N. DENDIAS: Dear Annalena,
It is a great pleasure to welcome you today to Athens. We’ve met countless times since you assumed office; most recently, on the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg and I’d like to point out that you were kind enough to meet with me before when you were still in opposition.
We had also discussed environmental protection issues back then because the Greek government is a “green government”.
We’ve already had an extensive discussion, which will be continued during the working lunch. We examined our bilateral relations, which extend over a particularly wide range, rooted in history with their bright, but also problematic and dark sides.
Historically speaking, I’d like to recall that the first king of Greece was Otto, a German, a Bavarian. Otto loved Greece. He was buried in Munich, wearing the Greek Evzone’s uniform.
Our civil and criminal law both have German roots, as well. One of the most prominent architects of Athens, whose buildings adorn the historic center was Ernst Ziller. He also designed the building where we are today.
In addition, the building of the Greek Parliament was designed by Bavarian architects and built by King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Otto’s father.
On a lighter note, 170 years after King Otto, another German called Otto as well, as our football team’s coach brought us the European Cup. And that’s why, even today, all Greeks love him.
By the way, I’d like to take this occasion to wish the German women’s football team well in their final match versus England.
Speaking of our relations, allow me to borrow your words. For many reasons, we consider Germany to be one of our closest allies within the European family.
Our economic relations are growing stronger. Last year, despite the pandemic, bilateral trade exceeded 10 billion euros.
In 2019, three million German tourists visited Greece. And, it appears that this figure will be surpassed this year.
In addition, we have close cooperation in renewable energy, a field which is of great importance to us. I’d like to briefly mention the Memorandum for the transformation of a very beautiful island in the Aegean, Astypalaia into an energy-self-sufficient island, as well as the development of photovoltaic parks in Macedonia and the Peloponnese, to replace the lignite plants that are currently operating.
Dear Annalena, I’d like to thank you not only for your words but also for your actions. I’m referring to the Holocaust Memorial dedicated to the Greek Jews in Athens as well as the Kommandantur detention center yesterday; two monuments that symbolize the dark periods in the relations between our countries, but more importantly, the bleak periods of humanity.
And I’d like to express how much we value your assumption of historical responsibility, especially by your generation, which had nothing to do with what occurred. However, let me state that we would prefer this assumption to be “in full”.
In this regard, I’d like to emphasize that the issue of German wartime reparations remains open for the Greek Government, but even more so for Greek society and that its resolution, which is primarily a matter of principle, will be mutually beneficial for both our countries.
I believe it’d be worthwhile to cite a statement made in the Bundestag a year ago by Manuel Sarrazin, who has taken a positive stance on this matter.
“If German-Greek collaboration and friendship are to be achieved, Germany must stop declaring that the reparations issue is closed”.
Another issue I raised today is the export of German war material to Turkey, particularly Type 214 submarines, which the Prime Minister has also raised with the Chancellor.
At this point, I’d like to reiterate the Greek position, which is clear: These submarines risk shifting the balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean in favour of a country that, despite being a NATO member, has issued a threat of war, a casus belli, against my country, against Greece.
A country that violates our sovereignty and sovereign rights, as well as the sovereignty and sovereign rights of other states, a country that illegally occupies the territory of a European Union Member State, the Republic of Cyprus, a country that infringes on human rights, including women’s rights, and the freedom of the press.
Of course, Greece possesses the same submarines, but Greece does not threaten any of its neighbors and certainly has no such intention, nor does it violate any concept of International Law, especially the Law of the Sea.
Greece is not a revisionist power; it has not embraced revisionist doctrines. And of course, I am glad to note that in Germany, too, there are positions in favor of the view I have expressed.
We also discussed regional developments, beginning from the same starting point. Greece and Germany are guided by respect for International Law.
We have been European countries, partners in the European Union, and Allies in NATO for decades; and that means that we demonstrate and should demonstrate to each other the required solidarity.
As far as Ukraine is concerned, following the Russian invasion, Greece has taken a principled stance in favor of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.
Our position regarding Ukraine is not an ad hoc one. It is a position that stems from our principles. And I would like to say that Greece believes, -and I believe Germany does too, but I’m not the one to say this-, that the paradigm of revisionism cannot succeed.
And when I address Greek society, I tell them that if the paradigm of revisionism succeeds, Greece might be the next victim of a revisionist concept.
