L. ZOCHIOU: Good morning. We will proceed directly with certain remarks regarding the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ schedule in the coming period. Ahead of Mr. Gerapetritis’ participation in the Meeting of the NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs, tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3, in Brussels, I would like to note the following: The Meeting is taking place amid ongoing discussions aimed at achieving peace in Ukraine, on the basis of the United States’ plan. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is expected to state the following: Any initiative aimed at ending the war in Ukraine is welcome. However, a peace proposal cannot be decided without Ukraine itself. In this context, Ukraine’s sovereignty must be respected, and credible security guarantees are required to ensure sustainable peace and to effectively deter any recurrence of Russian aggression. The participation of the European Union at the negotiating table is indispensable, as its interests are directly affected.
As regards the North Atlantic Alliance, NATO is called upon to assess the latest developments and prepare the next steps. Greece attaches particular importance to the cohesion of the Alliance, the strengthening of EU-NATO cooperation, and a fair distribution of defense burdens. With respect to defense spending, Greece is among the Allies that invest in their defense. Furthermore, Greece advocates for an Alliance that is operationally more effective, so that it may respond adequately to new challenges. To that end, our country attaches particular importance to strengthening dialogue and cooperation with the countries of the Southern Neighborhood. I am referring to the Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel region, as the widespread instability prevailing in our wider neighborhood directly affects not only Greece but the entire Euro-Atlantic area.
Following Brussels, the Minister will travel to Vienna on December 4 and 5, where the 32nd OSCE Ministerial Council will take place. It should be noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act at the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Final Act has been a historic milestone, as it placed additional emphasis on the principles and values of the Charter of the United Nations that Greece consistently champions: The refraining from the use of force, the sovereign equality of all states, and the inviolability of borders. The proceedings will be conducted along three guiding principles: First, respect for international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and the principles and values of the Helsinki Final Act. Second, highlighting the OSCE as a primary forum for Political Dialogue. And third, developments concerning Ukraine. Greece attaches particular importance to the smooth functioning of the Organization and to the strengthening of its activities, given that it constitutes the largest security and cooperation organization in Europe.
With regard to the schedule for Friday, December 5, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will receive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the President of the Libyan House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, in the framework of the functional relationship that Greece pursues to build with Libya, and the open communication channels that it has established with both sides at the highest level. Regarding the business mission to Benghazi, which is being coordinated by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Theoharis, it is planned for January 2026. A few days ago, on November 19, the Minister held a telephone conversation with Ms. Hanna Tetteh, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya. During the call, the Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated Greece’s support for the roadmap of the UN mission, with the aim of advancing the political process in the country. He stated the positions of the Greek side, informed her of his visits to both sides - Benghazi and Tripoli - and extended an invitation to Ms. Tetteh to visit Greece, which she accepted. There will therefore be announcements in the coming period.
Remaining on the subject of Libya: On November 26, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2804, co-penned by Greece and France, extending the legal framework for authorizations of inspections of vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya. Operation “Irini” remains a primary tool for the maritime enforcement of the UN arms embargo. Its primary objective is de-escalation, the consolidation of stability and peace, both in Libya and in the wider region.
On December 5, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will participate, via a video message, in the proceedings of the “Athens Policy Dialogues” conference. The topic will be the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
On December 6, he will be in Doha, where he will participate in the Doha Forum 2025.
On Tuesday, December 10, he will hold a meeting here in Athens with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, and on December 16, again in Athens, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania.
On December 17, the National Council on Foreign Policy will convene, to discuss developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Let me now proceed to the engagements and schedule of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexandra Papadopoulou. On November 24, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs led political consultations with Egypt in Cairo, in implementation of the provisions of the High-Level Cooperation Council between Greece and Egypt, which took place last May. Issues of bilateral interest were discussed, as well as developments at the regional level, with a focus on developments in Gaza and the peace agreement. During the discussions, the strategic nature of Greek–Egyptian relations was reaffirmed, as was the importance of contacts and coordination between the two sides at a particularly critical juncture.
On November 26, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs presented to the Members of Parliament serving on the Parliament’s Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs, the Pact for the Mediterranean.
The year 2025 constitutes a milestone for Euro–Mediterranean cooperation. It coincides with the marking of the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process, which signaled the beginning of the Euro–Mediterranean Partnership. Its objective was to strengthen relations between the European Union and its Mediterranean partners making the Mediterranean a space of stability and prosperity. Greece believes that the strategic upgrading of the European Union’s relations with the countries of the Southern Neighborhood - namely Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel - is becoming critical at a time of intense geopolitical uncertainty, in which emphasis has been placed more heavily on the Eastern Neighborhood following the crisis in Ukraine. As a country of the Southern Neighborhood, Greece seeks to broaden the EU’s attention towards the South, through the promotion of closer political and economic ties and the strengthening of partnership cooperation.
