Interview of Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias in the newspaper ‘Realnews’ with journalist Giorgos Siadimas (04.07.2021)

JOURNALIST: Are we going to have a calm summer with Turkey, after all? Just a few days after the European Council Summit, the neighbouring country takes a provocative stance and with a letter to the UN through its representative essentially raises the issue of the sovereignty of the Greek islands. It challenges the boundaries of our national airspace and the Greek EEZ. What do you say?

N. DENDIAS: I hope we will have a relatively calm summer in the Aegean, without any new provocations. This was the conclusion that came out of the recent meeting of the Prime Minister with the Turkish President. Unfortunately, with regards to Cyprus and in view of the anniversary of the invasion on July 20, I could not say the same. We must be on constant guard. With this letter, Turkey once again reiterates its usual unilateral claims against our country, which we reject in their entirety. The letter will be answered in the appropriate manner, as usual. Both the meeting of the Prime Minister with the Turkish President and my contacts with my Turkish counterpart allowed for “the ice to break”, but no significant progress was made in our relations. Our positions remain diametrically opposite. There has always been this difference between us, and it continues to be: Turkey refuses to respect the fundamental rules of International Law, the Law of the Sea, good neighbourly relations and to withdraw the threat of war against Greece. We do not have any illusions.

JOURNALIST: Greece was not invited to participate in the recent Berlin Conference on Libya, for the second time. Is this a “setback” for Greek diplomacy, as the opposition claims?

N. DENDIAS: Mr. Siadimas, there would have been a “setback” if we were invited to the first conference and not to the second. Our position is clear. Both because of our proximity and because of our presence on the ground through the Embassy and the Consulate, as well as the constant contacts with the Libyan side, we consider that we should have been invited. Unfortunately, the German side thought otherwise and for this reason we expressed our strong dissatisfaction with Berlin. UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Libya does not necessarily share this approach. He has informed us, informally, that Greece is going to be included in a working group on humanitarian aid and human rights issues, which is expected to meet in the coming weeks. This development is not accidental. It is the result of continuous contacts, as well as the practical contribution of our country.

JOURNALIST: On the other hand, however, our country participated for the first time in the Ministerial Meeting on the Islamic State in Rome. You referred, among other things, to “access to resources that allow the Islamic State to continue terrorist acts”. Where can these resources come from?

N. DENDIAS: These resources come from illegal activities. Many supporters of the Islamic State base their activities in Turkey. This does not mean that Turkey is actively supporting the Islamic State. However, allowing the use of its territory does not contribute to the fight against the Islamic State or to the achievement of the goals of the alliance to which it belongs. In Rome, Greece also participated in another ministerial meeting, concerning Syria. Our inclusion, together with only four other European countries, is practical proof that the international community recognizes the constructive role of our country as well as our special interest in the developments in this country.

JOURNALIST: The Office of the Interests of Kosovo in Athens was upgraded recently. You visited Pristina twice in a few months. Are these steps towards recognition? Aren’t they against International Law?

N. DENDIAS: The integration of the Western Balkans into the European family is a key priority, as the stability of the region has a direct impact on our security. We do not want a “black hole” in our northern borders. Although our position on the Kosovo status quo has not changed, we maintain a constructive stance and support the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. As to the legitimacy of a possible recognition, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled in 2010 that Kosovo’s declaration of independence did not violate international law, as it was not the product of an illegal use of force condemned by the Security Council. This was not the case with the declaration of the pseudo-state in 1983. With the disintegration of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, several new states were established. None of these, however, was the result of a foreign invasion.

JOURNALIST: When will the memoranda concerning the Prespa Agreement finally be ratified by the Parliament? Could there be new negotiations on identity issues after statements from Zoran Zaev that “for the whole world we are Macedonians who speak Macedonian”?

N. DENDIAS: It is in the interest of North Macedonia to maintain good relations with Greece, as of course the opposite is true. This is dictated by the geopolitical conditions of the region and this should be the shared goal of both countries. We support the European perspective of the neighbouring country, with the well-known conditionality, and we look forward to convening the first intergovernmental conference with the EU. However, the fundamental criterion for achieving this goal is the observance of the letter and the spirit of the Prespa Agreement and the promotion of good neighbourly relations. It is well-known that there were problematic areas in the Agreement itself and New Democracy, then in the opposition, had expressed in time its objection to the specific articles. But the Prespa Agreement has entered into force and must be properly implemented. Although several steps have been taken in this direction, there is still much room for improvement by both public and private bodies. Misguided statements that provoke the emotional reaction of the Greek people should not be made. Such statements do not contribute to the improvement of bilateral relations and certainly do not enhance the country’s European perspective. I outlined this position to my counterpart Mr. Osmani last January, when I reminded him that the ancestors of the current citizens of Northern Macedonia did not fight in the battle of Gaugamela.

JOURNALIST: As for the Cyprus issue, do you see any progress? The Prime Minister made clear once again that the scenario of a two-state solution is unacceptable.

N. DENDIAS: As you mentioned, the Prime Minister made it clear that Greece rejects any proposal that does not fall within the framework set by the decisions of the UN Security Council, that is, a bicommunal, bizonal federation. This position is shared by all UN states, with the exception of Turkey. Unfortunately, both the Turkish stance and the stance of the Turkish Cypriot community leave no room for optimism.