JOURNALIST: Minister, first of all we would like a general remark on your side regarding your visit to the United States.
G. GERAPETRITIS: First of all, I would like to say that I am very pleased and proud to visit New York during Greece’s tenure in the United Nations Security Council. This is an excellent opportunity to further bolster the role and diplomatic footprint of our country on the international stage.
Following tireless diplomatic efforts, Greece will, for the next two years, co-shape the global security architecture at a particularly critical geopolitical juncture. Next week’s discussions in the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations will focus on the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. A few days ago, I concluded a first round of important contacts in the wider Middle East region, Qatar, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Amman, Abu Dhabi and Damascus. I also visited New Delhi, where I had a very fruitful discussion with my Indian counterpart, among others, on the implementation of the ambitious and visionary India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC). Greece is actively present in this region of its wider neighborhood, where historic shifts occur. We cannot afford to be mere spectators of these developments. We ought to be actively involved and actually co-shape them.
During my visit in New York, I will also have the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Greek diaspora and exchange views on issues of common concern. I will then travel to Washington D.C., where I will hold high-level meetings with the new US Administration, members of the House of Representatives, and the Senate. I will also have the pleasure to visit Johns Hopkins University and interact with students regarding Greece's position in the world.
JOURNALIST: How do you perceive the new doctrine of the new US Administration and its attitude towards the EU member states, both geopolitically and commercially? To what extent could this affect Greek-American relations?
G. GERAPETRITIS: Relations between Greece and the United States have a profoundly strategic nature. The Greek government had worked closely and constructively with the US Administration during President Trump's first term. We therefore have every reason to believe that the same will happen now.
Regarding the declarations of the new US Administration, which seem to create a new landscape on the international stage, we are monitoring developments very closely. As an EU member state, we must acknowledge that it is necessary to upgrade the role and potential of the EU at all levels so that it can successfully respond to the challenges of a largely unpredictable international environment.
On our part, I would like to stress that Greece is not pursuing an opportunistic policy. We remain committed to principles and values, to the settlement of disputes through diplomacy and dialogue, in full respect of International Law and the UN Charter.
JOURNALIST: What is the aim in hiring a lobbying firm in the US?
G. GERAPETRITIS: There are many different US-based lobbying groups which countries utilize to enhance their image and presence both bilaterally and, of course, at the multilateral level, within international organizations. Lobbying has been a perfectly legitimate tool in the United States for decades, which many countries, often larger and more powerful than Greece, employ. We have no reason to question the strategic nature of the Greek-American relations and the willingness of both sides to further enhance them. We are investing strategically in the United States, also through public diplomacy, to promote our image and national interests.
Moreover, we should not overlook the role of the Greek diaspora in forging Greek-American relations. I would like to express my gratitude for its achievements and its decisive contribution as a key soft power actor in building close ties with the United States. We firmly and consistently rely on the help, support and advice of the Greek diaspora.
JOURNALIST: How do you view the importance of Greece's participation in the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member?
G. GERAPETRITIS: In an ever-changing geopolitical landscape, Greece's position in the UN Security Council is both a great honor and a great responsibility. Greece has managed in recent years to overcome successive crises - economic, migration, health, energy, geopolitical – while simultaneously developing a strong international footprint. By virtue of our steadfast commitment to International Law and the development of sincere relations with countries all over the world, we aspire to serve as a bridge between the North and the South, the East and the West.
However, this is precisely where our great responsibility lies. When nearly a quarter of the world's countries are afflicted by some form of tension or conflict, Greece will spare no effort to restore the true meaning of the peaceful resolution of disputes, as reflected in the UN Charter.
JOURNALIST: A matter of great concern for the Greek diaspora and all Greeks is the dialogue with Türkiye. How do you view this issue?
G. GERAPETRITIS: As a matter of personal integrity, I could not, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, deviate from my fundamental position as an academic, which is to advocate for peace through a deliberative approach. Whether it is about the functioning of democracy or international relations, we are obliged to aim for the resolution of disputes through dialogue. It goes without saying, the dialogue should be conducted in an honest and structured manner in order to be effective. For more than a year and a half now, the structured dialogue with Türkiye has drastically reduced airspace violations, strengthened cooperation on migration, boosted bilateral trade and significantly increased the number of visitors from Türkiye to the Eastern Aegean islands. Most importantly, it has ensured crisis prevention through the communication channels we have developed.
On the other hand, it would be unrealistic to expect Türkiye to relinquish claims that date back decades. Greece has made it clear from the outset that we will never discuss issues pertaining to sovereignty in the dialogue with Türkiye. We recognize the one and only dispute that can be brought before international jurisdiction, namely the delimitation of the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone. Türkiye continues to link the discussions on delimitation with the resolution of other issues, which cannot be accepted. As a result, the positions of the two countries diverge significantly.
In any case, the dialogue should not stop. We cannot afford inertia and inaction. Greek diplomacy will continue to work for peace, with confidence and without fear, in full respect for International Law and without concessions regarding our national interests.
February 22, 2025