Debate on the censure motion against the Government, submitted by the Leader of the Main Opposition and President of the Parliamentary Group of the Coalition of the Radical Left, Mr. Alexis Tsipras and 84 MPs of his Parliamentary Group, according to Article 84 of the Constitution and Article 142 of the Standing Orders of the Hellenic Parliament
Thank you Mr. Speaker,
Ladies and gentlemen MPs, indeed, we are here today after ten years of economic crisis, two years of the pandemic, more than two years of an almost permanent crisis as regards our national issues, a constant migration crisis – accompanied by outbreaks – and with the consequences of climate change being a given fact.
These circumstances call for a mature political dialogue and I believe that the previous speaker, my friend Mr. Andreas Loverdos, put it very well.
Meaning that it is required from everyone to perform his or her institutional role displaying the maturity that the political system gains through these multiple crises.
And the government – the Prime Minister has said it from the beginning – considers criticism from the part of the opposition to be absolutely necessary. Even severe criticism, when circumstances would justify it. However, a token of maturity, ladies and gentlemen MPs, is to submit positive proposals as well, and not to just level criticism.
Adding to tensions is one thing. Bidding on emotional reactions is quite another. So let’s be honest with each other here.
A motion of censure has been submitted. Proposals for improvement have not been submitted by the opposition, be it the main opposition or the smaller parties. The aim is to stimulate reflexes and not to engage in a rational dialogue.
Regarding the adverse weather conditions, mistakes were made, obviously, and it is clear that Attiki Odos SA did not meet its obligations.
It left citizens exposed and caused incredible inconvenience to its clients. These responsibilities are being investigated by both the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Administration.
The difference lies in the way the government reacts to mistakes and I have to say that the Prime Minister was straightforward in acknowledging these responsibilities immediately.
He apologized to the citizens, took care – and this is unprecedented – for the immediate payment of compensation to the citizens from the concessionaires and is now assessing what happened.
We are also waiting for the proposals of the opposition. Because we have to take into account that extreme weather phenomena like those we experienced in the country will occur ever more frequently as a result of climate change and adjustments are certainly needed, but no proposal has been heard.
There are no proposals as to what these adjustments should be.
Ladies and gentlemen MPs, now I would like to turn to the policy area, the responsibility of which has been assigned to me by the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. We have developed and are implementing a diversified policy with the support of the overwhelming majority of Greek citizens.
We did not stick to the habitual practice of a dialogue targeted at the domestic audience on Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue and we were not consumed by no-win party-political recriminations about greater and lesser patriotism. We did not seek to settle partisan differences of the past through foreign policy.
We behaved as a European country. As I had told you during the debate on the government’s policy statements, we need to perceive ourselves as the most important European country in the Balkans, and I believe that nowadays all the other countries regard us accordingly.
We therefore perceived our position in the Balkans not as a ‘conviction’ due to geography but as a mission to export stability, prosperity, and ensure the European path of the whole region, of Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Montenegro.
We viewed neo-Ottoman Turkish aggression as a springboard for reaching an understanding with all those who believe in International Law, the International Law of the Sea, regardless of their geographical distance from our region.
Through the pandemic we were able to grasp our obligation to provide assistance beyond our borders, fulfilling a universal duty. The instruction given to me by the Prime Minister is that every Greek citizen should offer a vaccine to another fellow human being on the planet.
Clearly, we have realized that Greece needs to depart from the well-trodden path, to broaden its horizons, to establish contacts with countries where the vessels of our merchant fleet are sailing, where export businesses have settled, and where markets for our products can be found.
Ladies and gentlemen MPs, despite problems, the performance of the Mitsotakis government remains significant at all levels. Not only did the health care system withstand the inevitable pressure due to the pandemic, but also the economy and society have withstood the test; recovery and growth indicators look positive.
The Mitsotakis government has made Greece a safe destination for investment. Reforms are moving forward. And the country’s defence is being strengthened, after many years, with the procurement of sophisticated defence systems.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also changing. Its structure is being modernized, a unified Diplomatic Service is being established, a strategic planning with achievable and, most importantly, measurable objectives is being created. The long-standing aberration of the Translation Service has been remedied. All services provided to citizens inside and outside Greece are being digitized.
What is most important however, ladies and gentlemen MPs, is that within 30 months we made a reality of the aspirations of half a century, with the support – I should acknowledge that – of the broad majority in this room.
Because the agreements on the delimitation of our Exclusive Economic Zones with Italy and Egypt were not self-evident. They resulted in the extension of our national territory for the first time since World War II and in repelling the null and void, illegal Turkish-Libyan “memorandum”.
The agreement, the understanding with Albania to have recourse to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which established the view that Greece is able to come to an understanding with all of its neighbours in the framework of International Law, was not self-evident.
The strategic cooperation agreements with the USA, which strengthen our country’s defence and lead Greece-US relations to their highest historical level, were not self-evident.
