JOURNALIST: There are strong indications that Turkey sped up the signing of the memorandum with Libya because it fears a possible collapse of the Sarraj government. Might this fear also lead Erdogan to speed up other actions he has announced, such as sending a survey ship south of Crete in January? And how would Greece react in this case?
N. DENDIAS: Turkey’s concern about getting ahead of situations that probably won’t serve its interests is obviously a fact borne out by its recent hasty actions. In any event, calmly and seriously, we are prepared to deal with any eventuality and any possible move. Greece will not hesitate to defend its sovereign rights and its interests in any way necessary, always within the framework of our constitutional imperatives and International Law.
JOURNALIST: Do you think there is a danger of a “heated incident” if Turkey decides to take the matter to extremes? And in such an event, will we have allies or will be alone.
N. DENDIAS: Our country is always ready to defend its national sovereignty and its interests. However, I don’t believe Turkey will act so recklessly as to provoke a heated incident, because only Turkey stands to lose in such an eventuality. Our battle worthy and well prepared Armed Forces ensure the deterrence of any threat. But even though we can do it alone, we won’t be alone. Our allies and friends in Europe and beyond will be at our side because we have the law on our side, and as we have seen in the diplomatic campaign we are carrying out, Turkey is more isolated than ever.
JOURNALIST: Greece appears to have proof of Turkey’s violating the embargo on arms sales to Libya. What are you doing? Will you report Turkey to the UN?
N. DENDIAS: In a relevant report published a few days ago, the UN itself confirmed Turkey's violation of the sanctions imposed on Libya by the Security Council. Once again, we are seeing proof of Turkey’s violations of International Law and the resolutions of the international community, and Turkey’s indifference to stability in the region in the name of its misconceived “national interests.” Turkey doesn’t seem to understand that, at the end of the day, it is hurting only itself.
JOURNALIST: You met with the UN Secretary-General. Do you think he will accede to your request and not publish the Turkish-Libyan memorandum in the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea?
N. DENDIAS: During our recent meeting in Geneva, Mr. Guterres listened carefully to our positions and told me that the issues will be referred to the UN’s legal services so that he can get their opinion on the issue.
JOURNALIST: Many people think it’s time for Greece to change its cautious stance and to submit the coordinates of its maritime zones to the UN. Are you considering this possibility?
N. DENDIAS: Our country took action in this direction in 2011. Right now, we are in negotiations with our neighbouring countries to delimit our maritime zones in consensus and based on the Law of the Sea. As a factor for stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean region, Greece will endeavour to delimit the maritime zones with its neighbouring states, and naturally it will never relinquish its legal rights enshrined in International Law.
JOURNALIST: Are you discussing the possibility of partial delimitation of our maritime zones with Egypt, up to Crete – a move that would totally cancel out the Turkey-Libya memorandum, which is null and void in any case?
N. DENDIAS: We have been in talks with Egypt for some time now to delimit the maritime zones between us. During my recent visit to Cairo, I and my Egyptian colleague, Mr. Shoukry, agreed to step up the talks so that we can soon reach a mutually acceptable agreement on the matter. Recently, the President of Egypt also made special mention of these efforts. We hope to have a positive result soon.
JOURNALIST: The procedures for delimitation of the maritime zones with Italy are moving ahead. In this case, are you considering the possibility of extending our territorial waters in the Ionian to 12 miles, or will delimitation be carried out based on 6 miles?
N. DENDIAS: We are in fact in the midst of productive talks with Italy. It has already been decided that teams from the Greek and Italian Ministries of Foreign Affairs will meet in the coming days, and they will work in the direction of delimiting maritime zones with Italy. Beyond that, we have to complete our talks before we say anything else. In any event, our clear goal is to move ahead to the delimitation of the maritime zones with our neighbouring countries at the soonest possible time.
JOURNALIST: Former Ministers of Foreign Affairs, such as Evangelos Venizelos and Dora Bakoyannis, are raising the issue of recourse to the International Court in The Hague. Are you considering this? Do you think the time is right? And even if Turkey agrees, won’t this have a high political cost?
N. DENDIAS: I have repeatedly stated at that political cost does not decide our policy. Our policy is determined by our national interests and rights. We are moving on this basis and, naturally, considering all of the available options. At this point I would like to note that Greece does not fear the rulings of international legal bodies, and it has proven this.
JOURNALIST: France appears to be the most ardent supporter of Greece’s positions of late. Do you also expect moves of French support in our region?
N. DENDIAS: President Macron has in fact repeatedly and clearly condemned Turkey’s illegal activities in the Cypriot EEZ and the recent groundless Ankara-Tripoli memoranda. And this is precisely our shared understanding with France on the regional developments that will allow for our continued cooperation on many levels in the near future. But we mustn’t forget that the EU as a whole has expressed the same stance, and very categorically, for the first time making provisions for specific sanctions against Turkey. The condemnation of Turkey’s actions is unanimous and unreserved from all of our allies and partners, and this is our most powerful diplomatic weapon. The EU is not just an economic cooperative, as opponents of European integration often argue, but a union of states that believe in a specific model of democracy, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence with our neighbouring states.
JOURNALIST: Did you discuss the Cyprus problem with the UN Secretary-General? Do you think the process will move ahead? Would Greece participate in an informal five-sided meeting?
N. DENDIAS: The Cyprus problem was among the topics we discussed in the meeting with the UN Secretary-General. I expressed the Greek government’s willingness to contribute in any way it can to the Secretary-General’s effort to resolve the issue. Resolution of the Cyprus problem is Greece’s strategic pursuit, and we are working in that direction. However, in spite of the positive step taken in Berlin towards the reopening of the talks, the gunboat policy being implemented by Turkey is not helping to create the right climate for convening an informal five-sided meeting.
JOURNALIST: What does our country expect from Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s meeting with Donald Trump at the White House on 7 January?
N. DENDIAS: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s meeting with the U.S. President is expected to confirm and even further strengthen the strategic relationship between the two countries. Greece and the U.S. have the same strategic objective, which is security and stability in the eastern Mediterranean region. This was also confirmed by the U.S. stance on Turkey’s provocative actions, including the memorandum signed by Turkey and Tripoli on the delimitation of maritime zones. Moreover, both sides want to strengthen our cooperation, with our roadmap being the Strategic Dialogue our countries entered into in December 2018. So, what we want to see is further progress in the sectors included in the Strategic Dialogue. Beyond that, I think it is a given that Kyriakos Mitsotakis will again discuss with President Trump the regional challenges and our country’s role in promoting security and stability throughout the Eastern Mediterranean.
December 22, 2019