We, on our part, fully apply all European sanctions despite the cost that entails. And apart from that, we attach special importance to ensuring that those who commit war crimes are held accountable.
We also discussed developments in the Western Balkans. Our views coincide, as we are convinced that the future of the region lies in the European family and that we should not allow the “Balkanization” of the Western Balkans, nor should we allow revisionist forces, or revisionist ideologies to fill the void.
And we are very satisfied with the convening of the first intergovernmental conference with Albania and North Macedonia.
Greece has done everything it can to help these two countries on their European path and will continue to do so.
We have discussed the Western Balkans in general, and we are concerned about the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Of course, we discussed the particularly worrying situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, in view of your trip to Turkey. I informed you about the climate of tension created by our neighbor country, which undermines security and stability, as well as NATO’s cohesion in the region.
We are always ready for a constructive dialogue with Turkey, but solely on the basis of International Law.
I also had the opportunity to brief you on the worrying developments in the Cyprus issue, particularly following my visit to Nicosia yesterday, and to emphasize the importance of European solidarity with Cyprus.
As I already told you, I will also discuss these issues this afternoon with our French colleague, Ms. Collona, whom I will meet in Paris immediately following our meeting.
In conclusion, I’d like to say how pleased I am that you are with us today in Athens and I hope to have the opportunity to reciprocate your visit by visiting Berlin as soon as possible.
Once again, thank you very much for being here today; I know how much you had to push things since your schedule was too packed due to Covid and we appreciate having you with us today.
MFA SPOKESPERSON: Do you have a question? Ms. Kürschner over to you.
Ms. Kürschner: Kürschner, from Mediengruppe Bayern.
A question about the circular exchange project, the so-called Ringtaus. Have you reached any agreement on that?
Mr. Dendias, you made mention of the war reparations. It sounded as if this issue is still on the table. What kind of agreement have you reached on this issue?
N. DENDIAS: Thank you very much for the question. First of all, on the BNP vehicles because that’s what concerns Greece, that’s the promise that the Prime Minister made, I think it’s absolutely in the process of being fulfilled. There is no doubt about it as the Minister previously stated and confirmed.
I now turn to the issue of reparations and I reiterate that, as I stated in my opening statement, this is an open issue for the Greek side, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs I have already sent a note verbale to the German side during my tenure.
Our perception is that if this issue is resolved, and we believe it must and will be resolved at some point, will lead to a significant improvement in the already very good Greek-German relations. But at the end of the day, I believe it is a matter of principle, a matter of law. So, we always look forward to its resolution.
Thank you very much.
MFA SPOKESPERSON: Okay, Mr. Kantelis from SKAI, please.
G. KANTELIS: Giannis Kantelis from SKAI.
I’d like to ask Mr. Dendias if he believes that the new German government is more understanding of Greece’s positions with regards to Turkey.
N. DENDIAS: If you will allow me, I will not hide from you that I am not the one who will compare two German governments. That is German society’s right.
What I can say as a Greek Foreign Minister is that sometimes when I asked for help from all our partners, including Germany, in the Foreign Affairs Council during the previous German government’s tenure, I sometimes felt rather alone.
MFA SPOKESPERSON: And now the last question from Mr.Gavrilis from Deutcshlandfunk.
P. GAVRILIS: A question for the Minister. Would a German mediation so as to overcome the Greek-Turkish differences be welcome? Thank you.
N. DENDIAS: If I understand your question correctly, and you’re asking whether I requested mediation in Greek-Turkish relations from the German side, the answer is no: no, I did not ask for mediation in Greek-Turkish relations.
But I have expressed the conviction – as I always do when I meet with all my European colleagues, let alone with Ms. Baerbock, with whom I have an excellent working relationship – that every European minister bases their position when visiting Turkey on our shared principles and values, the European principles and values and the European acquis.
Therefore, it goes without saying that the territorial sovereignty of all states, their sovereign rights, the Rule of Law, the Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is part of the European acquis, and International Law are unquestionably the subject of every European minister’s talks with the Turkish Government.
And no European minister can condone Turkey’s violations of these fundamental human and European values. And I assume, therefore, that every European minister is expressing his or her dissatisfaction with Turkish actions and practices to the Turkish government, as well as their opposition to Turkey occupying 40% of the territory of a European Union member state, Cyprus.