For the first time, Greece has taken the initiative regarding its sovereign rights, which it secures in the field, stated Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis responding to a parliamentary question from independent MP Michalis Chourdakis.
The Foreign Minister sent a clear message that Greece “is not afraid” nor “runs behind anyone,” while pledging that regardless of any reactions from illegal claims, the current government “will not stop.” Regarding Turkish reactions, he noted these stem from the government’s decision “for Greece to be actively operating in the field with actions, and we will not stop regardless of any reactions from previous claims or illegal demands. The current government will not stop.”
Concerning the research mission of the vessel “FILIA” between Lemnos and Samothrace with Navy support, Gerapetritis said it was completed normally according to its program. The minister emphasized that Greece issued a NAVTEX for this research on July 5, Turkey issued an illegal anti-NAVTEX on July 7, which was properly responded to by our country on July 8. “This proves that what is planned gets done and completed,” he stressed.
The Foreign Minister noted that “Turkey has developed – for decades – specific policies regarding illegal claims, and the ‘Blue Homeland’ doctrine dates back to the 1990s, as do the so-called ‘Gray Zones’ issues or demilitarization claims of the islands.”
Gerapetritis on marine parks: It’s much more than originally planned
However, the situation from Turkish provocations, according to Gerapetritis, “has not worsened,” as evidenced by today having Maritime Spatial Planning on maps, which constitutes European acquis that Greece never had before, depicting the outermost limits of the country’s potential continental shelf. He added that the current government dared to reach the median line in the Libyan Sea, attracting the interest of private giants, with all the geopolitical and strategic value this confidence has for Greece, proving we implement our sovereign rights in the field, not theoretically.
For his part, Chourdakis accused the government of announcing “truncated” marine parks, with Giorgos Gerapetritis pointing out that compared to initial planning, in the Aegean we are at plus 25% of territorial extent. “It’s much more than originally planned, and this is the first phase. More phases will follow in the Aegean, because Greece is environmentally sensitive, a pioneer in Europe, and on the other hand, we are not afraid,” Gerapetritis characteristically noted.
“Do you want inaction? Do you want Greece not to act and follow, or do you want it to nullify reactions in the field? It’s the government’s choice to be actively present with actions. And when we say actions, we mean the field. We will not stop, regardless of any reactions from illegal claims, the current government will not stop,” he emphasized.
Nevertheless, Chourdakis persisted with pointed remarks about national deterrence strategy, with Gerapetritis responding that we are now in a position to have maritime spatial planning that the country never had, constituting European acquis and defining for the first time on maps the outermost limits of potential continental shelf.
Gerapetritis: “Our sovereign rights are implemented in the field, not theoretically – We don’t rely on anyone, we build alliances”
“Who is the one who dared to reach the median line in the Libyan Sea? And attract the interest of private companies – giants? And today we can say our sovereign rights are implemented in the field, not theoretically?” Giorgos Gerapetritis wondered. He maintained that for the first time Greece is taking initiative in major field issues, such as the ability to exploit natural resources and deposits south of Crete with tender announcements, Maritime Spatial Planning, and designation of marine parks in the Aegean and Ionian seas.
Simultaneously, responding to Chourdakis’s criticism about the absence of active diplomatic and operational countermeasures, Giorgos Gerapetritis noted that Greece ensures that alongside diplomacy, it strengthens its defense, as after decades it finds itself in an exceptionally strong deterrent position with the acquisition of F-35s, Rafales, and frigates that enhance its defensive armor so there is absolutely no possibility of external determination.
“We don’t rely on anyone, we build alliances. We independently create strong diplomacy and strong defense, and right now we are at our strongest point. Greece is self-sufficient, shapes situations, and doesn’t simply follow. There is never any case of retreating from any national position,” Gerapetritis stated.
