JOURNALIST: Is it possible that the romance between the Americans and the Turks “will go sour”, and with it the prospect of a new procurement of F-16 fighter aircraft by Ankara? Has Turkey’s geopolitical role been strengthened?
N. DENDIAS: Mr. Siadimas, as I have already underlined, during my visit to Washington D.C. I had the opportunity to thoroughly brief my US counterpart, Mr. Blinken, on the challenges that Greece is currently facing in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
In particular, I referred to the escalation of Turkish unlawful conduct; and this is taking place at a historical juncture when NATO, more than ever before, should constitute an unbreakable Alliance.
Mr. Blinken was briefed on the Turkish provocations, on the overflights of Greek territory, especially over inhabited areas. I presented my interlocutor with irrefutable evidence of Turkish unlawful conduct, with maps that clearly illustrate what is happening in the Aegean and in the Eastern Mediterranean. And as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
In this case, with regard to the overflights carried out within one day, a picture is worth 42 thousand words. Of course, I also referred to the casus belli, as well as to the illegal, null and void ‘Turkish-Libyan Memorandum’. In the same context, Greece’s long-standing position of promoting bilateral relations on the basis of International Law and especially the Law of the Sea, principles which the United States fully embraces, was reiterated.
Our country pursues its policies on the basis of non-negotiable principles and values, consolidating its position not only vis-à-vis the United States, but also in the entire international community as a reliable ally which respects and applies the laws and rules of the international order.
In contrast with Turkey, which is an unreliable partner making irrational claims and is occasionally prepared to infringe the rules for its own benefit. I believe that this has now become clear to the US leadership, but also to the entire US political scene.
Greece is part of the solution and not part of the problem, unlike its neighbour which, by demonstrating revisionist tendencies and adopting an ambiguous stance within NATO, is challenging not only our country, but the very unity and future of the Alliance.
JOURNALIST: How will the Turks react following the Greek Prime Minister’s trip to the US? Is it possible that they will carry on with their provocations? Are you worried there might be turbulence during summer?
N. DENDIAS: As I mentioned before, Turkey is a “peculiar” partner within NATO. Unfortunately, the escalation of Turkish unlawful conduct towards our country is part of the overall revisionist trend that is currently a key aspect of Turkey’s foreign policy.
It endangers not only the wider Eastern Mediterranean region, but the very essence of the international legal order.
For our part, we have made it clear that the problem with Turkey does not concern Greek-Turkish relations only, but primarily the way a revisionist power makes unilateral claims against its partners and allies, violating fundamental principles of International Law.
At the same time, I have repeatedly stressed that our stance is guided by principles. It is not directed against Turkish society, a large part of which is looking forward to a European future and embraces European values. We are hopeful that sometime in the future Turkey will embrace these values.
Greece, however, exercises constant vigilance, strengthening alliances and synergies, while confirming its long-standing role as a factor of stability and security in the wider region.
JOURNALIST: In Washington D.C. you raised the issue of overflights and Turkish provocative conduct, while the Prime Minister presented the Turkish map illustrating the “Blue Homeland”. Did the US side make any commitments?
N. DENDIAS: As I mentioned, I thoroughly briefed my US counterpart on all of Turkey’s provocative actions.
Our meeting – which is the second one in a few months, a fact that also indicates the relationship that has been developed – took place in an excellent atmosphere and we are pleased with the results. However, allow me to point out that it is not up to me to comment on the stance of the United States on any issue.
However, the position of the United States on Turkish provocative conduct and the violation of our sovereign rights is well-established.
There have been several public statements made by the US side on this issue.
Let me briefly refer to the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement and the relevant letters of US Secretaries of State Pompeo and Blinken.
Let me also add that the response given by Congress to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks for itself.
It was a unique moment in the modern history of Greece, especially for those of us who were lucky enough to witness it in person, an emotional experience, indicating the level of relations between the two countries.
Mr. Siadimas, Greece’s relations with the United States should not be seen in the light of a “Turkey-centric approach”, because then it would be as if we can’t see the wood for the trees.