The strategic agreement with France was not at all self-evident; an agreement which brings the European Union’s only nuclear power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council to the Eastern Mediterranean.
The agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which build bridges to and from the Gulf region, were not self-evident.
The trilateral and multilateral schemes of cooperation we promoted in the region were not self-evident. I am referring in particular to the 3+1 format: Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the USA.
Our country’s reactivation in crisis resolution from Libya to Syria is not self-evident.
We were absent from Syria and Libya, ladies and gentlemen MPs. Libya is only a 20 minute flight from Crete and we paid dearly for it.
The Philia Forum, the signing of the common principles of the Law of the Sea by a large number of countries, is not self-evident. The presence of a Greek minister in Rwanda, the Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, soon in Senegal, in Chad, in Cape Verde, which expands both our geopolitical and economic footprint, is not self-evident either.
Vaccine diplomacy was not self-evident, nor was the first, in six years, visit of an Indian Foreign Minister.
Together with the Mayor of Athens, Mr. Bakoyannis, we unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi. I mention this because today is the anniversary of his death.
The level of our relations with the members of the Security Council is not self-evident. It is not at all common or self-evident that the current Government has signed 118 bilateral agreements and 39 multilateral agreements since taking office. There is no similar precedent since the fall of the dictatorship.
It is not self-evident either that Greece was elected in the International Maritime Organization receiving the highest number of votes. 150 out of 157 members voted for us. We were elected in the first round of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee receiving the second highest number of votes, that is, 119 votes.
112 UN member states supported the General Assembly resolution on the safety of journalists tabled by Greece. And it was not at all self-evident that we now have 97 pledges in writing for our election to the Security Council for the 2025-26 term. We will make an announcement about this within the week.
Ladies and gentlemen, by order of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, I have sought political consensus on national policy lines; especially at a time when the country is facing existential threats. And that is what I will continue to do.
In the coming days, another round of briefing will be held for party representatives. Because the government does not consider foreign policy as its own fiefdom.
Now let’s turn to Greek-Turkish relations. Greece left no provocation go unanswered. We have signalled that we seek a constructive dialogue and a positive agenda, but on the basis of International Law and International Law of the Sea.
And no one should harbour any illusions regarding Greece’s absolute determination to defend its sovereignty and sovereign rights.
As far as values are concerned, Greece always acts within the framework of International Law and the International Law of the Sea.
Greece, as I said, always acts within the framework of International Law. Turkey does not: the casus belli; the Turkish-Libyan “memorandum”; the Blue Homeland; overflights; violations of national airspace; challenging the sovereignty of the islands; continuation of the occupation of Cyprus; the rhetoric of the two-state solution; interventions in other countries: Iraq, Caucasus, Syria, Libya; massive human rights violations; conversion of world cultural heritage sites into mosques.
Ladies and gentlemen, we need to realize something in this room. That Turkey, unfortunately, has changed course.
It is not the same Turkey that, despite all its peculiarities, looked forward to the West and to a European path.
In the face of this situation, in the face of the worst situation since ‘74, our country has managed to contain aggression.
Greece achieved something more. Taking advantage of the windows of opportunity that have opened up, it turned the provocation and arrogance of a threatening neighbour into a shield and a basis for understanding among those with a sense of reason in the face of threat.
I reiterate that we seek dialogue with Turkey, but within the framework of International Law; and not a dialogue on irrational, illegal demands; not a dialogue on illegal acquisitions.
Greece is confident. Greece is not a phobic country. Neither is it marginalized or a country cut off from the world.
And allow me to clarify something; Greece is not annoyed when our partners and allies in the region talk with Turkey.
It is in everyone’s interest that Turkey should maintain contacts with countries that share the same views with Greece. That is, that Turkey should hear the same things coming from many quarters and it would be a good thing if Turkey came out of its isolation and returned to the European path.
Nobody wants an isolated Turkey, an aggressive Turkey. Nobody wants an Islamic neo-Ottoman Turkey. Ladies and gentlemen MPs, allow me to return to the main topic of the debate and conclude.
You will allow me to take a calm approach on the situation in our homeland, reaching beyond the frosty weather, beyond the pandemic. I would like to tell you that in my opinion, we should be proud of Greece.
We should be proud of the homeland of everyone in this room. Our country, despite the problems it faces, is a modern European country.
It is a modern country with great geopolitical potential. Our country, despite its problems, is a thriving democracy. This is what today’s debate proves.
Greece is strong thanks to the sacrifices of the Greek taxpayer, thanks to the exceptional potential of the Armed Forces.
It is a country which is a pillar of security and stability, a tourist and investment destination. It is a country which is a reliable and constructive interlocutor of all, even on issues that are not of direct concern to us.
It is this Greece that the Mitsotakis government serves. It is this Greece that the parliamentary majority serves. That is, the New Democracy MPs, whom I thank for the battles they are fighting, for their support and for their trust in the government.
Thank you very much.