“We all accept that Iran’s threat is active and she should definitely get rid of it.”
Starting today the unloading operation of the small number of Greeks located in Iranas well as our diplomatic mission, as the Foreign Minister said, George Gerapetritisin an interview with the Mega television station.
“Yesterday we had the repatriation of 140 citizens from the Israeli war zone, through extremely difficult conditions with a long run -up, through Egypt, Mr Gerapetritis noted and added that there are still several Greeks in Israel, those who wanted to leave and if needed will be done.
“We had three C-27 aircraft in C-130, of course, if required we will do a new business. This requires a very difficult cooperation with both the Israelis and the Egyptiansbecause they go through difficult areas and mainly because the conditions are at the moment that they have become extremely asymmetric, “he said.
As he pointed out, the business in Iran is even more difficult: “We are arranging to start their departure today. We are talking about an extremely difficult exercise. Will not be done by air because conditions are not appropriate, But there is a special plan of unloading. “
The Foreign Minister pointed out that since the day the Israeli and Iranian conflict began began a recording operation of all Greeks. “Our diplomatic missions to Iran and Israel are in constant communication with the Greeks. We call on the Greeks to remain safe and to be in touch with our consulates, “he said.
‘We are at zero time’
“Right now we have a very large number of regional conflicts of critical players,” he said, adding: “We are at zero time. And this is the right way to say that. Because large countries, which have a strong footprint and a strong arsenal, are currently in a state of high intensity and conflict. “
As he noted, there are 130 armed conflicts around the world, a number that had never been in the past World War II. “It is a number that scares and mostly scares the fact that countries that have an extremely powerful arsenal and countries that are not the most democratic in the world are involved in these conflicts,” he said.
“We are in an asymmetric situation and there must be a collective action and in this context we had the Extraordinary Council of European Union Ministers so that Europe has a harmonized attitude,” he added.
The Foreign Minister pointed out that “the position of Greece that has passed in the EU is that what is important today is to have a decline in tension in the wider region and to have a continuation of discussions in relation to the future nuclear arsenal that Iran could potentially have.”
He stressed, and unfortunately, unfortunately, in recent years the EU has not had a single stance and this is also linked to the mix of Member States.
“We all accept that Iran’s threat is active”
“We all accept that Iran’s threat is active and it should definitely decorate because this is not just about regional security, it has to do with ecumenical security and overall security policy,” Mr Gerapetritis said, adding::
“On the other hand, further intensity is a very high risk because it is a hotbed of ignition. People cannot withstand another great war, a war that will participate in states that are in a state of very high alert for war. “
“What today is important is to be able to have a stop that would not involve our own country more actively at a greater outbreak of risk.”he noted.
According to him, Greece is currently in an extremely dangerous for geography. “We are surrounded by Libya, which is a state in a state of total division, Egypt that we know all problems with closed, essentially, Suez and with great risk of marine navigation. From the Middle East, in which the ignition fireplaces multiply daily. And from the Balkans the tensions are constantly finding space. So, in such a neighborhood it is not just simplistic to discuss or simply raise the flag of the revolution, it is extremely dangerous to the country, “he explained.
Mr Gerapetritis stressed that Turkey has previously demonstrated a major assertive attitude towards Greece, pointing out, pointing out How the maps that were published are neither today nor yesterday’s position in Turkey, but for years, decades. “It is, in fact, the imprinting of a doctrine, which is completely non -existent and has no basis in international law the doctrine of the blue homeland. We understand that this position is not going to be sent, “he added.
Asked about speeches and Criticism by former Prime Ministers Costas Karamanlis and Antonis Samaras, He replied that because yesterday the Israeli unloading operation had to be at the business center and did not follow them.
