the context of a structured dialogue, consisting of three pillars with specific owners and deliverables, in which we are working systematically. Just last June we had the realization of political dialogue and the positive agenda. It was preceded by the business mission in May in Constantinople and the confidence -building measures in Thessaloniki. “
He pointed out that this “dynamic has been shaped and produced”, in commerce, the reduction of migratory flows and to minimize the number of Greek airspace violations.
Regarding high -level meetings, “the prime minister is expected to meet with the Turkish President next September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where the time of the next Supreme Council of Cooperation will be determined.”
Mr Gerapetritis said that “in order to open the Hague road, a common place must be found in terms of the scope of the debate. Our position of one difference remains unmoved. “
He emphasized that “the Casus Belli threat of exercising legal under international law of a country is unthinkable and constitutes a constant thorn in Greek -Turkish relations.”
“The expansion of our territorial waters to 12 nautical miles is a right that not only we do not dispel but constitutes a constant parameter of our foreign policy,” he underlined.
Our major national priority is trying to reunite Cyprus
Concerning the Cyprus issue, he pointed out that it is important that the informal meetings were restored under the UN Secretary -General, both between the two leaders and in expanded form, which have led to a list of confidence building measures and a timetable for the next steps.
“We have invested in this goal a great deal of energy, in consensus with the Republic of Cyprus, and the improvement of Greek -Turkish relations was decisive,” he noted, adding that “until a few months ago, Turkey’s firm position and Turkish Cypriot leadership was that they would only discuss it. However, as long as discussions are being held within the UN, it is unacceptable that the framework set by the Agency itself is accepted through the Security Council resolutions. “
“Divide rationales that ignore international law will not be accepted by anyone, not only by Greece and Cyprus. We will continue to have our major national priority the effort to reunite Cyprus. “
Regarding Libya, the Foreign Minister said Turkey’s multiannual penetration, “culminating in the 2019 non-existent Turkish-Lybian memorandum, has not helped the country’s autonomous course.”
“In recent years, we have gradually built our relationship with the two sides of Libya, upgrading the representation to our embassy in Tripoli and expanding the activity of our Consulate General in Benghazi,” he noted.
He pointed out that his visits to Tripoli and Benghazi were well prepared, the meetings were at the highest level.
“In terms of maritime zones, we are willing to restart the technical dialogue on EEZ delimitation, out of discussion anything related to non -existent agreements.”
He pointed out that “Libyan verbal intercourse in the UN reflect earlier positions and will be in -depth and intensely answered.” But he added that it is important that when Libya gave the exploitation of maritime plots, he respected the position of Greece for the midline.
Concerning immigration, there was a significant increase in flows from eastern Libya, but said that after his visits, “the situation is getting better”.
“Migration flows have been limited, bilateral cooperation with both sides has begun and the Turkish-Lybian memorandum has not been ratified by the East Libyan Parliament. Despite the major internal problems in Libya, Greece is today the only European country to have direct communication channels at the highest level with both sides. “
Early August in Athens the Egyptian Foreign Minister
Concerning the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine of Mount Sinai, he noted that “the decision of the Court of Appeal acknowledged the Osonian nature of the monastery -for the first time in an explicit and institutionally unprofessional way -but did not recognize the ownership of the monastery.”
Consequently, she added “we did not” lose “the Holy Monastery, which maintains its Greek Orthodox character.”
“Of course this is not enough. The issues of ownership of worship, legal personality and the renewal of the monastic community remain open. Following the issuance of the court ruling, I was responsible for discussing these issues with my Egyptian counterpart, which I will welcome to Athens in early August. “
It was extremely important that Greece is discussing with Egypt on the issue of the monastery, as this is how the role of a guardian who has historically been awarded her and stressed that there is a common will to settle the pending legal issues.
Still, he said. A bill already in the process of being processed in the Hellenic Parliament, permanently resolves the issue of the legal personality of the Holy Monastery of Sinai in the Greek territory.
Asked about the criticism of foreign policy issues, he noted: “Sometimes I feel that the ultimate goal is not me. In addition, the planning of foreign policy is not owned by the Foreign Minister but is determined by the Prime Minister and KYSEA. “
“My only motivation is the desire to serve my homeland, in which I owe what I have achieved,” he said. “Those who from opposition, ignorance of complex geopolitical challenges, self -sacrificing time or to dismiss their own responsibilities of the past, choose the inexpensive shouts about national issues, aiming to stimulate people’s anger.”
“I believe that when I leave the Foreign Minister’s honor, Greece will be in a very strong position in the world, with a strong imprint on international organizations, with strategic alliances with critical countries, with active policies that have promoted Greece’s position, with the Greeks feeling safe. And be sure that I will do what others omit in six: self -criticism. Criticism without self -criticism is the definition of hypocrisy, “he concluded.