Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis’ interview on REALFM97.8 Radio Station, with journalists N. Chatzinikolaou and A. Dellatolas (16.09.2021)

“Greece has proved that it has a role to play in the European course of the Western Balkans,” pointed out Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, speaking with Nikos Hatzinikolaou and Antonis Dellatolas on RealFM97.8 Radio Station. On the occasion of the special event held in Thessaloniki and the Western Balkans’ Ministers of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs response to participate, at the invitation of the Greek side, in the Dialogue for the Future of Europe, the Alternate Minister stressed that “the voice of Greece is heard in our neighborhood”.

Regarding developments in Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Varvitsiotis noted that a Turkey’s return to the mentality of 2020 does not fit into the current security environment, especially due to the dangers arising from Afghanistan, and that it would be a strategic mistake to shift attention to the Aegean Sea.  He added, however, that our country is ready to respond to any provocative or unilateral actions taken by the other side.

Asked about the five-year Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States, the Alternate Minister stressed that currently Greek-American relations are at the highest level of cooperation and that the signing of the agreement corresponds to this framework, ensuring a long period of cooperation between the two countries, instead of being in a negotiation process every year.