Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ statement to Greek journalists following his meetings in Oman (Muscat, 20.10.2021)

JOURNALIST: Minister, how do you assess Turkey’s frenzied reactions, regarding both the two Agreements signed by Greece and yesterday’s Trilateral Summit, and even against the Commission, which in its report calls on Turkey to refrain from unilateral provocations?

N. DENDIAS: Frankly, certain things cannot be understood, at least not in the context of the principles of Law, good neighbourliness and understanding between nations and countries.

Greece has always acted having International Law as a guide and rule of conduct. Egypt and the Republic of Cyprus are doing the same. And beyond that, of course, the Agreement between Greece and France and the Agreement between the Hellenic Republic and the United States are agreements that are totally beneficial for NATO and for the stability and security in our region. Turkish reactions can only be explained, I have said it before, if Turkey perceives itself as an aggressor. In any other sense they are completely incomprehensible.

I would like to say one last thing, which was also underlined by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis yesterday, during the Trilateral Summit. The Agreements and the understandings of Greece are not directed against any other state. And of course, they are not directed against Turkey. Turkey is welcome to be part of this understanding on the condition that it realizes that the rule is International Law, the International Law of the Sea, on the condition it lifts the casus belli against Greece and also subscribes to the rules of the Law of the Sea, i.e. UNCLOS. I think these are self-evident things.

Let me say something else. I had the great pleasure of being in Oman today. Historically speaking, I am the second Greek Minister to visit Oman. I think that a brilliant opportunity opens up for Greece to look beyond its narrow horizon. There is immense potential for cooperation with the Gulf countries, and beyond that, with India, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, precisely within the framework of the principles I described earlier, namely International Law and the International Law of the Sea.

JOURNALIST: Minister, tomorrow you will travel to Tripoli, Libya, for a conference organized by your Libyan counterpart. What is the message that Greece conveys, as a neighbouring country of Libya?

N. DENDIAS: Greece returned to Libya having one goal: To help, within its own capabilities, bring Libya back to the path of stability and security; to return to this path that will ensure a better future for its society, for its people.

Greece considers that there are some self-evident preconditions that must be met to achieve this. The first one is the withdrawal of mercenaries and the withdrawal of foreign forces, as well as the free expression of the will of the Libyan people through elections, to be held on December 24, as determined by the UN Security Council. Greece is coming to Libya with this agenda, and without the slightest notion of self-serving purposes, because we do not have any.