Said Greece still wishes to delimit with Libya
“The Greek government guarantees its sovereign rights in the field, we are not theoretical, we do, we do not inactive,” the Foreign Minister underlined George Gerapetritis In an interview with the “Parapolitika” radio station.
As he noted, he has recently developed the maritime spatial planning that was long -term, developing maritime parks, performs plots for hydrocarbon surveys in giants and added: “It is obvious that there will be reactions. You know, the Mediterranean is a closed sea, in which we have 21 states to draw claims, 21 Mediterranean countries. “
Regarding the map that was traded yesterday for the memorandum signed between Libya and Turkey, “it seems at first glance that it attributes searches to marine zones, which are south of the middle. So essentially the field of jurisdiction of Libya. So they do not hurt Greek sovereign rights. “
He said that Greece is still wanting the delimitation with Libya, and in the near future he plans his visit there. But “it is a state in which there is no political unity at the moment, there is no single interlocutor.”
“Libya is a general geopolitical problem, not just for Greece. It is also a problem for Italy, where it also has increased migratory flows from western Libya. And it’s a problem as a whole for Europe, “he said, adding that Greece is coordinating its action with other countries.
“The issue will also be raised today at the European Council in Brussels and I expect that there will be a clear position on the part of the European Union in relation to the lack of the Turkolibyan memorandum. In terms of ensuring our own interests, all necessary moves have been made. “
He noted that Greece was not taken aback by Libya’s reactions. “Alas we wouldn’t expect them, as we expected Turkey’s reactions to maritime spatial planning. Greece will exercise its rights, regardless of the groaning, which will be expressed. “
Regarding the criticism of foreign policy handling, he said that “those who, in their own way, raise foreign policy issues, should think of the damage they are doing. When Greece is currently in the spotlight, it is giving struggles to the most difficult post -war environment that Europe has experienced over the last 75 years and has conquered its position. “
Yesterday, he stressed, he was the only European to meet the US Secretary of State. “Greece is everywhere in the spotlight. In recent days, I have had a conversation with fifteen foreign ministers in the wider region on developments. “
“This type of political nihilism, not to accept anything positive and to seek the negative in issues, which are very high sensitivity to the country and for the Greeks, and at this juncture that the whole world is shaking, is not productive for the homeland.”
He noted that “there are those foras that will stop any action against international law. There is KYSEA, which organizes all the scenarios and we are completely prepared at this time. “
“The Egyptian government is on a good choice to help with the Sinai Monastery”
Regarding the Sinai Monastery case in Egypt, he noted that Greece is “at an advanced stage of discussions, so as to ensure legal status protection of the monastery, which will be done for the first time in 15 centuries. That is, the monks can settle for a long time, and not depend on visas renewals. To ensure as far as possible the ownership regime of the monastery’s worship sites and to have, for the first time in fifteen centuries, the recognition of the Egyptian state of the special regime of the monastery. “
He pointed out that “the Egyptian government is on a good option to be able to promote these issues”.
He stressed that Egypt is very critical for the strategic interests of our country. Yesterday at the Islamic Cooperation Organization, six Islamic arc countries, including Egypt leading, opposed the efforts to resolve the occupied and against the Greek state in relation to the Muslim minority.
“I think we are at a good level of cooperation, we will have developments next time. If required we will have a new meeting with the Egyptian Foreign Minister. I find that good cooperation between the two countries will lead to good results, “he said.
The Supreme Council of Cooperation with Turkey will take place next time
Mr Gerapetritis pointed out that the Supreme Council of Cooperation with Turkey will take place next time, but for Greece and Cyprus, the United Nations Organization for the Cyprus Organization is more critical. It will take place in July, probably in New York.
“The structured dialogue with Turkey – because this is the peculiarity of dialogue over the last two years – and the political dialogue and the confidence -building measures and the positive agenda continue normally. We will also have the Supreme Council when the two leaders can synchronize, “he added.
Asked whether Greece can block Turkey in terms of its involvement in the EU defense mechanisms, he initially recalled that Turkey has developed a defense industry that has actually became a diplomatic weapon for the country. He pointed out that this EU regulation is passed by a special majority, not each country veto. “We cannot block this regulation. Anyone who says this, says it either because he doesn’t know or because he wants to project something different, “he said.
On the other hand, he added, Greece and some other countries have objected to being able to participate in Safe any country at any time. “We said that in order for each country to be able to participate in EU defense programs, a bilateral agreement between the EU and the third country must first be signed. If Turkey wants to enter these programs, it should be signed by an EU-Turkey agreement before signed. There will be unanimity in this agreement. “
So, he pointed out, “not only was it not a failure under the circumstances, but we created from scratch a stage in which we will have a decisive reason.”
“I respect any different view. He, who thinks he could do something that is more effective and more beneficial to the country, let it come to say, but say it with data. We, while not providing a veto, created it thanks to our diplomatic strategy, “he concluded.