‘Tell me a sovereign right given’
“I don’t answer, I respect everyone’s views. I do not consider anyone enemy, I have no intolerance any hostility, “he said, adding:” I will never refer to the words of others. Because I am a man who comes from society and in society I will return, I am not a professional politician to think of my political future or to support the political past, I will be very clear. Would the Greek citizen prefer today to be at the forefront of any war conflict? Would he prefer to have at the moment, when the whole Mediterranean is burning, to have thousands of Turkish fighter overflows, as was the case in previous periods? Would he prefer to have huge migratory currents from Turkey, as was the case a few years ago, than to have this quiet? Would he prefer not to have the maritime spatial planning, the marine parks Exxon and Chevron? Because all this and much more happened in the last two years. As long as I serve the Foreign Ministry I have a concern to serve: citizens and national interest. “
He argued that he considers a greater achievement of Greek foreign policy over the last two years that discussions about the Cypriot grace and improvement in Greek -Turkish relations have been resolved.
“It is obvious that we do not think that problems with Turkey will be resolved from day to day. The map published by Turkey is a map that has been circulating for 15 years So we are waiting for this reaction to which he had announced anyway, “he said, adding:” Tell me a sovereign right that was granted. I can say that nothing has been granted, but also what we have conquered. Because it’s easy to talk to the aftermath but it would be a good idea to mention your own at some point. The maritime spatial planning in the country has been in the last two years, the maritime parks, the nihilism essentially of the violations of 7,000 a year has taken place in the last two years. “
“Greece is not going to have any active involvement in any dispute”
The Foreign Minister noted that Greece is among the 15 countries that determine the global security architecture and the UN Security Council was elected almost to ride. “It was a vote of confidence in a policy of principles, not in a political trading, not a policy that divides but into a policy it synthesizes. We, right now, can talk to the Middle East, with Africa, with those who are in armed conflicts and we can talk in terms of respect, because our policy is not based on any second thought or any transaction, “he said.
As he pointed out, the last five days has spoken with 15 foreign ministers in the wider Middle East and everyone conveyed their respect to Greece’s stance. “This respect has been won and has not been won by either patriotic crowns or a trading policy,” he said.
“As part of this bidder in relation to foreign policy criticism, I hear at the same time that I am a friend-friend and that I am a pro-Israeli,” he said, adding: “The answer is clear: I am a philhellenic and my attitude will not be there. Greece will always be with international law, because if you are not with it when a critical time comes, you will not be able to invoke it. “
“Greece is not going to have any active involvement in any dispute, this is our fixed position,” he noted. “Today we are experiencing the worst moment after World War II. There has never been a similar moment and in this real misery, Greece is not only standing up but has a very strong reason in the global event. “ He stressed.
“Would we like to have an aggressive attitude towards that of the stunning attitude, which would actually cause dislikes instead of composing alliances? This attitude that wants Greece to come out in a way that will be aggressive is an attitude that is very dangerous to the country. Greece is a composition and not a division, “he said.
Asked about the criticism of the country’s foreign policy, he replied that “national issues activate very powerful antibodies to people’s anger. It is extremely easy to be able to become pleasant to the citizens by lifting the national instincts of the citizens, and for this reason, unfortunately, this type of criticism is extremely dangerous. Criticism that has elements of either simplicity or populism in any field may be negative for the country is dangerous. “
“I have the feeling that at the moment the country has the most robust foreign policy it could have.”Mr. Gerapetritis emphasized and added: “This is a national strategy that continues, under the prior composition of the Prime Minister’s government, we had agreements that grew up and strengthened the country. We had the agreement with Italy, with Egypt to expand territorial waters. We move on daily for a stronger country. “
“When referring to the nationals, it is good to speak with data. The fact that I suspect there is an agreement under the table, that I suspect that in the future we can find ourselves to be subordinated, that I suspect that we are currently losing our baskets at sea is speculations that are extremely dangerous, ”he said.
As he pointed out, the Turks had announced that they would deposit the map to UNESCO. “There was nothing more. We have published a map with the ultimate boundaries of the potential continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, which is now part of the European acquis, is international law, as opposed to what was deposited by Turkey which is a non -compulsory mission that has no legal burden. “