M. Varvitsiotis: Germany remains firmly committed to the defense of Greek sovereignty

Germany remains firmly committed to the defense of Greece’s sovereign rights and sovereignty, Deputy Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis notes with satisfaction to APE-MPE, as an overall finding after the completion of his two-day visit to Berlin.

On the agenda of his talks, there were the war in Ukraine, the energy and food crisis, but also the increased Turkish provocation, the issue of war reparations and the perspective of the enlargement of the European Union.

During today’s meeting between Mr. Varvitsiotis and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, responsible for Europe and Climate Affairs, Anna Luhrmann, the common challenges within the EU were discussed. “Europe is facing unprecedented challenges related to the geostrategic situation after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the energy crisis, inflation, but also the individual consequences of the war, such as the food crisis,” said the deputy foreign minister, stressing that all these crises require a “robust, unified and substantial response” . In this context, he explained, “we consider that our cooperation with Germany, as one of the strongest European powers, must be continuous and completely honest”.

Referring to the issues of bilateral interest that were raised during the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the deputy foreign minister pointed out that the issue of equipping Turkey with German-made submarines and technology, the refugee flows in the Aegean, but also German reparations, was raised, an issue which, as he said, it remains open in the context of bilateral cooperation.

“Europe must deepen and widen”, continued Mr Varvitsiotis and referred on the one hand to the need to deepen the EU in order to face these challenges and on the other hand to the prospect of enlargement especially towards the Western Balkans. “Something that both we, and Germany, strongly support, and for that better coordination is always necessary,” he added.

The deputy foreign minister also informed his German counterpart, as well as all his interlocutors, about “the Turkish provocation, the mutation of the Turkish threat and the steps taken by the Greek government to shield the borders, as well as the country’s diplomatic relations , in order to strengthen its deterrent potential”. “With great pleasure,” said the deputy foreign minister, “I received the assurances from the German side, which remains firmly committed to the defense of our country’s sovereign rights and sovereignty.”

During his two-day visit to Berlin, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis also met with the head of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee Michael Roth (SPD), with the vice-president of “Atlantik Brücke” and a member of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee, Norbert Rotgen ( CDU), with the German-Greek Friendship Parliamentary Group, with the vice-president of the German Association for Foreign Policy (DGAP) Ambassador Rolf Nickel and with the Director of Strategic Partnerships of the European Council of Foreign Relations Dr. Anna Kuchenbecker.

Source: AMPE