“This government and personally the Prime Minister believe in dialogue with Turkey and with all our neighboring countries. At the same time, however, we emphasize every time and this is proven by the results of our policy, that dialogue does not mean even the slightest retreat on anything. On the contrary. It means strengthening.” The above was underlined by the government spokesman, Pavlos Marinakis, in view of the possible Mitsotakis-Erdoğan meeting, if finalized, in New York.
Specifically, speaking on ERT news Radio 105.8 today, Wednesday (17/9), Pavlos Marinakis initially stated: “Foreign policy under Kyriakos Mitsotakis has strengthened Greece both in the Ionian Sea, with the extension to 12 nautical miles and with the EEZ agreements with Egypt and Italy, with the Maritime Spatial Planning that secured the country’s furthest potential limits and with a series of developments, such as the Chevron news, which show that Greece is becoming a strong player in the region, in a period that I think is characterized by absolute uncertainty. So yes, we believe in dialogue, we do not retreat, we defend our positions and we will continue to implement a policy that appears to be delivering results.”
Regarding the TurkishNAVTEX for surveys with the “Piri Reis” in the Aegean and the readiness exercise ordered at dawn for the Greek Armed Forces, the government spokesman noted: “The issue is being handled by the competent ministry, the Ministry of National Defense, which has provided me with relevant information and I don’t think we need to say more at this time since it is a situation that is under management by the competent ministry.”
Pavlos Marinakis on the Middle East: Our country has had a clear position from the beginning
Regarding developments in the Middle East, Pavlos Marinakis mentioned: “Our country has had a clear position from the beginning, having condemned the attack by terrorist Hamas, from which everything started, and the need to release the hostages, without weighing the value of human life. Every hostage, every civilian, every person who is in danger, their life, their physical integrity has the same value for us. Beyond that, of course, we were the ones who took the lead both in the UN with personal actions by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis to submit and vote on a resolution, the most resounding resolution for the need for a ceasefire and protection of civilians. It is obvious that an end must be put to all this tragedy.”
“We have spoken clearly. Our position is clear regarding Palestine, regarding timing and details, for all these issues that have been raised, obviously all these are dictated by an overall foreign policy strategy. However, I repeat, the protection of civilians takes priority, the provision of humanitarian aid, supporting every humanitarian aid initiative because we cannot close our eyes to what is happening and especially in these days when it seems there is an even greater deterioration of the situation,” added Pavlos Marinakis.
Regarding criticism directed at Europe for not rising to the occasion in the face of this humanitarian crisis and not exhausting the scope of pressure particularly toward the Israeli side, Pavlos Marinakis emphasized: “The position of the Greek government is that every initiative must be dictated by the need to protect these people who are in danger, but every initiative and our stance must be clear regarding the role played by various actors in the region. That is, we must not close our eyes to the role played by the terrorist organization Hamas, which attacked Israel. At the same time, however, despite our country’s established and longstanding alliance, like the alliance it has with Israel, we must tell our allies the truth, that is, that all this that has been created is a tragedy and has actually cost lives, so many of our fellow human beings have been lost – women, children, civilians, people who from one day to the next saw their property, but even their own people being lost and many of them unfortunately ended up in the most tragic way.”
What Pavlos Marinakis said about new migration flows to Crete and Gavdos
Prompted by the fact that over the weekend we had a new increase in migration flows to Crete and Gavdos, when asked if the government has an alternative plan, Mr. Marinakis mentioned: “First, let’s say that the legislative framework that Mr. Plevrys brought to Parliament is divided into two categories. The main one, the law that was voted on which has a series of initiatives that we are convinced will deliver both short-term and medium-term results, and the amendment that was voted on, which in the first weeks of its implementation, if one looks at the overall statistical data, delivered more than expected, as flows south of Crete decreased by 80% after the amendment was voted on. This amendment has a specific duration character until early October. The situation will obviously be re-examined by the ministry to provide appropriate responses. So, regarding the temporary measure, how temporary it will be, will depend on the situation. So far, however, it has delivered results.
Regarding the overall policy we follow, a strict one, without hiding it, but fair and always in accordance with applicable provisions of international law, we will not retreat. We believe that the main thing our country must do is three things. One, which we do with quite great success in recent years, is the faster examination of asylum applications and a policy that both respects people who make this application and get their answer within a short time period, but also distinguishes the illegal invader, the illegal migrant, someone who wants to invade our country illegally from a person who comes and asks for and deserves asylum or wants to integrate according to the rules of this country. We must make this distinction.
The second thing we must do is protect our borders. And here I think that compared to what happens in other countries and contrary to what the previous government claimed, we have seen results even in very difficult situations, like in Evros in 2020 and now in Crete. And the third is returns. Now, above all these which is the big demand and that’s why Minister Plevrys focused on this in Parliament, above all these there is also what the country broadcasts. One of the main reasons this bill was voted on and this policy is followed is that a message must be sent in all directions, to the smuggling networks, that in Greece when someone invades illegally they will be imprisoned unless they return. This for us is the cornerstone of our migration policy. Greece is not a country where someone can come illegally and after some years become legal while being illegal or for example abuse successive asylum applications in order to extend this illegal stay. Prison or return.”
On Andreas Loverdos joining New Democracy
Regarding the issue of Andreas Loverdos’s accession to New Democracy and the subsequent discussion that the governing party is taking another step toward the center while the problem lies to its right, he said characteristically: “You are answered by a person who is and will remain in New Democracy all his life, alongside my work, thank God, I am not one of those who believe that politics is a profession, as is such a case with Andreas Loverdos, a professor of recognized standing because before we talk about labels, I think we should talk about people’s CVs. He is a professor of recognized standing, with kilometers both in law practice and I can know this, in fact our offices happened to be close for a period. Now look. First of all, I think it is the absolute vindication for a party, for a prime minister, the fact that people and especially those with a serious course in another political space, come and join it, accept its principles and values and it is a political vindication for the policy being pursued.”
Pavlos Marinakis: You deal with high prices in two ways
Continuing the confrontation that has existed recently prompted by the Prime Minister’s announcements at the Thessaloniki International Fair and the corresponding proposals of the leader of the main opposition, responding to criticism the government receives from the opposition that the announced measures do not address high prices even in the slightest, Mr. Marinakis mentioned: “Indeed, prolonged high prices are the biggest problem facing every household in the country and some households much more so. Our policy and our economic policy is based on this admission and every move we make aims as much as possible to reduce the consequences – because to eliminate high prices, you cannot, no state has managed it and whoever claims they can do it, simply fools people – to limit the consequences of these high prices, which are the result of persistent inflation.
You deal with high prices in two ways. By increasing with permanent measures the income of citizens and much more of the middle class, those who have the greatest need, the economically weaker ones. And we have done this and will continue to do it, creating the conditions to be able to do it. Increasing revenues without increasing taxes, from combating tax evasion, reducing unemployment and developing the economy. This is one thing. Are we doing it? Of course we are doing it. Does it need more? Obviously it needs more. And that’s why we will look every time we have the fiscal space, not from money trees but from proper money, because I will tell you something later, that all these things we discuss are not money that belongs to us. It is money from Greek taxpayers, so we must speak with prudence and with specific costings for these.”
