JOURNALIST: Greece's term as an elected member of the UN Security Council begins on January 1. What does this mean for the country's diplomatic position? What are the opportunities for Greece? What are the objectives during its two-year term?
G. GERAPETRITIS: First of all, on the occasion of the New Year, let me express my best wishes for good health, peace and prosperity to the whole world and to assure our compatriots that we are working tirelessly at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for stability, development and self-confidence in Greece, in the most complex geopolitical environment since World War II, with 55 armed conflicts currently around the world.
Greece's term as an elected member of the UN Security Council begins in a few hours on January 1, 2025 and will end on December 31, 2026. We are honored to hold a seat on the Security Council for the third time, following the two tenures in 1952-1953 and in 2005-2006. The 182 positive votes we received out of the 188 countries that voted demonstrate, on the one hand, the UN members states’ trust in Greece, and on the other hand, the responsibility we have to serve this role with vigor, guided by Dialogue, Diplomacy and Democracy.
The main priorities of Greece's tenure in the Security Council are the restoration of the true meaning of the principle of the peaceful resolution of disputes, respect for international law, the strengthening of women’s role in peace and security, the protection of children in armed conflicts with emphasis on humanitarian law, addressing the existential threat of climate crisis and the protection of maritime security, which has been severely disrupted by armed conflict and terrorist threats.
According to the United Nations Charter, the Security Council is primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security. Our country becomes, in practice, a co-shaper of international policy for the global security architecture, with a significant voice, role, and responsibility in developments in an increasingly insecure world. In this environment of instability and uncertainty, Greece consistently pursues a foreign policy of principles and values, making it a reliable interlocutor for all countries. In this way we will achieve our goal, namely to become a bridge between the North and the South, the East and the West, to act as a stabilizing factor.
In view of assuming our new responsibilities, we have already established bilateral and multilateral partnerships with countries that have a strong international footprint, thereby drawing further benefits for our country. Because everyone looks up to Greece, being at the core of the European Union, actively participating in the UN Security Council and holding the most influential position in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
JOURNALIST: In recent years, as two wars in Ukraine and the Middle East broke out almost simultaneously, while unpredictable and aggressive leaders play a central role in global developments, the real capabilities of the UN Security Council in resolving disputes peacefully have once again been called into question. Can the Security Council finally become effective?
G. GERAPETRITIS: We are at an extremely critical juncture, with two wars raging in our broader neighborhood in the midst of significant geopolitical upheavals. Unfortunately, major international organizations have not succeeded in preventing the escalation of the two major wars, nor have they been able to manage civil wars, authoritarian regimes, and blatant violations of fundamental freedoms. The need to reform the architecture of the multilateral system, established after World War II, arises precisely from the current institutions' inability to serve the purpose for which they were created.
In this regard, for the Security Council, the most important structural issues for discussion are, on the one hand, the composition of the Security Council, which no longer reflects the real global balance of power, particularly when major continents are excluded, and on the other hand, the decision-making process, where veto power has, in many cases, become an abusive means that obstructs the adoption of critical decisions, even the most self-evident ones that are undoubtedly based on international law.
No one can claim that the reform of the international system will be an easy or quick process. However, it is a discussion that must take place, especially since we believe in international multilateralism. And everyone will be called upon to demonstrate faith in international legitimacy. Because diplomacy is either conducted on the basis of international law, or it is not diplomacy. This will be our motto at the Security Council from January 1.
JOURNALIST: The new US President has recently stated, quite bluntly, that Türkiye holds the key to developments in Syria. Do you agree with this view, which is also supported by many analysts worldwide? How does Ankara’s enhancement in the broader Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern region affect Greece?
G. GERAPETRITIS: The situation in Syria and the wider Middle East remains extremely volatile. I consider it premature to draw safe conclusions. In effect, Türkiye is an active player due to its direct proximity to Syria and other Middle Eastern countries. Perhaps geography is the only constant in this equation.
