N. Iliopoulos: Under the responsibility of the government, the country’s dependence on Russian gas has increased

“The priority at the moment is to establish and operate humanitarian corridors in Ukraine for the escape of civilians,” said Nassos Iliopoulos, a spokesman for the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, after reiterating the need to “immediately end the illegal invasion”.

“No man chooses either the status or the time during which he can become a refugee, uprooted, lose his family”, noted (OPEN) Nassos Iliopoulos, adding that “Greece must be open and host refugees “It must provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and be firmly committed to international law.”

Asked about Greek-Turkish, he stressed: “we have clearly stated – and in Parliament – about the need for a channel of communication between Greece and Turkey, about the need for dialogue with red lines and without illusions.” He also pointed out the firm position of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance that “the dispute that our country recognizes with Turkey, for the EEZ and the continental shelf, must and can be resolved on the basis of international law and only in this context.”

He reiterated that against the background of current developments, “it seems how crucial the Prespa Agreement is for the country’s defense shield”. “Today it is highlighted how important it is that on our northern border, in the airspace of Northern Macedonia, Greek ones fly instead of Turkish planes”, said Nasos Iliopoulos.

He also commented that “it is good for the country’s foreign policy to see the situation as it is.” “For years there has been a narrative about an ‘isolated Erdogan’, which unfortunately does not apply,” he explained. “SYRIZA government, we managed to take a first step to impose sanctions on Turkey, this step was not continued by the current government”, stressed Nassos Iliopoulos, recalling that “in December ’19, Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Parliament that he did not believe in sanctions “.

“With the debate on the customs connection between the EU and Turkey open, the Greek side must push for specific prerequisites, such as Turkey’s commitment to discuss our dispute in the framework of international law,” he added.

Finally, referring to the energy crisis, he underlined as a serious problem “the energy dependence of Greece on Russia, which became even greater due to the choices of the Mitsotakis government”. “At a time when the country has 7 licensed lignite plants by 2028, the government has proceeded – without any external pressure – to a process of violent de-lignification, leaving only 2 lignite plants in operation, greatly increasing the share of Russian gas in “the country’s energy mix”, explained Nassos Iliopoulos, while he concluded that in the context of these choices “thousands of citizens today see the electricity bills and sink into despair”.

Source: Capital

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