JOURNALIST: A poll yesterday showed that foreign policy is the government's main strength, even though it is said that people are moving to the far right and so on. Foreign policy gains more approval in the polls than New Democracy as a political party. To the first question: "How do you assess the government's foreign policy?" 44% of answers replied “positive” and “rather positive”. In no other area, namely security, cost of living, economy, institutions, are those figures higher.
"Compared to six years ago, when the government first took office, do you think that the country's position abroad has improved?" 35.6% agree, which is also a high percentage.
And to the question "Which of the political leaders would you want to represent the country in Europe and in the world?" 34.8% answered PM Mitsotakis, 11.1% Ms. Konstantopoulou, and 10.4% Mr. Androulakis.
On the other end of our phone line we have the person in charge, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. George Gerapetritis.
Good morning, Minister.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Good morning, Mr. Xenakis. Good morning, Mr. Skouris. It's a pleasure.
JOURNALIST: We had the Trump statement yesterday about the Greek Prime Minister. We are also reading reports that we may even have a meeting between the U.S. President and the Greek Prime Minister. How are things with the new U.S. President?
G. GERAPETRITIS: We have an excellent relationship with the new U.S. Administration. As you know, I was among the few, among the first, to meet with the U.S. Secretary of State at the State Department. We had an extremely productive conversation. Then we met again in Brussels on the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. We have developed a consistently good relationship. There are channels of communication in place. And above all, there is a good understanding, a close relationship, which dates back - not only to the relationship between the two leaders during President Trump's first term - but above all to the strategic defense relationship that has developed between Greece and the United States. And, above all, to the common interests, which exist in multiple areas. This is the footprint of a serious government, a stable foreign policy and a sizeable diplomatic footprint.
You know, the fact that Greece currently is at the heart of the European Union and is largely undertaking crucial initiatives on transatlantic relations, while simultaneously being an elected member of the UN Security Council, co-shaping international policy, I think it is a factor making everybody want to have a close relationship with our country.
JOURNALIST: So, can we assume that we will have a direct contact between the Greek Prime Minister and the U.S. President?
G. GERAPETRITIS: This meeting will obviously take place in due course. As you know, we are currently at a stage of multiple consultations on various issues. When the time comes, the two leaders will meet. The relationship has already been structured since the first term of the American President. I think this will be reaffirmed when the second meeting takes place.
JOURNALIST: Many people say - and I think there is some basis for this - that the New Democracy government of the last six years invested a lot in the previous Presidency, namely the Biden Presidency and in Kamala Harris. And that may have created some problems in the relationship. At the same time, we are dealing with a politician, like Trump, who is very often praising our neighbor, Erdogan.
G. GERAPETRITIS: The reality contradicts that though. In reality, the channels of communication with the U.S. Administration are in place. Those channels were put in place even before the U.S. elections. You know, the current stage of diplomatic history is marked by absolute unpredictability. International multilateralism has become extremely unpredictable. A prudent foreign policy has to consider all possible scenarios. And we did this in a timely manner. And I think this has also been proven in practice.
The relationship that may exist between the American President or the new American Administration and Türkiye - because it is obvious that you are referring to Türkiye - is a reality. Of course, I feel that, since President Trump's first term, a lot of things have changed in terms of regional balance. Two major wars have erupted, which are plaguing our wider region. They are changing the landscape. Stability can only be provided by a stable governance, based on principles, based on international law. And above all, a foreign policy that expands its footprint.
Within six years, the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis has succeeded in reaching important strategic cooperation agreements. We have increased our regional power. We are, perhaps, the only country that maintains a strategic relationship with Israel and, at the same time, has excellent relations with the entire Arab world. We have strategic alliances, beyond the United States, with France and other powers, which multiply our own power.
JOURNALIST: And more specifically there is the important issue of the laying of the cable. Will the research and survey activities continue? Will they be suspended? There was a plan for mid-April. What do we have on that? Can we have a timeline?
G. GERAPETRITIS: The timing is based on multiple factors. It is not just dependent on the company's planning, which has to be completed. It also depends on the technical details, which determine the issue of conducting the site-survey and laying the cable. Because it is also required to issue the necessary NAVTEX. It is a question of timing, in the sense that there are other outstanding issues. The laying of the cable will proceed. Let me remind you that this is a project co-funded by the European Union, which is protected by international law, in the sense that the research and survey activities and the laying of the cable can be conducted freely, they do not require a permit.
JOURNALIST: This is being contested by Türkiye and it is said that Athens fears this. That is why I'm asking you.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Let’s clarify this point. There is absolutely no fear. Of course, we always evaluate the facts, we evaluate the intentions and we evaluate the reactions. And this is always in relation to how the greatest possible benefit for our own foreign policy can be drawn. I repeat, the project will proceed, it will be completed at a time that is appropriate. However, it is clear that conducting a research and survey activity and drilling in maritime areas that have not been subject to delimitation and where there are claims on Türkiye’s part, this could obviously create friction. This is also the reason why Greece, and all the countries in the region, should delimitate their maritime zones for the benefit of regional stability. What we are saying is that we strongly support our sovereign rights. We will fulfil our duty. We have already done so in the case of the commissioning of Chevron and Exxon, two global energy giants. We will also do so in relation to the maritime spatial plans, which are long overdue. Greece will go ahead without any fear whatsoever.