We are present, closely monitoring and evaluating developments, shaping policies for all possible scenarios and acting in time to prevent developments that will be harmful to our country as well as to the security of the wider region. In Greece, we also attach great importance to the consolidation of stability in Syria in order to ensure the safety of the historic Greek diaspora and the protection of the large Greek Orthodox community in the country, as well as to end the refugee flows and reverse them by encouraging the voluntary return of Syrian refugees to their homes in a decent and sustainable environment.
In this direction, we are undertaking initiatives at all levels, most recently along with the Republic of Cyprus and Austria for a more active presence of the European Union in Syria. We are in constant communication with neighboring countries and maintain excellent relations with the Arab world, which we will continue to foster through our participation in the UN Security Council.
What is most important in Syria is to ensure the unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. The country is currently in a transitional state and it is absolutely essential for this transition to be smooth, inclusive in the spirit of UN Security Council Resolution 2254, free from foreign interference. The new system of governance must be based on democratic legitimacy and strictly respect human rights and international law.
JOURNALIST: The Prime Minister has recently stated that at the moment there is no room to discuss in greater depth the sole dispute with Türkiye. Given that the two Ministers of Foreign Affairs have been assigned the task by the leaders of the two countries to assess the conditions for starting a substantive discussion on EEZ delimitation, should we assume that the outcome was negative? Is this dialogue leading anywhere?
G. GERAPETRITIS: Dialogue is the only viable path for the peaceful coexistence of peoples, especially in neighborhoods of the world with great historical burdens. We believe in dialogue, especially when it is conducted in an honest and structured manner. If we were to make a comprehensive assessment, we could say that over the past year and a half, there has been significant progress in Greek-Turkish relations, such as the near elimination of violations of Greek airspace, control of human trafficking networks, cooperation in civil protection, significant agreements that have substantially increased bilateral trade, the fast-track entry visas for Turkish citizens and their families, which have significantly boosted the local economy in 10 Greek islands. Furthermore, the improvement in Greek-Turkish relations has contributed to the resumption of discussions under the auspices of the UN for the resolution of the Cyprus issue.
Our intention in the coming period, ahead of the meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council in the first months of 2025, is to continue exploring the possibilities for strengthening this cooperation, as this is ultimately for the benefit of peace and prosperity of both peoples. This spirit guided the meetings held within the framework of the Positive Agenda and the Political Dialogue in early December in Athens.
As regards the delimitation of the continental shelf and the EEZ, the one and only dispute between Greece and Türkiye that can be brought before international jurisdiction, the positions of Athens and Ankara on the scope of the discussion continue to diverge substantially. Greece, with the confidence deriving from its enhanced diplomatic capital, has clarified that issues of national sovereignty cannot be discussed or brought before international jurisdiction.
In this regard, irrespective of whether the discussion on delimitation commences, which is indeed a prerequisite for long-term peace, we still believe that inaction cannot be an option. We should ensure and strengthen the progress made so far in avoiding tensions in our relations with Türkiye. The pursuit of peace, with respect for international law and without concessions on our national rights, is a commitment and an obligation to the present and future generations.
JOURNALIST: Is there any prospect of resuming discussions on the Cyprus issue in 2025, given that we are experiencing the longest period without dialogue? Do you believe that there could be progress before the elections in the occupied territories in 2025?
G. GERAPETRITIS: We are in a period of significant developments on the Cyprus issue, which has consistently been a top priority of Greek foreign policy. The Greek government has set as its first foreign policy objective to bring the Cyprus issue back to the forefront of international politics and, in particular, as a priority of the United Nations. Initially, a Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Cyprus was appointed. Recently, under the auspices of António Guterres, an informal meeting took place between the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot leader, and a meeting in expanded format is scheduled to follow.
Taking up our seat on the UN Security Council as of January 1st, our goal is to keep the Cyprus issue on the active agenda of the UN. In full coordination with the Republic of Cyprus, we support the efforts of the UN Secretary General and look forward to making a constructive contribution to the dialogue for a just, viable and functional solution within the framework of the UN Security Council Resolutions.
As I have stated in the past, in a world full of divisions, a united European Cyprus, apart from the the prosperity it would generate for its citizens, would also constitute an extremely powerful universal symbol.
December 30, 2024