On November 27, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yiannis Loverdos participated in the Union for the Mediterranean Regional Forum in Barcelona, where the formal launch of the new Pact for the Mediterranean was announced.
In another significant development, on November 28, Greece was elected with a historic record of votes, on the Category A of the International Maritime Organization Council for the period 2026-2027. This election confirms Greece’s historically outstanding role in global shipping and its strong position in the international maritime community, given that the unhindered operation of global maritime transport is decisive both for international economic and commercial relations and, more broadly, for interconnections among states.
As regards Ms. Papadopoulou’s schedule, on Friday, December 5, she will participate in the “Athens Policy Dialogues” conference. On December 12, the Deputy Minister will participate in political consultations with Kuwait.
With regard to the schedule of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Harry Theoharis, he has been in Egypt since yesterday. Today, Tuesday, December 2, he will address the Greece–Egypt Business Forum, in the context of the business mission taking place there. He will also address the “Athens Policy Dialogues” conference. From December 6 to 12, Mr. Theoharis will be in the U.S., where he will participate in the Capital Link Forum and hold meetings with institutional and business stakeholders.
I am at your disposal should there be any questions.
CH. KRATSI: Christina Kratsi from “Alpha TV”. I would like to ask if we have any developments regarding the meeting of the multilateral 5x5 scheme. We were last informed that Mr. Gerapetritis would take certain initiatives to have some informal contacts with these countries and gauge the situation. At what stage are we?
L. ZOCHIOU: Let’s stay at that for the time being. Should there be any development, announcements will be made. I have nothing further to add.
TH. BALODIMAS: Balodimas from “Rizospastis” newspaper. On a related issue. The Ambassador of the United States to Türkiye gave an interview to “Kathimerini” newspaper, published this Sunday. Among other things, he said that it makes no sense for Greece and Türkiye to continue to maintain disputes over events that occurred hundreds or even thousands of years ago. My first question is whether there is any comment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the fact that the Ambassador of an allied country considers as outdated disputes the fact that Ankara challenges Greek sovereignty over a number of parts of the Aegean, speaks of a Turkish minority in Thrace and the Dodecanese, threatens with a casus belli in the event of the extension of Greek territorial waters, etc. And secondly, in the same interview he said that a new regional order is needed and agreed with the idea of creating a forum between Türkiye and Greece, as a useful roadmap for a new framework of cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Has the American side held any discussion with you on this?
L. ZOCHIOU: Over the past two and a half years, Greece has established a functional relationship with Türkiye and maintains open channels of communication, so as to avoid and prevent tensions and crises. We appreciate, and it is important, that there be goodwill on the part of third parties toward the consolidation of security and stability in the region. In any case, however, issues with Türkiye are handled bilaterally, as International Law stipulates. No initiative from third parties has been undertaken, and no such proposal has been conveyed to us.
CH. MAKRI: Regarding Ms. Papadopoulou’s contacts with Egypt, I would like to ask whether the issue of the Monastery on Mount Sinai was raised, and if we have any developments on that matter, and whether the issue of further delimitation of EEZs in the Mediterranean was raised.
L. ZOCHIOU: With regard to Egypt, as I mentioned, our relationship has been upgraded to a strategic partnership since May 2025. We maintain historic ties with the neighboring country, a leading power in the Arab world. As for the issue of the Monastery on Mount Sinai, it was not discussed and there is no development to be announced in that regard. With regard to issues relating to the bilateral delimitation, they are not currently ripe for discussion.
D. KRIKELAS: Dimitris Krikelas, flash.gr and Flash TV. Regarding Libya, could you tell us a little about the stage in the technical discussions with both sides and if there is anything in these negotiations that makes you more optimistic about the final outcome for the delimitation of maritime zones, etc., on the main issue.
L. ZOCHIOU: We do not have a new date for the technical talks on the delimitation. We have said that the next round will be held in Tripoli and we do not have any further developments in this regard. But, as far as being optimistic, as you mentioned: since the summer of 2025, when the Minister of Foreign Affairs visited both sides, and as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working to maintain, build and consolidate these open channels of communication, we are going step by step and I believe that the developments in this regard are very positive. You comprehend that the issues are complicated. I don’t think that journalistic time, if you allow me the expression, can be compared to diplomatic time.
H. KRATSI: Let me insist on this. You said that the President of the Libyan Parliament will come to Athens. What will be discussed? Will they not discuss the Turkish-Libyan memorandum, its annulment, this whole issue that has been preoccupying?
L. ZOCHIOU: First of all, this will be his first meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, so the agenda items are being formulated. In any case, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will reiterate Greece’s well-known positions in relation to the null and void Turkish-Libyan memorandum. And these are not only Greece’s positions, they are also the positions of the European Union, if you recently saw Ms. Kallas’s statement on this issue.
