L. ZOCHIOU: Good morning and Happy New Year.
I would like to start with a statement regarding the attack against two Greek-owned tankers in the Black Sea:
We strongly condemn the attacks against civilian vessels of Greek interests. Such actions endanger the safety of crews and may also have serious environmental consequences. According to information received from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, it has been confirmed that two Greek nationals were among the crew of one of the tankers. They are in good health and no injuries were reported. Greece, as a maritime nation, attaches particular importance to maritime security. We remain firmly committed to International Law and the International Law of the Sea, including freedom of navigation. This issue will, of course, also be raised by the Minister of Foreign Affairs with our European partners.
With regard to Iran, we express our concern about the situation and the information we are receiving regarding the high number of casualties. We are closely monitoring developments in the country, including through our Embassy in Tehran, which remains operational. Greece supports the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly. It is the obligation of all to refrain from the use of violence and to ensure the protection of civilians.
Regarding the recent developments in Venezuela: Greece supports the universal observance of International Law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. As stated during the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the people of Venezuela have the inalienable right to decide on their future, with full respect for fundamental rights and democratic principles. We have long made it clear that the authority of Nicolás Maduro lacks legitimacy. We share the priority of combating transnational organized crime and drug trafficking, which constitute serious threats to global security. These challenges should be addressed through sustained cooperation and always in full respect of International Law.
There have been a number of issues over the past few days.
With regard to Somalia, Greece’s official position was also expressed during the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. We stressed the need to respect the unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Somalia, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the relevant Security Council Resolutions, and the Constitutive Act of the African Union. Support for secessionist entities within Somalia, which could destabilize the country, is unacceptable and must be avoided. Beyond the internal dimension, the destabilization of Somalia entails a serious risk of spillover of the crisis across the Horn of Africa and beyond. We believe that this crisis can only be addressed through dialogue and through the legitimate and internationally recognized Federal Government of Somalia, in full compliance with International Law and the Charter of the United Nations.
Turning to the Middle East: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis, accompanied the Prime Minister on his successive visits to Ramallah and Israel, where the trilateral meeting between Greece, the Republic of Cyprus and Israel took place. These visits confirm that Greece is one of the very few countries that maintains high-level cooperation both with the Palestinian Authority and with Israel. Greece offers its good offices both at the bilateral and regional levels, within the framework of regional and international organizations. In this context, the Minister will travel to New York, where he will participate in the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East on January 28. Relevant announcements will follow regarding the Minister’s schedule and meetings in New York.
Regarding today’s schedule of the Minister of Foreign Affairs: As you know, at 1:00 p.m. the Minister will welcome, here at the Ministry, his Dutch counterpart, David van Weel. The agenda includes bilateral relations, cooperation within the framework of the European Union and NATO, as well as regional and international developments.
Later today, Deputy Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou will head the Greek delegation at the political consultations to be held with Denmark. On the Danish side, the delegation will be led by the State Secretary for European Affairs and the Arctic, Jonas Bering Liisberg. In addition, shortly, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs will meet with members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Libyan House of Representatives, who are visiting Greece, following the visit to Athens of the President of the House of Representatives, Mr. Saleh, and reflecting the mutual will to continue dialogue - an open and sincere dialogue - and cooperation on a range of issues. The Deputy Minister is expected to refer to Greece’s contribution, as both an EU member state and a UN Security Council member, to the definitive resolution of the Libyan issue through the conduct of free and fair elections, free from external interference, leading to the establishment of a representative government.
Meanwhile, the business mission to Benghazi is currently under way, headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Theoharis. The mission is a tangible outcome of the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Benghazi in July 2025 and the visit of the Director-General of the Reconstruction and Development Fund of Libya, Mr. Belgasem Haftar, to Athens. Approximately 35 companies are participating in the mission, representing sectors such as informatics, technology, construction, energy, shipping, engineering, healthcare and financial services. Representatives of these companies will take part in a business forum organized by the Reconstruction and Development Fund of Libya.
With regard to Türkiye: As you are aware, on January 12 the Minister of Foreign Affairs had a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. The discussion focused on bilateral relations, as well as regional and international developments. The date of the High-Level Cooperation Council was discussed; while it has not yet been finalized, this will be done in the very near future. Relevant official announcements will follow.
