“My country is well aware of the threats from neighbors,” said Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis in their joint statements with French President Macronbefore their one-on-one meeting at the Elysee Palace.

The Prime Minister of Greece stressed that “I will share my thoughts on Turkey’s continuing provocative stance in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean“, noting that “we have the strength of our arguments on our side.”

“Our response to this aggression readiness“, – he stressed, recalling that “the first French Rafal frigates are already flying in the Greek sky Belara already under construction at the shipyards in Lorraine.

He went on to say that “our shield is not only our weapons, but also our strong alliances, but above all, we have the strength of our arguments.” And he added, sending a clear signal to Ankara: “That is why we wait for those who threaten to suddenly come one night to our islands, we wait for them in the light of day. Where you can clearly see who is right and true power is on their side“.

Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized that “we keep our doors closed for calls“, arguing that “Greece is not only a force of deterrence, but also a force of cooperation.”

For his part, the President of France Emmanuel Macron sent a clear and loud signal of support for Greece.

“We fully support the sovereignty of Greece, and I am very clear about this.“, – he said and added: “A year ago we signed an agreement on strategic relations on security and defense issues, we have strengthened our common security, we are strengthening European sovereignty and stability in areas of common interest.”

“I thank President Macron for his commitment to supporting Greece,” Mr. Mitsotakis replied for his part.

Energy Crisis Coordination

Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized that the timing of his presence in Paris is important because of the “energy and inflationary threat that Europe receives from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

He announced that “two countries coordinate in the issue of solving the energy problem“.

“We are coordinating actions to protect against energy price fluctuations, and we are also launching metered energy consumption by the government and citizens,” he stressed.

Mentioned Ukrainepointed out that “we are on the side of the defender, on the side of international law.”

“Not only because the inviolability of borders and all European values ​​is being tested there,” he said and added: “Because under no circumstances in the 21st century perfect despotic authoritarianism. A precedent that any local unrest in other regions of our planet can easily repeat tomorrow.”

Mr Macron thanked Mr Mitsotakis for helping Greece resolve firessaying that “we will not forget this solidarity”.

And he added, addressing the Prime Minister of Greece: “Thank you for your presence in Paris, in recent years our countries have strengthened their relations.”

Mitsotakis, speaking in French, summarized, as he said, the relationship between the two countries with the words: “Stronger Together”.