Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ interview with “ACTION 24” TV Channel primetime newscast and journalist Evi Fragaki-highlights (07.05.2023)

JOURNALIST: At this point, ladies and gentlemen, we welcome Minister of Foreign Affairs and New Democracy candidate MP in the regional unit of South Athens, Mr. Dendias, to the Action24 studio.

Minister, thank you very much for accepting our invitation to join us here, at the Action24 studio for the first time…

N. DENDIAS: But it won’t be the last time.

JOURNALIST: That makes us very happy. All the best. Thank you very much.

I’d like to start our discussion with the last comment by Μ. Çavuşoğlu, as Foreign Minister, whom you’ve known for decades, suggesting that the danger in the Aegean has not been essentially averted. “Tension will exist and could break out at any time as long as certain issues are not resolved”.

What’s your comment on that?

N. DENDIAS: First of all, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu is under electoral pressure. As evidenced by opinion polls, President Erdoğan is under pressure; he is obliged to say something that will work and carry political weight. So, whatever the AKP members say at this time, I don’t necessarily take it at face value.

Aside from that, I have stated clearly, to the extent that I can, that I will not allow for tension until the elections. On the other hand, let us be clear: Greece does not support any policy of appeasement.

We will proceed to the elections, and the governments of both countries, the ones to be elected – we believe we will be here – will have a window of opportunity to see if we can find a solution to our dispute. What are the odds? Not too many. But we have to try.

JOURNALIST: So, do you think calm waters in the Aegean are more of a temporary suspension of action? Are they something like a moratorium because of the pre-election climate or will they remain after the elections in both countries?

N. DENDIAS: I believe that our behavior following the earthquakes in Türkiye, which was highly appreciated by Ankara, established a different climate.

This provided an opportunity that hopefully will last until the elections and for a while after the elections. If we don’t reach some kind of understanding within that time frame, I’m afraid that there’ll be a major setback.

JOURNALIST: Minister, would it be an exaggeration to ask you whom you would prefer as an Athens’ interlocutor, not to say your interlocutor in the Foreign Ministry, after our own elections: is it Erdoğan – Çavuşoğlu or a possible new one, the unknown opposition?

N. DENDIAS: I’m not entitled to express an opinion. I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece. I have no right to express any opinion on the verdict of Turkish society and the Turkish people.

If you ask me if I have an opinion, I’ll tell you that I do. But I’m not entitled to express it.