The prime minister emphasized the importance of the debate on Libya, both in the informal meeting of the countries with common views on migration and the European Council itself.
For migration and Libya: ‘It is positive that the issue of Libya was discussed in the morning at the informal meeting and the summit we had the opportunity with my Italy to inform our colleagues about the significant increase in flows and for this new road that seems to be open to Eastern Libya willing to take action.
He will visit Libya in early July, shortly after the visit of the Greek Foreign Ministry, the responsible Committee of Immigration with his counterparts from Italy, Malta and Greece. It will convey the message that this practice cannot be continued and ensure consultation of the Libyan Authorities to have better border surveillance.
Greece has moved independently by sending ships out of the territorial waters of Libya and whenever boats are found to be communicated by the same Libyan authorities and returning to Libya.
We will use all the measures we have at our disposal as Greece and as Europe, that is, carrot and whip, to ensure that this new road will not be consolidated. Those who use this street are Egyptian citizens. They should return to Egypt immediately. It will be transferred to Egypt to accept its citizens’ returns that end up in Europe without being entitled to asylum, as Egypt is considered a safe country».
On the issue of European defense, Mr Mitsotakis referred to the two financial tools promoted to enhance EU defense capacity, expressing optimism about the debate on joint lending.
For equipment: «Countries that were in the past category, such as Denmark and Finland, recognize the need for defense spending and agree that these costs must be funded by a European tool. Greece was one of the first countries to insist on loosening fiscal rules so that additional defense costs could not be counted on the rules of the excessive deficit and we succeeded because our country has activated the escape clause.
Safe is a financial tool, we consider how much it can be useful in our country. It is a tool that encourages common supplies between European countries and we may be able to use it. We expect the final proposals of the Ministry of Defense.
If you see the European Council conclusions, as published in the morning, as we received them and as it is now, you will find that there has been a change in the conclusions. One by one. And this change is very important to Greece, because it clearly says, if I am not mistaken, in paragraph 21, that cooperation with third countries is understood that they are unanimous, but also a very important parameter, which we added, that these countries share the goals of the European Union and the European Union Policy.
It is another registration, I would say, in our institutional arsenal now at the European Council’s decisions that countries that want to participate in these financial tools cannot have, for example, a very low compliance with the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union».
Asked by RES-EIA about the reference that Greece wanted to the conclusions in the Turkish Memorandum, what it can have, since Libya and Turkey want to do research in the region and in view of the Foreign Minister’s visit to Libya, what can we expect:
“First of all, Lord Armeni, it is positive that, at the request of Greece, the old word was repeated, which characterizes the Turkolibyy Memorandum.
Important that this is done at this juncture, to clearly send a message to Libya, that we do not accept, not as Greece, as Europe, no such thing. But I have to tell you, Mr. Armeni, because I hear in Greece again a criticism, I would say, quite epidermal and non -existent, that when a country exerts its literal rights in the field, as Greece did, not in theory, in the field, essentially announcing plots, and giving it a lot of existence.
But without still seeing in great detail what was announced, at first glance it seems that the plots announced respect the midline. And I think this is a positive development. And in any case, the invitation to Libya, to any Libyan principle, in any case, is able to conduct such a negotiation, I doubt whether this can be done as long as Libya has a single government, to delineate marine zones with Libya.
And one last one. In the past our country had an opportunity to make such a delimitation. He didn’t. Let some of them remember this, who had duties, had these responsibilities in the past. On the contrary, we are the ones who delineated an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf with Egypt and Italy and who exercise our sovereign rights in the field. “
For the Middle East, Mr. Mitsotakis stated the following: «First of all we believe in diplomacy and now call on all parties involved to negotiate the future of Iran’s nuclear program, in a logic that will ensure that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. This is what I think is something that unites all my colleagues and not only. But the solution again, we emphasize it, it must be diplomatic and not military. Greece once again reinstated the issue of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. It is included in the conclusions, one I would say an urgent request to finally end this Israeli operation in Gaza in order not to be paid by civilians, in combination, in combination, to emphasize this, with the liberation of the hostages, who are still alive.
And I think now is the time to exert the maximum pressure on Israel, to move on to such a move».
The Prime Minister was also asked about the OPECEPE case and replied as follows: «I do not often comment on internal current issues by being abroad. I was all day without phones at the summit. I have not been fully informed of the content of the case file. I will do it very soon and when I make my decisions you will find out».