Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis appeared cautiously optimistic about the prospects for improving Greek-Turkish relations following the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye, speaking today with Real FM 97.8 radio station and journalists Nikos Hatzinikolaou and Antonis Dellatolas. He underscored that Greece should not change its strategy of forming international alliances and strengthening its defense capabilities, “which make us feel much more secure”.
“We will lend a helping hand for the reconstruction of Türkiye because we want Türkiye to sail in calm waters”, Mr. Varvitsiotis said, making it clear though, that “we want our relations to be governed by International Law and the UNCLOS and we want the provocative policy that has cost us dearly in our relations to end”.
The Alternate Minister welcomed Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu’s statement regarding “a new page in Greek-Turkish relations”, adding, however, that “we expect to see what meaning Turkey attaches to it”. We are seeking de-escalation mechanisms, but “we are certainly not talking about a dialogue on sovereignty”, Mr. Varvitsiotis underscored.
Referring to relations between the two peoples, the Alternate Minister noted that in recent years the Turkish people had been exposed to specific state propaganda portraying Greece as an enemy. Consequently, “it is very important that the appearance of the Greek flag and the Greek aid was met with a wave of very great jubilation on the part of the Turkish people”, the Alternate Minister said, emphasizing the significance of “cultivating a relationship between the two peoples again, regardless of political disagreements”.
Lastly, as regards relations between Türkiye and the West, Mr. Varvitsiotis spoke of “an opportunity for Europe to revisit its relationship with Türkiye”, noting that European assistance should also be accompanied by pressure so that Türkiye comes closer to the European acquis.