JOURNALIST: Last Sunday, you were in Turkey, in the region affected by the earthquake. We saw Mevlut Cavusoglu welcoming you with a hug that inspired hope. What is the picture of the situation in Turkey, what is the climate in relation to Greece?
N. DENDIAS: Following the earthquakes of February 6, Turkey is facing an unprecedented disaster, the full consequences of which have yet to be felt and will overshadow life, for a long time, in the neighboring country.
My presence in Turkey, the first visit by a European Minister of Foreign Affairs since the devastating earthquakes, stems from our evident willingness to express Greece’s full support and solidarity towards the Turkish people, and to assure them of our sincere intention to continue providing assistance in every possible way, both bilaterally and in Greece’s capacity as a member state of the European Union.
The images we saw were shocking, the sadness we felt is hard to describe. Equally shocking were the testimonies of the Greek aid mission members, who made every effort to rescue people trapped under the rubble.
In this gloomy atmosphere, my Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, welcomed us with great cordiality, expressed his gratitude to the Greek Government, the Greek Prime Minister and the Greek people, and highly praised the work of the Greek rescuers.
Turkish citizens’ spontaneous expressions were equally warm and humane. They placed trust to the Greek rescuers and rushed to ask for their help, while expressing their gratitude with touching posts on Social Media.
JOURNALIST: Did this visit indeed turn a new page in Greek-Turkish relations? What prospects do you see? Do you believe that in view of Greece’s solidarity with the tragedy that befell Turkey we can hope for a change in rhetoric and the prospect of resuming dialogue?
N. DENDIAS: Greek state and society’s alacrity in rushing to assist the neighbouring country and Turkish society’s gratitude in accepting this assistance highlight fundamental parameters, which we should not forget: our two peoples’ proximity and our country’s unwavering commitment to support the Turkish people whenever the need arises.
Allow me to point out, however, that this is far from a realistic approach to Greek-Turkish relations. We cannot link Greece’s assistance to the suffering Turkish people with any geopolitical developments, with any effort or difference. In any case, I note with caution the statement of my counterpart, my friend Mevlut Cavusoglu, who expressed hope that efforts will be made to resolve our disputes (continental shelf and EEZ) through dialogue.
Turkey’s change of tone, after three years of tension, is welcome. It also allows for a certain optimism about the possibility of a shift from a revisionist “model” of bilateral relations to a climate of good neighbourliness, governed by respect for fundamental principles of International Law and ensuring conditions of peace and stability in our wider region.
Yet, we should not forget that we are always in a complicated regional environment and in a period of political developments within Turkey in the run-up to the elections. In any case, the decline in the tension that has been, thus far, a feature of Turkish rhetoric, can be used to create a new framework for rapprochement.
JOURNALIST: What does Blinken’s visit to Athens on February 21, mark and what will be on the agenda? Do you believe that the US Secretary of State’s visit to Greece and Turkey is also a message in favour of regional stability in the shadow of the tensions of the previous months?
N. DENDIAS: Ms. Fotaki, first and foremost, allow me to emphasize the significance of the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit to Greece. It is a visit that demonstrates, once again, in the most tangible way, the United States’ confidence in our country’s indisputable role in defending stability and prosperity in the wider region, in the midst of rapid geopolitical developments. Furthermore, this visit will cement Greece’s emergence as one of the most reliable geostrategic partners of the United States, thanks to the Mitsotakis government’s intensive efforts. Discussions with Mr. Blinken will include bilateral cooperation issues, spearheaded by the Greece – US Strategic Dialogue. I will also brief my US counterpart on regional issues, particularly on developments in Eastern Mediterranean.
JOURNALIST: Nikos Christodoulides is the new President of the Republic of Cyprus. His election turns a new page for Cyprus and what can we expect in the Cyprus issue? What does it mean in the current geopolitical circumstances?
N. DENDIAS: First of all, allow me to point out that I am very happy for the election of my friend Nikos Christodoulides to the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus, with whom we had an excellent cooperation during his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
I have already extended my heartfelt congratulations to him and I look forward with great pleasure to welcoming him in Athens in order to pick up again the thread of discussions on the issues that interest us. First of all, of course, the issue of the resumption of talks for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue, on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions. This means breaking the deadlock in the talks that has emerged over the last year and a half. And I hope that, when the electoral processes in Greece and Turkey have been completed, we will have a clearer starting point.
JOURNALIST: You were recently in Israel. What does Cohen’s position in favour of Greece’s territorial integrity and sovereign rights mean? Is the EastMed project still alive? Following the election of the new President of the Republic of Cyprus, when can we expect a meeting of the 3+1 (Greece-Cyprus-Israel+US) format which seems to have been put on hold?
N. DENDIAS: Following the election of the new government in Israel, I was the first European Minister of Foreign Affairs to visit the country and the second in general, after Mr Blinken.
It was confirmed that Greece and Israel have a robust partnership of strategic importance, built on common interests and converging views, on the issues and challenges of the region. This was evident by the explicit statement by Mr. Cohen, for the first time – I should point out – about the respect for the sovereignty and sovereign rights of Greece.
Regarding the second part of your question, I would say that it is rather premature to talk about future meetings, of various formats. The government in Israel is new and the President of the Republic of Cyprus has just been elected. Greece has also entered, practically, an election cycle, so we will have to wait a little longer.
Energy projects offer an important area for cooperation in the wider region, even more so in the context of the current energy crisis. We discussed it in Israel among other topics of course. Greece is continuing and intensifying its research for hydrocarbons west of Crete and, at the same time, is rapidly moving forward with cooperation on the electrical interconnection with Africa and Asia, thereby turning itself into an important factor in Europe’s energy security.
JOURNALIST: Is foreign policy suspended during the election period? What will you pursue in the next period?
N. DENDIAS: Obviously, foreign policy is not suspended, because international developments do not stop and the defense of national interests in this constantly changing international environment does not allow the luxury of an “electoral break”. From the first day of its tenure the Mitsotakis government has pursued a consistent foreign policy of principles with a plan, aiming to strengthen the country, upgrade it geopolitically, and enhance its international prestige.
We have moved forward in a creative and innovative spirit, but always with the principles which constitute the cornerstone of Greek foreign policy serving as our compass: International Law, respect for the independence and territorial integrity of all states, peaceful resolution of differences, development of good neighbourly relations.
In this regard, we have worked to deepen relations with traditional partners and allies. But at the same time, we have also sought to broaden the horizons of Greek foreign policy, fostering relations with countries to which we have so far not attached due importance, despite their rising role in international politics. The recent visits I have made to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, some of which have welcomed a Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs for the first time, are part of this approach.
I can therefore assure you that we will continue in the same spirit and with the same dynamism in the coming period until the end of our tenure. We are already expecting the visit of my American counterpart next week. This will be followed by my visit to Tajikistan. I will also go to New York, where I will address the UN General Assembly on the war in Ukraine.