“The government is practicing foreign policy, not with patriotic crowns,” said Serres MP and New Democracy’s International Relations Secretary, Mr. Tasos Hatzivasiliou, on ERT’s “Connections” show with journalist Costas Papachliminos, Kostas Papachliminos.
Mr Hadjivasiliou described this move as “the most important Greek decision to protect the environment for many decades”, noting that the new maritime parks “make our country essentially pioneer in the Mediterranean in protecting marine wealth”. He emphasized that the parks were “engraved on purely environmental criteria” and sending the double message that “we are ready to protect our marine wealth”, but also that “our country is gaining more special weight”.
The ND MP added that the government is coming at the moment and implements the rights arising from our national sovereignty. “And this issue for us is not the subject of negotiation with any third country,” he said. At the same time, it categorically denied any suspicion of recession to Turkey. As he said, “the Turkish reactions to the Greek decision are the best response to those who within Greece accuse the government of allegedly reserved or subordinate policy.” On the contrary, he pointed out that there is a clear strategic planning to promote marine parks in other areas, and will gradually unfold and accurately.
Referring to Greece’s permanent positions in the Aegean, Mr. Chatzivasiliou was clear: “First of all the Aegean legal status is clear. International conditions are regulated by letter. Secondly, there is no theory of gray zones. Thirdly, we continue to want a channel of communication with Turkey, because we have a pending difference: setting EEZ and continental shelf. But issues concerning our rights, as they arise from our sovereignty, are not discussed with anyone. “
Concerning Libya and the recent actions of Tripoli, Mr. Hadjivasiliou explained that Athens has made it clear: “If Libya wishes to come closer to Europe, if it wishes to receive European resources, then all this is compulsorily passed through Greece. Dots and dash. “
He also denounced Libya’s attempt to discourage the large energy giants from the research south of Crete, while describing the recent letter of Tripoli to the UN as “unknowingly” and “at the limits of the funny”.
In closing, he recalled that the New Democracy government has already “increased territorial waters on the Western Front, in the Ionian”, “made exemplary EEZ agreements with Italy and Egypt”, “speaks with energy giants, so that we can go into investigations.” All this, he said, confirm the Mitsotakis government’s commitment “to national foreign policy for the benefit of the country’s interest”.