A strong signal that the Greek Armed Forces have absolutely sufficient capabilities and that we will not be alone, but if necessary we can do it alone, was delivered to applause by Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias during an open debate organized by Alfa Bank. Staff Association on “Greek foreign policy – everything is now moving to the limit”.

Commenting on the downing of the F-4 fighter and the loss of its co-pilot, Nikos Dendias said that this is a sad day for the family of the Armed Forces, as well as for our entire country.

“We remember the three officers we lost in the line of duty, and today we lost a fourth. This is a stark reminder that many people, many leaders, risk their lives to protect the freedom and standard of living of all the rest of us. We have already observed a minute of silence in memory of the officer who died today.”

He also noted that our general attitude towards the officers of the armed forces should correspond to the level of their contribution, and emphasized that Greece was and remains strong and safe precisely because there are people, officers, who risk their lives so that the rest of us can live in freedom. .

He specifically mentioned the political system of Greece, stressing that in our main choice it was at least serious, balanced and with long intervals of decisive acceptance. “We have overturned, and in this respect mainly the government, but also the opposition, the model of separation on foreign policy should be given credit. We have succeeded in being serious, reaching an agreement and radiating outwards the very seriousness that allows any country that does business with us to feel continuity. In the main elections, from almost the entire political system, there were positions of national responsibility. I consider it a national achievement that we have managed with this government, with this prime minister, to reverse the model and confront the threat with national understanding, not to mention national unity. We claim it not as the property of the ND, but as the property of the Greek people and Greek society,” he stressed.

Answering a question about whether the issue with Turkey will arise on the eve of the elections, the head of the foreign policy department replied that he does not in any way believe that the neighboring country is striving for tension in the pre-election period. “But it exists, and we must prevent an accident. In other words, tension that starts with something unexpected,” he stressed, citing the example of a collision between two fishing boats. And besides, as he added, “it develops during the year, when the leaders do not have time to take control of the episode and when it becomes a news item, when journalists and public opinion have taken over, it is extremely difficult to control in a pre-election environment.” For Nikos Dendias, this is a very important parameter that we must “keep in mind as both countries prepare for elections.”

Unlike tensions between Greece and Turkey in the past, the minister said that today “it is unprecedented and unique that we have been living in an escalating crisis with Turkey for 3.5 years, with ever-increasing tones, with unprecedented statements from Turkey. side, which creates an extremely flammable climate.” In addition, he pointed out that no one expects a de-escalation before the Turkish elections, and stated that Greece’s ambition is not that a random incident leads to a deterioration in relations with Turkey.

In fact, according to him, everything will be decided immediately after the elections. “There will be a new Greek government with a fresh popular mandate and a new Turkish government. It will be a good opportunity, when in fact there is recent political capital in both governments, to take a new approach to reality and see the true face of Turkey there. If Turkey comes to its senses. We must hope that whoever wins the trust of the Turkish people will clearly see where the Turkish interest lies. The interest of the Turkish society is rapprochement with the West, with Europe, with the framework of values ​​expressed by the EU,” he explained.

At the same time, he said that Greece wants to settle the dispute with Turkey – but nothing more – within the framework of international law and the law of the sea. “We want Turkey to come to European rules,” he stressed, but found that President Erdogan is moving away from European, Western legislation in a series of steps and leading to a sui generis situation of a Middle Eastern, Muslim radical formation.

Asked to comment on President Erdogan’s report on Hagia Sophia yesterday, the Foreign Minister again condemned its transformation into a mosque and expressed regret, pointing out that it would adversely affect President Erdogan’s reputation and expose him internationally.

With regard to the election period, when asked if we should be more careful during the interim period, when there is an interim government, Nikos Dendias replied that, of course, during this period, increased vigilance should be exercised. “Whoever claims that this period is the period it would be in another European country such as Luxembourg or Belgium, this is completely contrary to reality,” he added.

Asked if anyone would recommend that he stay as Foreign Minister during this period (conflicted elections), he replied: “I deeply believe that there are no irreplaceable people, and I also deeply believe in constitutional provisions. In other words, I believe that those that have been repeatedly observed and that give an idea of ​​a smooth process and a democratic perception should be followed.” If, in the hope of aggravating the situation at the last moment, the entire political system – not only the ND and its leader, but also other political forces – should suggest to the prime minister that he stay in the ministry, “that is another problem. But this is not the logical order of things.”

He then mentioned his visit to Israel tomorrow. He stressed that Greece’s relations with Israel are strategic, and speaking about the agenda of the talks he will have with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen, he said that they will discuss bilateral issues, security issues in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as energy, the situation emerging after the Russian invasions in Ukraine, Palestine, the Middle East. In this context, he said that he was proud that the Greek diplomacy correctly read the architecture of the region early enough.

“We read that the division between Arabs and Israelis is no longer valid, and what we have seen has been confirmed by the agreements of Abraham and the establishment of diplomatic relations by Israel with Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and other Arab countries, as well as the conclusion of agreements on many levels. This does not mean that Greece is abandoning its position as a Palestinian state. But this means that the architecture of the Middle East is becoming more complex, and also, given the position that Turkey has taken in favor of Hamas, the situation becomes much more favorable for the interests of Greece,” he said.

Ahead of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s February 21 visit to Greece, Nikos Dendias stressed that our relationship with the US is at an unprecedented level, referring to the two defense agreements signed by the two countries and “the strategy of their relationship.” Preliminarily acquainted with the agenda of the meeting, he said that Anthony Blinken is arriving to continue the strategic dialogue between the two countries, while issues related to our region, weapons, energy and economic cooperation will be discussed. In addition, issues related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be discussed.

In fact, he said that the fact that Mr. Blinken would be in Athens on the eve of the elections and that the strategic dialogue would proceed as usual was an extremely important signal. It sends a clear signal of acceptance and trust,” Mr. Dendias stressed. “The United States understood the position of Greece, that it has a solid foundation, which simply asks to apply in the Aegean what is valid on the entire planet, and acts and formulates similar opinions,” he added.

Asked if Anthony Blinken’s presence in Greece might also tend to calm souls, Nikos Dendias replied that the presence of a superpower foreign minister would certainly have a calming effect.

Speaking of broader cooperation with the Biden administration, he called it excellent, noting that the American president knows the region very well and is a friend of Greece.

He also did not hesitate to acknowledge the contribution of former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. “Whenever we needed him, he was always ready to help. Not in the context of a friend doing a favor to a spoiled child, but a person who clearly understands the need to preserve the Alliance, strengthen its principles and values, and prevent the desperate steps of an unwise ally,” he said.

In addition, he pointed to the importance of expanding the country’s bilateral relations. “We have 311 agreements. The largest database of bilateral agreements since the creation of the new Greek state. No government prior to the Mitsotaki government has even reached half of the agreements signed by the Mitsotaka government. These agreements create the basis for economic, defense and political mutual understanding,” he said.

Referring to his recent visit to Mozambique, he said that the African country will be chairing the UN Security Council next month and wondered: “Can you ever be the Greek foreign minister and not know the next president of the UN Security Council? » the month when you have elections and your neighbor tells you that “I will come at night”? Or is it possible that we were never elected to the presidency of the UN General Assembly and only once in history were elected to the UN Security Council, with the security issues that we have, and never to the Human Rights Council?

Finally, speaking about his program for the next period, he announced that he will go on tour in South America, and on March 25 he will visit Australia. The last date on his schedule at the moment is April 9, the Foreign Minister specified.

Source: RES-IPE