What did the Foreign Minister say about marine parks and Turkish reactions
“Greece for the first time is taking the initiative of moves on major issues by exercising its rights on the field,” the Foreign Minister said. George Gerapetritis, Answering a timely question by Independent MP Michalis Hourdakis about the exercise of deterrent diplomacy in the field on the occasion of the new Turkish Navtex and the challenges in the Aegean.
Mr Gerapetritis noted that the field of diplomacy is “to come – as it is today – and to implement those that are recognized to you, such as the ability to exploit natural resources and deposits with the announcement of marine land south of Crete, as is the case with the sea.”
“Greece is at its most powerful point, as we are creating a strong diplomacy, with a strong defense at the same time and after decades we have an extremely strong position in the deterrent.”he added.
“We don’t rely on anyone. We build alliances, we strengthen our diplomatic footprint in international organizations (UN and EU) at the same time with powerful factors in the region and the world, “the Foreign Minister stressed to add:” Greece is self -contained, it has built its alliances, position. “
Concerning the research action of the ship “FRIEND” between Lemnos and Samothraki with the assistance of the Navy, Mr. Gerapetritis said that it was completed normally, according to its program. The minister noted that Navtex was published by Greece on July 5, Turkey issued an illegal anti -NAVTEX on July 7, which, however, in the proper way was answered on July 8 from our country. “This proves that what is planned is done and completed,” he underlined.
The Foreign Minister said that “Turkey has developed – for decades – comparable policies regarding illegal claims and the doctrine of the” blue homeland “referring to the 1990s, as well as the so -called” gray zones “or claims”.
However, the situation by Turkish provocation, according to Mr Gerapetritis, “has not deteriorated”, proof that today we are at the point of having a marine spatial planning on paper, which is a European acquis that Greece has never had, and captures its distant thresholds. He added that the current government is the one who dared to reach Libyan’s midline, attracting the interest of private giants, with whatever geopolitical and strategic value this confidence in Greece has, proving that we are applying our sovereign rights in the field and not.
For marine environmental parksthe minister said that in relation to the original planning we are in the Aegean at +25% of the spatial area. It is much more than what was originally planned and we are in the first phase. They will follow next and we are not afraid.
Concerning Turkish reactions, he noted that they are due to the government’s decision “for Greece to be actively in the field with actions and we will not stop as many reactions as there are previous claims or illegal claims. The present government will not stop. “
Mr Hourdakis argued that Turkey is proceeding with methodical steps in its plan to implement the doctrine of the Blue Homeland, which has evolved into its official policy with the creation of perpetrators.
According to the MP, Greece “cannot respond with phrasal protests and work with the illusion that calm diplomacy will bring results and prevent any judgments.” Turkey, he stressed, “is not falling from the transitions” and attributed to the external policy “stillness”.
Mr. Hourdakis pointed out that “the central question is not who is right. Clearly international law and sea law are on our side. The question, however, is who can impose this right. ” “Unfortunately, it seems that Turkey is imposing its claims by drilling, nautical stamps, challenges or canceling our own efforts,” he said, adding that the protests and Community conclusions “no one reads them”, we should “not only”.
Among other things, the independent MP wondered what had happened on the issue of Kaso’s pontization. He described the announcement of the demarcation of marine parks in the Aegean on 1/5 of the area as “lame” and argued that we should have “an open discussion with all parties on what is going on with our foreign policy”. He asked to find out whether we would ask for the activation of Article 42 (7) of the Lisbon Treaty on our relations with Turkey. “Will there be a matter of sanctions – not theoretically but on a practical level – of the EU to Turkey for every time it becomes aggressive and violates the rules of international law? Will prevent prestige exercises in all areas that are the heart of the problem? Will he revive the single defensive doctrine with Cyprus? “Mr. Hourdakis stressed.