JOURNALIST: Now there is a second current issue. We knew that the High-Level Cooperation Council between Greece and Türkiye and the visit of the Greek Prime Minister to Ankara, was supposed to take place in January. Then it was April, then May. I saw in “Milliyet” newspaper yesterday that it was postponed. “This meeting has been put on hold”, they wrote. Are there such problems that lead to the Prime Minister's visit being “on hold” and are they related to what is happening right now in Türkiye?
G. GERAPETRITIS: Nothing was put on hold. The Greek-Turkish dialogue is continuing normally. The Greek-Turkish dialogue of the last two years, with its specific characteristics, has brought very important results both in terms of airspace violations and migration, and in terms of the Cyprus Issue. The particularity of this period is that this dialogue is structured and ongoing. The major pillars of the dialogue, which are the Political Dialogue, the Confidence Building Measures and the Positive Agenda, are continuing normally. The High-Level Cooperation Council will indeed be held in Ankara. No specific time was ever scheduled. It will take place when the schedules of the two leaders allow it and when the time is deemed appropriate. However, the dialogue has not been put on hold, it is continuing as usual and the meeting of the two leaders will take place this year.
JOURNALIST: Is this dialogue still focused on the prospect of a referral to The Hague, or has that been abandoned, Minister?
G. GERAPETRITIS: Neither of the two is the case. The reality is that when the Greek-Turkish dialogue begun, about two years ago, it was based on a program of two phases. The first phase was aimed at building trust, which was essentially shattered. To build this trust, both countries invested in a dialogue that would be structured, based on specific pillars, with timetables and ownership. This progressed significantly. And I believe we are already seeing the results. Confidence has been partially restored. Obviously, the heavy historical burdens of the past still exist.
However, at this moment airspace violations have almost been reduced to zero and we have visitors from Türkiye to our islands. This is a very important initiative we undertook, beneficial both for the local economy and for the establishment of mutual trust. On the other hand, the second phase involved discussions on our major issue. The only issue that can be resolved by international jurisdiction, which is the delimitation of the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone. The reality is that we have not yet entered this phase. Reaching a common understanding regarding the scope of the discussions is a prerequisite.
JOURNALIST: It seems this cannot be done, in the sense that Türkiye raises many different issues, which we do not consider as issues to be brought before The Hague, because they have already been resolved by international treaties and everything else. And that is a key point of divergence.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Of course, you are right that there is divergence when it comes to the fundamental positions regarding the scope of the dispute. For example, we consider that there is one and only dispute, whereas Türkiye considers that there are interrelated disputes. It is indeed a fundamental difference. But let me add something else. The discussion regarding delimitation dates back more than 20–22 years. For 22 years, 64 rounds of exploratory talks have been held, dealing with this issue, namely whether common ground could be found to proceed with the special agreement and the delimitation. For 22 years there was absolutely no progress. In fact, I would say, assessing the situation historically, there was deterioration. No one would reasonably expect that in a year and a half we would have reached a solution.
JOURNALIST: However, we did have the issue of the demilitarization of the islands. At the same time there were references to a “Turkish minority” in the Dodecanese. The Turkish-Libyan memorandum was added. Some people talk about Thrace. They raise various issues.
G. GERAPETRITIS: All the issues you are referring to date back decades.
JOURNALIST: Yes, that is true.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Türkiye’s claims, which concern demilitarization, grey zones, “blue homeland” go back decades. They are not something new and they are obviously not novel. What is important is that these issues are no longer on the table. Greece has made it clear - and I have stated it in every possible way - that we will never engage in discussions regarding any issues that concern our sovereignty or the structure of our Armed Forces. These are issues that concern only Greece. Similarly, issues concerning sovereignty over islands which have been resolved by international law, are not up for discussion. Therefore, these issues are not the subject of the Greek-Turkish dialogue. You are right in saying that over the decades new claims have also emerged.
JOURNALIST: The Turkish-Libyan memorandum has been added, along with a number of other matters.
G. GERAPETRITIS: The Turkish-Libyan memorandum has indeed been added. It overlaps with the Greece-Egypt agreement. It is a null and void memorandum. It obviously does not produce any legal effects and lacks legal foundation in international law. It is now appropriate for us to jointly proceed with a serious discussion - and this is what we are trying to do - which will be based on specific premises. The key premise is international law, which defines the relations between neighboring states.
JOURNALIST: Yesterday a decision was published stating that Türkiye is on the national list of safe third countries. Is Türkiye a safe country? This is important for the migration issue.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Let me clarify this. It is not a new decision. It was simply reissued following a ruling by the Council of State, in order to provide a more complete justification. To be clear about what is at stake: we are referring to the fact that Türkiye is considered a safe country for third-country nationals in its territory - for example, Syrians. This does not refer to an overall assessment of whether Türkiye is a country that universally upholds human rights or adopts the key human rights conventions. We are referring, very specifically, to the fact that, for certain nationalities, there is no risk when their citizens are in Türkiye. This has a practical implication in the sense that, if a country is designated as safe for the citizens of these third countries, their return is possible, in cases where the conditions for granting asylum are not met. Therefore, this is an issue that strictly concerns migration policy and potential returns, in case asylum has not been granted.
JOURNALIST: Thank you very much, Minister.
G. GERAPETRITIS: You are welcome. I wish you a good day.
April 10, 2025