N. DENDIAS: If any given country is allowed to be victimized by a larger neighbouring country which, for whatever reason, interprets International Law as it pleases, phenomena such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine will only multiply.

JOURNALIST: Following a short trip to Kiev in the ruins of a bomb shelter, Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, appeals to the international community in these words, emphasizing the dangers of a new conflict in Europe. Minister, is the tension between Greece and Turkey growing dangerously?

N. DENDIAS: Various threats are launched by the Turkish side against Greece, such as “we will come at night” or “our new missile may hit Athens”. The Turkish side attempts to intimidate both Greek society and the Greek government.

I am afraid that we are witnessing the formation of a lasting posture that challenges not only the sovereignty and sovereign rights of Greece, a member state of the European Union, but also, generally, the way in which inter-state relations are conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean.

N. DENDIAS: In the initial phase of the crisis in Syria, Turkey dealt with migrant flows in a very good way. The European Union, particularly Greece, recognized this.  

But aside from that, what occurred in March 2020 was totally unacceptable. And what is it that happened? Having already moved on to another phase, Turkey, in a very specific, and absolutely proven, way, pushed thousands of people to the Greek, and thus European borders, trying to coerce their entry into Europe and to obtain concessions from the European Union on a number of issues that concerned Turkey itself.

JOURNALIST: Minister, Turkey signed an agreement with Libya on exclusive economic zones, which it threatens to implement.

N. DENDIAS: By signing an agreement with Libya on their economic zones, Turkey has attempted to set a unique legal precedent.

To give you an example, it would be the same as if Greece signed an agreement with Tunisia disregarding the fact that Sicily and Malta are situated in the middle. This cannot be allowed.

Italy’s support for Greece is of great significance because Italy is a neighbouring country. In addition, Italy, as a large country, has also a very important role to play in Libya and North Africa.

At present, Italy’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs is a well-known friend of my country as well as a European politician.  That gives us hope for a further increase in Italy’s interest in Mediterranean and North African problems, within a European framework.