“In the coming days, we will take the necessary steps and make official statements at the Foreign Affairs Council as well,” stressed Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis, regarding Turkey’s marine parks, while noting that the Greek government “has officially communicated to European authorities, since last week, all of Turkey’s provocative actions.” The minister initially emphasized that calm waters “are not actually an objective in themselves, but rather the means through which we can maintain a functional relationship with Turkey.”
Speaking on OPEN TV, Mr. Gerapetritis added: “It is obvious that we must engage in dialogue with every neighbor. Of course, we will continue to do so. On the other hand, I want to be absolutely clear: calm waters do not by any means suggest that we have retreated in any way from our fundamental national positions, or that we will not continue to pursue our initiatives.”
Gerapetritis: We are vigilant, but not alarmed by Turkey’s marine parks
“What has changed is that, for the first time in decades, Greece is the one taking the initiative. We are of course monitoring Turkey’s reactions. Turkey is reacting to our initiatives — our maritime spatial planning, our marine parks, the exploitation of underwater resources… Turkey’s positions, as expressed today, are nothing new — they go back decades,” the Foreign Minister emphasized.
He went on to say: “What is new is what the Greek state is bringing to the table today, under the current government — with responsibility, credibility, and a strong international footprint. Turkey’s positions date back decades. That does not mean, of course, that all of this should go unanswered. But what sets the situation apart today is that Greece is strong diplomatically, economically, and defensively, and that Greece is now the one driving the agenda. Greece has never put on the table what it is putting on the table today.”
Mr. Gerapetritis noted that Ankara has reduced its violations and that migration flows have also decreased. However, he pointed out that Ankara “continues to engage in provocative actions. And these are being addressed as they should be. But let us be clear: if we believe that shutting down channels of communication with Turkey serves the national interest, I would argue that this would, in reality, be a grave mistake and an enormous risk.”
On the marine parks declared by Turkey, Mr. Gerapetritis responded: “We are vigilant, but not alarmed. And we are not alarmed because we have the strength to uphold our national interests in any arena. The Greek government — and I personally — have already officially communicated Turkey’s provocative actions to all European authorities since last week. And in the coming days, we will take the necessary steps and make official statements at the Foreign Affairs Council as well.”