With regard to the coming week, the meetings on the Political Dialogue and the Positive Agenda will take place on January 20 and 21. The Political Dialogue will be headed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou, while the Positive Agenda will be led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Harry Theoharis. On the Turkish side, the meetings will be headed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay. Regarding the Political Dialogue, the two Deputy Ministers will, as usual, discuss issues related to bilateral relations and developments that have taken place since their last meeting, also in view of the forthcoming High-Level Cooperation Council, which will be held in Ankara. With regard to the Positive Agenda, the discussions will, naturally, focus on issues of economic interest. Matters related to the upcoming High-Level Cooperation Council will also be discussed within the framework of the Positive Agenda.
As for the schedule of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the coming period, what has been finalized - apart from New York - is the trilateral meeting in Cairo between Greece, the Republic of Cyprus and Egypt. To this end, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will travel to Cairo on Sunday, January 18. I would like to recall that the last trilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The agenda of the trilateral meeting is expected to include, inter alia, developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
That is all from my side. I am at your disposal.
K. BALI: Happy New Year. I have a question on Iran. What exactly is the position of the Greek government regarding sanctions? Is Greece among the countries that support designating the “Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps” as a terrorist organization?
L. ZOCHIOU: Regarding sanctions. This is an issue that is being discussed within the framework of the European Commission and will also be discussed at the next EU Foreign Affairs Council. With regard to Iran, I would refer you to what I have already stated in my introductory remarks.
E. COLLIOPOULOU: Good morning and Happy New Year. I would like to ask about yesterday’s drone incident. Do we have any information as to where these drones originated from?
L. ZOCHIOU: I understand that the investigation is ongoing. I do not have any further information. Thank you very much.
K. MARGARITIS: Happy and peaceful New Year. We have International Law, on the basis of which we issue statements, and we also have what one might call Mr. Trump’s version of International Law. In view of the Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council, does Greece intend to take any initiatives or apply pressure in a certain direction so that the voice of the European Union becomes stronger?
L. ZOCHIOU: In view of the Cypriot Presidency?
K. MARGARITIS: Whether Greece intends to take initiatives or apply pressure so that the voice of the European Union - not Greece - becomes stronger in response to all these statements and deviations we are witnessing.
L. ZOCHIOU: Greece remains committed to International Law. Its foreign policy is intrinsically linked to International Law and to the principles and values of the UN Charter. Within this framework, Greece acts consistently, and it is on this basis that it operates within the European Union, in its bilateral relations, and at the UN Security Council.
CH. MAKRI: Chrisa Makri from “Parapolitika” newspaper. You said that a date for the meeting between Mitsotakis and Erdoğan has not yet been set. Do we know when this will be decided, or when we might have further information?
L. ZOCHIOU: As I said, there will be announcements.
CH. MAKRI: When? Can you be more specific?
L. ZOCHIOU: I am afraid I cannot. What I can tell you is that it will take place in the very near future, and the announcements will be adjusted accordingly.
CH. MAKRI: In February?
L. ZOCHIOU: I do not believe that we have officially stated anything of that sort at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
K. MELISSOPOULOS: Happy New Year. Melissopoulos from “Vradyni” newspaper and ANA-MPA. Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have any comment on what is taking place in Cyprus, given that the Cypriot Presidency has begun?
L. ZOCHIOU: No comment. The Government Spokesperson has already covered this issue.
D. KRIKELAS: Dimitris Krikelas from flash.gr and Flash TV. Happy New Year. What is your general assessment of the situation in Venezuela and in Iran? More specifically, could you tell us something about Greek nationals - about the Greek community in Venezuela, or whether there are Greeks who were or still are in Iran? Thank you.
L. ZOCHIOU: Regarding Venezuela: Οur country is represented at the level of Chargé d’Affaires, and our Embassy remains open. Its operation had been suspended for a number of years. Nevertheless, since August 2025, it has once again been operating at the level of Chargé d’Affaires. The Embassy is in contact with the Greek community. At least for the time being, there has been no request for evacuation or departure from the country. We are, of course, monitoring the situation very closely, including through our Embassy in Venezuela.
Regarding Iran: once again, as I have said, our Embassy remains open. The Greek community there is very small. At present, there is no request for evacuation.
CH. KRATSI: Christina Kratsi from Alpha TV. During the meeting that Ms. Papadopoulou will have with members of the Libyan Parliament, will there be any discussion at all regarding the dialogue that has begun on the delimitation of maritime zones? A dialogue has started and a first meeting has already taken place.
L. ZOCHIOU: These were technical talks we had with Tripoli. You are now referring to Benghazi.
CH. KRATSI: Yes.
