Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias’ additional remarks at the press conference following his meeting with Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani (Rome, 16.11.2022)

N. DENDIAS (on Mediterranean and Aegean):

I would like to thank the Minister for his principled answer. I couldn’t agree more, not only on his very clear point on the sovereignty of the Greek islands and on the fact that the threats are not acceptable, not at least in the 21st century. There is a clear rule, a clear principle, a blueprint, on how we resolve issues Mediterranean. And there are very proud examples, such as the Italian- Greek agreement on EEZ delimitation, and recently the agreement between Lebanon and Israel on delimitation. What is the answer? Preserving the treaties and in the case of the Aegean respecting the Lausanne Treaty and the Paris treaty, both co-signed by Italy. If we implement the rules then we are going to have rules-based order and problems will be almost automatically resolved. If on the other hand we are using threats and implementing force on other countries as Russia is doing in Ukraine right now, this is a no-go for the EU. It is against our principles and we are not going to accept that in any means.

N. DENDIAS (on the migration/refugee issue):

It is clear that migration is a huge challenge for the European project. And I have to say, it is also clear that the countries of South Europe, among them Italy and Greece, Malta, are really sharing the biggest “burden”. Also, I would like to say that, as the Minister has said, unless the European Union pays attention to the south bank of the Mediterranean and the situation in Libya is not stabilized and becomes again a functioning country, not a failed state, this is not going to be easily addressed. Not to speak of the situation in the South, in the Sahel countries.

So, we have to work harder. There are signs of solidarity. But also, we have to do more, as Europe, to address the phenomenon, and work more properly together.  I think that for Italy and for Greece this is a subject that requires very close cooperation.

N. DENDIAS (on yesterday’s explosion in Eastern Poland):

It seems that the missiles were not coming from Russia. The main question is the integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. And on that no other answer can be than to show full respect and we know who is the invader and we know who invaded and we know where the international border is. And as far as Poland, Poland is a EU member state, is a NATO country, is a friend and Ally.

N. DENDIAS (on the escalation of rhetoric by Turkish officials):

We all know that there is a pre-election period in Turkey. But that could not and should not be a sufficient excuse for threats coming from the Turkish side against Greece on a regular basis. And threats with wording like “we will come at night” and similar are totally unacceptable. We totally reject them, but there is something “useful” about them; they prove our point to our friends and partners in the EU, in NATO, in the world. That Turkey key is a country that, in the 21st century, is threatening a neighbouring country against International Law, against International Law of the Sea, against the UN Charter. And we need the clear condemnation of such a kind of behaviour. And I say that I am sorry that Turkey has not learned from what is happening in Ukraine right now.