“Greece, after the energy forum in Zappeion, proved to be an international class energy player,” said Serres Member of Parliament and Secretary of International Relations and EU. of New Democracy, Mr. Tassos Hatzivasiliou, in an interview with SKAI on Tuesday morning. He attacked the opposition who accused Kyriakos Mitsotakis of being allegedly marginalized by the American government: “With the parade of American and European ministers from Athens, did the other parties understand that?”, he asked.
As he explained, “our country hosts and will host energy infrastructures, critical not only for us, but for Europe and for the United States in general.” According to Mr. Hatzivasiliou, Greece is “becoming a transit energy hub, with the possibility of supplying the Balkans, Eastern Europe as far as Ukraine, but also as far west as Slovakia and Hungary”. This, as he noted, “means that our country will have an even stronger protection net around it, due to the importance of these infrastructures for the entire wider region.”
Referring to Turkey’s stance, he emphasized that “Ankara has not managed to re-enter the F-35 program. This is the reality.” He emphasized that “Turkey will be left out as long as it does not find a solution with the S-400 and as long as it depends on Russian oil and gas. Without them, it is difficult to change the climate in America.” He also pointed out that for any change “there is one more condition: that Congress change the sanctions law.”
At the same time, Mr. Hatzivasiliou referred to Greece’s significant progress in the field of defense innovation. As he said, “the Hellenic Center for Defense Innovation is moving very quickly” and already “tests are starting in the field in Evros, where Nikos Dendias will also go”. He added that “there is also the debate about Achilles’ shield”, with the government studying proposals, as “the conditions are different in the region”.
Regarding Greece’s foreign policy towards Turkey, he noted: “Yes to communication, yes to dialogue. But for the only difference we have – sea shelf and EEZ – and exclusively within the framework defined by International Law and the Law of the Sea. Full stop.” He emphasized that “good accounts make good friends” and that “the five-day conference can only take place if everyone accepts International Law and the participation of the Republic of Cyprus as a minimum basis”. He underlined that the Greek proposal, which is being prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is forward-looking, a sign of self-confidence and faith in the law of our positions.
Finally, Mr. Hatzivasileiou referred to Syria and regional stability, pointing out that “the big issue for Turkey is not to change the situation in Syria” and reminded that in the Security Council “Greece and the Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis consistently state the need for the protection of the Christian communities in Syria” noting that the positions of our country are currently identified with the priorities set by the White House for the area. “Greece has a primary role in religious diplomacy and underlines the presence of Christians in Syria and the Middle East in every discussion and every text in the UN Security Council,” he stressed.