These relations have their own momentum and whether this pleases the Turkish side or not is not our concern.
JOURNALIST: What is Erdoğan aiming for with his threat to veto Finland’s and Sweden’s accession into NATO?
N. DENDIAS: Mr. Siadimas, it is not within my competence and it is not my intention to interpret our neighbour’s aspirations and objectives. Every state has the right to choose its own path. What I want to emphasize is that we strongly support this sovereign decision by Sweden and Finland. These countries have made their choice following the proper democratic processes. This is a response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the threat to their security and consequently to the detriment of European security.
Because, let us not forget that these two countries are Greece’s partners in the European Union; they are deeply democratic countries that respect the principles of International Law. Sweden and Finland’s accession into NATO will strengthen us and increase our common security.
In addition, it will strengthen the group of democratic countries within NATO that respect International Law and condemn the threat of use of force or the use of force. It is a group which the vast majority of Allies belong to, unfortunately with one exception.
JOURNALIST: The fall of Mariupol is a game changer. Do you agree with international analysts’ assessments that if Russia occupies the southern part of Ukraine, the war will end?
N. DENDIAS: I think it would not be prudent to make predictions about the duration and outcome of the war based on any changes on the ground, however significant they may seem.
For the war to end there must be a viable solution, and this cannot be based on military fait accomplis, which have been typical of other periods of human history.
A lasting and viable solution can only be a diplomatic solution, which is the result of dialogue and is in accordance with the fundamental principles of International Law and can certainly be accepted by the Ukrainian side. Unfortunately, however, it seems that we are still a long way from such an outcome. In any case, we should be prepared even for a lasting conflict, with all the implications that this will have for both Ukraine itself and for Europe in general.
And you will allow me to add one more thing. As I said previously, Greece’s stance is a principled stance. It is not directed against Russian society, a society that has produced some of the greatest writers, poets, and composers. One of them, Pushkin, considered by many people to be the greatest Russian poet, was a strong supporter of the Greek War of Independence and attended one of the meetings of the Filiki Etairia at its historic headquarters in Odessa.
JOURNALIST: You also discussed energy. Can our country become a hub for energy transfer to the rest of Europe?
N. DENDIAS: Our country, Mr. Siadimas, not only has the potential to become a regional energy hub, but it is also working systematically and, may I say, effectively in this direction, through a network of strategic infrastructures that have either been built or are being built. And that often occurs in cooperation with other countries in the region and always on the basis of the principles of International Law. I could mention at this point, by way of example, the liquefied gas station in Revithoussa, the floating terminal in Alexandroupolis with the participation of our neighbouring countries such as Bulgaria, Serbia and North Macedonia, the construction of which was recently inaugurated by the Prime Minister, the TAP pipeline, the interconnecting gas pipelines with Bulgaria (IGB) and North Macedonia, the East-Med pipeline, the Euro-Asia interconnector between Greece, Cyprus and Israel and the Euro-Africa Interconnector between Greece and Egypt.
These are projects that significantly upgrade Greece’s geopolitical footprint and role, particularly in the context of the urgent need for Europe’s energy decoupling from Russia. And this was something that was recognized by my US counterpart, Antony Blinken, at our meeting in Washington D.C, where energy issues were discussed extensively.
JOURNALIST: Kyriakos Mitsotakis made it clear at the White House that he will not accept a two-state solution to the Cyprus issue, with Joe Biden applauding. Are there any developments?
N. DENDIAS: You will allow me to add that the Prime Minister referred to the framework for a solution to the Cyprus issue in his speech before the US Congress; a reference which was received with applause as well. The so-called two-state solution, which falls entirely outside the framework of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, is not something that we Greeks alone reject. It is categorically rejected by the entire international community. In fact, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry a few days ago clearly reiterated that her country’s position has not changed, despite various, apparently unfounded rumors.
Regarding possible developments, unfortunately, they do exist, but, once again, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community are moving in the opposite direction, and there are indications that work has resumed to open up Varosha. If confirmed, this development further removes the prospect of a just and viable solution and is certainly a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 550 and 789.