L. ZOCHIOU: There are no technical talks with Benghazi. As regards Tripoli, dates are currently being explored by the respective diplomatic teams.
P. MICHOS: Happy New Year. Panayiotis Michos from “To Manifesto” newspaper. On the issue of Venezuela, the Greek government appeared to speak with two voices: one from the Prime Minister through a personal post, and another at the UN Security Council. By contrast, on the issue of Greenland, Greece’s position appears firmer and clearer, stating that there should be no invasion or whatever actions the United States of America may be planning. Are those two distinct cases - one an invasion and the other a potential invasion? In other words, why is there this discrepancy in Greece’s positions? Thank you.
L. ZOCHIOU: I do not share your assessment. Our position has been clear. It was officially expressed at the UN Security Council as the Prime Minister himself had already announced.
With regard to Greenland, security in the Arctic remains a key priority for Europe and is critical to transatlantic security. We believe that this can only be achieved collectively and within the framework of NATO, including the United States, while fully respecting the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders. Greece also supported the joint statement issued on January 6 by France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Denmark. The issue of Greenland must be examined and determined by Denmark and Greenland. Our position is absolutely clear.
P. MICHOS: On the margins of the trilateral meeting in Cairo, will there be a bilateral meeting between the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs and his Egyptian counterpart? If so, will the issue of Sinai be discussed? We know there had been, months ago, a draft ten-point agreement under consideration. Is this still on the table? Are there any developments on this matter? It seems we have somehow forgotten this issue. Thank you.
L. ZOCHIOU: Regarding the bilateral meeting, yes, there will be a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his Egyptian counterpart. The agenda of the bilateral meeting will include bilateral relations, the strategic partnership between Greece and Egypt, as well as issues related to the economy, migration and energy. Issues concerning the Monastery on Mount Sinai will certainly also be discussed. As you recall, the achievement of a preliminary common understanding between the Greek and Egyptian sides had been announced. This will now, of course, be submitted to the Holy Sinaitic brotherhood, which will have the final say. That is where matters currently stand. In addition, developments in the Middle East, with an emphasis on Gaza, will also be discussed.
D. KRIKELAS: Since we are on Gaza, could you tell us about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ assessment of the current situation there? We see that this phase, as you described it, appears very stagnant. There has been little progress, and almost on a daily basis we see Israel issuing statements about ceasefire violations and other developments within the Gaza Strip.
L. ZOCHIOU: We are, of course, monitoring the situation, and it is clearly a matter of concern to us. As we have stated, in order to move to the second phase, it is essential that the ceasefire be consolidated and that the civilian population be relieved through the uninterrupted provision of humanitarian aid. This is a necessary precondition for moving forward to the second phase. That is how things stand and there is a reason for that. We will see how developments unfold.
P. MICHOS: According to Bloomberg, Türkiye is seeking to join the Pakistan–Saudi Arabia defense pact, which includes a clause on mutual defense assistance between the two states. If Ankara does succeed in joining this defense mechanism, would Greece need to reassess its position, given that for years it has been assigning Patriot missile systems to Saudi Arabia? If anything were to happen, is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs monitoring these developments, and do we have a view on this? Thank you.
L. ZOCHIOU: At this stage, we are at the level of media reports. We are, of course, closely monitoring developments and assessing the facts. I can only refer to the strategic partnership we have with Saudi Arabia, which is developing across multiple sectors, including the political, military and economic fields.
A. TELOPOULOS: Telopoulos, from iefimerida and efsyn. Is there any comment on the recent harsh accusations made by the Russian side against the Ecumenical Patriarch? Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have any comment?
L. ZOCHIOU: We express our unwavering support for the Ecumenical Patriarch and fully align ourselves with the statement issued yesterday by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
K. MARGARITIS: If I may add, this issue did not arise now. Even before the Russia–Ukraine conflict, a Synod had been convened and they were not accepted by the Russian Patriarch. That was during the tenure of the late Archbishop of Cyprus, Chrysostomos II. It is worth recalling this, to understand when the issue began. It is nothing new.
K. MELISSOPOULOS: Apologies, but I would like to return to my question with a different formulation, as I consider it particularly important. Does the situation developing in Cyprus concern or worry you? Given what is happening, in terms of the motives behind the revelations and the potential impact they may have both on the Cypriot Presidency and more broadly on us, on Hellenism?
L. ZOCHIOU: I will stand by my previous answer.
Thank you very much. Happy New Year once again to everyone.
January 14, 2026