N. Dendias: Turkey’s non-compliance with the Law of the Sea is a European issue

A clear message to Turkey that Greece does not want escalation, but will not accept an attempt to usurp its sovereignty and sovereign rights, was sent in an interview with Naftemporiki by Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. He made it clear again that Greece wants the settlement of the only dispute with Turkey, the delimitation of the continental shelf and the EEZ in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean on the basis of International Law and especially the International Law of the Sea. “But we have no illusions. Unfortunately, Turkey continues to reject the basic rules of international conduct and, at the same time, is cultivating an aggressive rhetoric that goes far beyond what could be diplomatically acceptable,” he added. “But we will not fall into the trap of reacting spasmodically. We are constantly vigilant, building alliances with friends and partners and strengthening our deterrent power.”

He also said that if Turkey embraces international law, “we are always ready for a constructive dialogue”.

At the same time, Mr. Dendias stated that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is part of the European acquis and, therefore, non-compliance by Turkey is a European issue.

As for the EU’s response to the Turkish provocation, he said it had proved difficult to take decisive action. “This is related to the traditional economic interests of some Member States, which have literally and figuratively invested in Turkey. At the same time, many of them believe that Turkey, a NATO ally for almost seven decades, should remain tied to the West’s chariot. “, explained.

However, he noted that this attitude is changing and noted that this is a result not only of Turkish actions, but mainly of Greece ‘s continuous efforts “to cultivate bilateral relations of honesty and trust with the Member States”.

In particular, he stressed that in his contacts he sees growing concerns regarding the attitude of Turkey, even from countries that maintain close relations with Ankara. “The mere fact that a debate on taking action against Turkish delinquency will start next week in the relevant European institutions shows that the climate is becoming more difficult for Turkey,” he said.

The Lausanne Treaty applies to Turkey, whether it likes it or not

Responding to a question about the Lausanne Treaty, the Foreign Minister reiterated that there was no possibility of revising the provisions on demarcation. This would be contrary to the fundamental principle of international law. “Agreements must be respected,” he said. Secondly, he pointed out that the Treaty of Lausanne had already been revised with regard to the status of the Straits with the Montreux Convention, which, however, did not affect the demarcation of the borders at all, and thirdly, he stressed that the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923 was concluded between the Allies. World War I, including France, Italy and Great Britain with the successor to the defeated Ottoman Empire, Turkey. None of the above countries, except of course Turkey, has expressed the slightest intention to request a revision of the Treaty, he added.

In this context, he conveyed the message: The Treaty of Lausanne is valid whether Turkey likes it or not.

The external borders of Greece and Cyprus are also European borders

Regarding the issue of the instrumentalization of the immigrant-refugee, Mr. Dendias stated that this is not an issue between specific member states and Turkey, but it is a pre-eminent Euro-Turkish issue and stressed that it should be treated exclusively in this light. The external borders of Greece and Cyprus are also European borders, he said.

Resolution of the Cyprus issue on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, as defined by the Decisions of the SA

Asked about the Cyprus issue, the Foreign Minister replied that he was not optimistic about the prospect of its resolution and reiterated that the only framework defined by the relevant Security Council decisions and the European acquis. There is not even a question of discussion, let alone acceptance of a solution outside this framework, as he noted.

Regarding the meeting last April in Geneva on the Cyprus issue, which was convened by the UN Secretary General, Mr. Dendias stressed: “What I heard from the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot sides, unfortunately, made me completely pessimistic.” The Turkish and consequently the Turkish Cypriot side insisted on a rhetoric that has nothing to do with reality, he added.

At the same time, he pointed out the determination of Greece, always in close coordination with the Republic of Cyprus, to continue working for the settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, as defined by the relevant Security Council Resolutions.

Asked about the new German government, the Foreign Minister underlined his intention to cultivate understanding and cooperation with his or her new counterpart, as well as with all political forces in Germany, and added that the issues he will continue to raise There are three issues: “First, the sale of weapons systems, which pose the risk of upsetting the balance of power, not only in the Aegean, but also in the wider Eastern Mediterranean, and threatening our country and other countries in the region, such as Egypt, Israel and, of course, Cyprus, especially the high-tech T-214 submarines. of the values ​​of the latter in the face of the ongoing Turkish provocations and illegal actions.The history of the outgoing German government singular, frustrating. “Thirdly, we want Germany, as France and Libya did, to recognize the positive role that Greece is playing in the developments in Libya.”

He also said that it was almost certain that the new German government would be more critical of Turkey in terms of the instrumentalization of immigration, as well as the democratization process and the human rights situation.

We expect from Northern Macedonia the full, consistent and good faith implementation of the Prespa Agreement

Answering a question about the developments in Northern Macedonia and how much they can influence the implementation of the Prespa Agreement, Mr. Dendias clearly reiterated that in democratic societies governments come and go, but the states and the obligations they undertake remain. Which, of course, is even more true of international treaty obligations, which remain binding on states, regardless of the change of government.

Furthermore, he reiterated that “the Prespa agreement binds the two countries and we expect from the side of Northern Macedonia its full, consistent and good faith implementation”.

France is a timeless ally and a very close friend of Greece

Regarding the visit of the French Foreign Minister to Athens on Friday, he said that he had a double symbolism: On the one hand, he underlined the start of the de facto implementation of the Greece-France strategic cooperation agreement and on the other hand he confirmed the full convergence of views on all key issues. France is a timeless ally and a very close friend of our country, he said.

For the quadripartite meeting on Friday in Athens, which was attended by Mr. Nikos Dendias and Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, after their one-on-one meeting with their counterparts from Cyprus and Egypt, he noted that reaffirmed the full coincidence of views on Turkey’s destabilizing role in the Eastern Mediterranean and Libya, and stressed that Turkish illegality must not and cannot go unanswered.

Greece today has a say and a role in regional developments

In addition, Mr. Dendias recalled that in a short time he had meetings with the Foreign Ministers and the five Permanent Members of the Security Council (USA, Russia, France, China, United Kingdom), with three of whom he signed, in fact, important bilateral agreements. This, as he clarified, “is another proof that Greece today, with its upgraded presence internationally, has a say and a role in regional developments.”

Referring to the openings of Greece, such as sub-Saharan Africa, he pointed out that our country, without a colonial past, wants to promote its bilateral relations and multilateral cooperation on the basis of international law and in full respect of the UN Charter and seeks natural partners around the world. “Partners who respect international law like this and want to become poles of stability and prosperity in their wider neighborhood,” he said.

Finally, answering a relevant question, he noted that even in countries where the Turkish presence is strong, such as in Libya, Greece has managed to create a foothold and be accepted as a factor of stability, as evidenced by its recent participation in the Conference on the reconstruction of the country in Tripoli and the recent participation of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in the Paris Conference on Libya.

SOURCE: AMPE