The Foreign Minister referred to the de-escalation of relations between Greece and Turkey, Nikos Dendiasnoting that it would be a “criminal mistake” if Athens did not extend the hand of friendship to Ankara at a time when the other side is doing the same.

“We have to be optimistic, but also cautious and not naive. The same applies to Turkey, and it is clearly not naive and not devoid of its long-term interests,” said Mr. Dendias in an interview with SKAI.

However, he characteristically pointed out that “the chances of success are slim, but it is our national duty to attempt to do so, and it is criminal to ignore it.”

At the same time, he stressed that Greece does not abandon its fixed positions in foreign policy and that its main lines remain the observance of international law and international maritime law.

Regarding the de-escalation in the Aegean, he commented that “Greece has an obligation, in relation to such behavior, to show that it understands it and that it is also ready to enter into an honest discussion.”

Elections are decisive

According to him, the elections in Turkey will be decisive for the development of Greek-Turkish relations: “There is an informal understanding between the two sides, which after the elections may lead to an attempt to resume a serious dialogue in order to find a solution to our differences.”

“Greece will be ready to discuss with the Turkish side which government the Turkish society will choose. We believe that we will win the elections, we will have a government with the same prime minister. Whoever is elected to the post of Foreign Minister, he will strive for negotiations with the Turkish side,” Nikos Dendias said.

“Crash Danger”

Before the earthquakes, the Minister of Foreign Affairs explained, there was an attempt to create agreements for the pre-election period, since in the pre-election period there is a risk of an accident that will reach the level of public dialogue and could lead to something.

“There was no climate for a serious dialogue, because we laid the groundwork for stopping the Turkish provocation. This does not mean that Turkey succumbed to our condition, she herself showed a complete paradigm shift after this particular visit,” Mr. Dendias explained.

As for the appeal to The Hague, Nikos Dendias noted that it presupposes agreements and mutual understanding.

“Everything changed after the earthquakes”

“Indeed, everything changed after the earthquakes,” said Nikos Dendias, adding that there was no external pressure for normalization.

“I have not seen anything worse in my life in Antioch… After the tragic visit, it is a fact, everything has really changed. “Turkey does not violate the Aegean Sea, does not fly, does not have flights in the Aegean Sea,” the minister said.

“The decision comes from the Turkish elite. Greece is obliged to show that it understands this in relation to such behavior, and is also ready to come to an honest discussion,” he said.

“I am friends with Cavusoglu”

Ahead of the Egyptian Foreign Minister’s visit tomorrow, he commented: “Sameh Shukri is my friend, I have many friends.”

“Mr. Cavusoglu is also my friend. I have known him for 17 years. And in difficult times he “dragged” me, and at the end he added “Dendias is my friend.” I had and always have the opportunity to call him on a mobile phone. “There were huge difficulties when President Erdogan banned all contact after Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ speech to Congress,” he said.

Cyprus and Imbros

With regard to Cyprus, Mr. Dendias noted that “there will be hope that there will be no behavior from the Turkish side” that will negate the wonderful climate created in Greek-Turkish relations, the minister said.

If something happens in Cyprus, it is obvious that this will also poison Greek-Turkish relations. Greece, like Turkey, I think, always negotiates with the legitimate government of the country.

He made it clear that the discussion of the energy wealth of the Eastern Mediterranean cannot take place without Cyprus.

Finally, Nikos Dendias also mentioned his upcoming visit to Imbro, saying: “The Ecumenical Patriarch goes to Imbro every 10 years. I would like us to be together at the epitaph.”

“We had full cooperation from the Turkish authorities so that I could go. Türkiye wanted to help, not interfere with my trip,” he explained.

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