“Greece remains committed to resolving outstanding issues with all neighboring countries through peaceful means, always in strict compliance with international law, including the Law of the Sea and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – both of which are of vital importance for a maritime country like ours,” emphasized the president of the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, Dora Bakoyannis.
“In the last 15 months our bilateral relations have seen a significant improvement. On an operational level, the violations of our national airspace have stopped, while on a political level, multiple meetings have taken place at all levels, including between Prime Minister Mitsotakis and President Erdogan. The enhanced cooperation between our two countries has already yielded positive results in various fields, especially in immigration and tourism,” he added.
Dora Bakoyannis pointed out that these developments create optimism, that a window of opportunity has been created to deal with deeper political issues.
Bakoyannis: Greece is determined to reach a peaceful agreement on our only difference with Turkey
“Greece is determined to reach a peaceful agreement regarding our only difference with Turkey: the delimitation of the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), in accordance with International Law. Our ultimate goal is to secure an agreement on the delimitation of maritime zones, based on mutual good faith, similar to the agreements we have successfully negotiated with other neighboring countries, such as Italy and Egypt in 2020.
“If bilateral negotiations fail to resolve the issue, Greece’s position remains that we must refer the issue of demarcation to the International Court of Justice in The Hague,” said Mrs. Bakoyannis.
“As NATO allies and neighbors in a region full of challenges, I believe that our countries have a moral and strategic obligation to resolve this issue in accordance with International Law and leave old differences in the past,” he underlined.
Referring to Ukraine, the former minister stressed that if we do not support Ukraine in its fight against Russia on Ukrainian soil, we may soon find ourselves defending our allies on their own soil.
“If we allow Putin’s revisionist aggression to succeed, it will embolden not only Russia but all those who seek to rewrite International Law by force,” he stressed.
Bakoyannis: When we support Ukraine we cannot make agreements with Russia
“While we support with all our efforts Ukraine’s right to exist in the face of Russia’s war of aggression, imposing sanctions and paying the price for our stance, we cannot at the same time enter into long-term energy deals with Putin in our countries, or participate in international forums that he leads.
“Similarly, when our allies, on both sides of the Atlantic, commit enormous resources, both material and human, to fight terrorist organizations and bring stability to the Middle East, we cannot harbor the same terrorists on our soil, let alone finance or train them. Supporting terrorists who act against the interests of our allies not only endangers the countries they target, but also undermines the security of our allies themselves,” said Ms. Bakoyannis.
Finally, regarding Greece’s role in the region, Dora Bakoyannis said that our country is a pillar of stability in Southeast Europe, the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
“As a reliable regional interlocutor, Greece acts as a bridge for NATO’s engagement with its southern neighborhood,” he said.
e-EFKA – DYPA: What we will be paid until October 18
Netanyahu: “No” to a unilateral ceasefire – New Israeli strikes in Beirut
Schertsos: Fair and balanced policy, tax-free tips up to 300 euros/month
#Greece #determined #reach #peaceful #settlement #difference #Turkey
