Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis’ interview with SKAI 100.3 radio station and journalists Dimitris Oikonomou and Akis Pavlopoulos-highlights (19.01.2023)

Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis highlighted the country’s improved international position, speaking today to journalists Dimitris Oikonomou and Akis Pavlopoulos on SKAI 100.3 radio station.

In the aftermath of the Blinken-Cavusoglu meeting, Mr. Varvitsiotis said that unlike SYRIZA, which called for us not to be taken for granted, Greece remains a firm ally of the US, not an “a la carte” one. “We have a solid strategic relationship with the US, which is constantly improving, and that irritates Turkey”, the Alternate Minister said emphatically. He estimated that considering Turkey’s stance both on the war in Ukraine and on NATO enlargement with Finland and Sweden while threatening Greece, the US side has sent Ankara a message, that it cannot sail on two boats at the same time.

When asked about Turkish claims for the demilitarization of the Eastern Aegean islands, the Alternate Minister underscored that safeguarding them is imperative due to the presence of the so-called Turkish “Aegean Army” and added that the government responds to these challenges in a serious and robust manner.