H. KRATSI: The President of the Parliament is from the Eastern side of Libya, right? And they are the ones who have not ratified the Turkish-Libyan memorandum, so I don’t think…
L. ZOCHIOU: He is from Libya. It is Libya’s House of Representatives. Its seat has simply relocated…
H. KRATSI: Yes, and it is close to Haftar. That is, it is not close to the official government.
L. ZOCHIOU: It is the House of Representatives of Libya.
P. MICHOS: Good morning, Panagiotis Michos from “To Manifesto” newspaper. Is there a date for a visit by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Athens in the coming days, to hold discussions on the Strategic Dialogue and on the issue of the defense strategic cooperation agreement that was signed in 2021 and had a five-year duration? And secondly, regarding the visit of the Albanian Foreign Minister, Ms. Spiropali, besides the other issues that will be discussed, can you outline for us whether there is any development, any mobility on the issue of maritime zones? And since various things are being reported, does Greece aim to revise the existing 2008 agreement, to adjust it, or to make a new bilateral agreement from scratch to be drawn up with Albania, or to refer the dispute directly to the court, to an international jurisdiction? Because things are a little confusing.
L. ZOCHIOU: Regarding the visit of the US Secretary of State, there is no date for the Strategic Dialogue, at least so far. When there is something to announce, it will be announced. Regarding the visit of the Albanian Foreign Minister to Greece, you are asking about maritime zones, an issue that is not on the agenda. It is not on the agenda, at least for now. When the time comes, it will be discussed.
K. FRYSSA: Yesterday, the President of the Republic of Cyprus said that he will invite the Turkish President and the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr. Fidan, during the Republic of Cyprus Presidency of the European Union Council. Is there any comment from Athens?
L. ZOCHIOU: We are in complete accord with the Republic of Cyprus and in close cooperation regarding the preparation of its Presidency of the European Union Council. I would not like to make any further comments.
A. TELOPOULOS: Good morning from me as well. Telopoulos from iefimerida news site and EFSYN newspaper. A comment, please, on the scenarios that have been rekindled regarding the reopening of the Theological School in Halki, also by the occasion of the Pontiff's visit to Istanbul in the previous days, and, further, in relation to the U.S. role, since the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara also implied in an interview that he is going to encourage the reopening of the School.
L. ZOCHIOU: Generally, the messages we receive from all sides are positive. We are closely monitoring the developments and we hope that the expectations that are expressed will be transformed into action. The reopening of the Theological School in Halki is not a bilateral issue, it is a matter of universal demand. If this materializes, it will be a move of substance, which we will certainly welcome.
P. MICHOS: Lately, the United States of America has been putting pressure on Venezuela with military exercises and a specific situation that we have all observed. The USA is an ally of Greece and I would like to ask how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs comments on this. That is, a close ally, according to many the leading power of the Western world, is putting this pressure on a country and is ready to invade. What is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ opinion on this?
L. ZOCHIOU: First of all, we are monitoring the developments. Our Embassy in Caracas remains open and we are in contact with our Ambassador there. Greece, like all of its European partners, stands for the respect of the rules of International Law, and in particular the International Law of the Sea, as well as the safeguarding of navigation in the region.
N. PETANIDOU: Nikoleta Petanidou from “Naftemporiki” newspaper. I would like to go back a little to the Greek-Turkish dialogue. Is there any planned bilateral meeting, either on the political dialogue, the positive agenda, the confidence-building measures or a planned meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs with Mr. Hakan Fidan tomorrow? Thank you.
L. ZOCHIOU: I will start from the last. There is no meeting planned with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, either at NATO or in Vienna, at least for now. As far as the political dialogue and the positive agenda are concerned, the diplomatic staffs are looking at dates for 2026.
K. ALATZAS: Good morning. Alatzas Kostas from “Efimerida ton Syntakton” newspaper and “ACTION 24” TV. What information does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have on the developments on Türkiye's request for participation in the SAFE mechanism, in the financial instruments of the SAFE mechanism? Is it final that Türkiye cannot participate, given the objections raised by Athens and Nicosia on this issue? What is the precise information that you have?
L. ZOCHIOU: Information regarding…?
K. ALATZAS: Regarding the developments on the request by Türkiye for consideration, by the European Union and the Commission, for participation in the SAFE mechanism.
L. ZOCHIOU: I think that there have been official announcements by the European Commission regarding this request. Greece's position is known, firm and unwavering. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly emphasized, with regard to Türkiye's request, that a country that maintains an active threat of war, the casus belli, cannot participate in the SAFE mechanism.
K. ALATZAS: I don’t know if it’s accurate, but reports from Brussels state that perhaps this assurance that the Commission had given to Athens regarding the unanimity rule in examining the Turkish request may not apply in full and that we may be going with another format that requires qualified majority. Do you have any information on this?
L. ZOCHIOU: What I know, regarding the current provisions of the SAFE Regulation, is that for the inclusion of a third country in the SAFE financial instrument, a bilateral agreement is required under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Article 212, for the conclusion of which unanimity is required. I am not aware of anything having changed in this regard.
Thank you very much for your questions.
December 3, 2025