Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen Members of Parliament,
We live in an era of multiple crises. We live in the era of aggression, of climate crisis, food crisis, public health crisis, migration crisis. One only needs to look at the world map, to understand the drastic changes that are taking place today and the dangers posed to humanity. In 55 countries around the world there is either an armed conflict or a civil war or external influence taking place. Around 117 million people, 40% of whom are children, are forcefully displaced, according to figures from the UNHCR.
In this framework, nothing is certain anymore and nothing remains within territorial limits. Problems are not national anymore. They are regional and international. And the solutions cannot be anything but universal. Greek foreign policy has chosen a position that is based on principles. This position emanates from the multifaceted, proactive character of Greek diplomacy, but above all from our unwavering, non-negotiable commitment to international law.
Yesterday I had the honour of attending a meeting, to engage in a dialogue with the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kotzias, who criticised the current leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for not being transactional, in order to maximise the benefits for our foreign policy. The answer is simple. Foreign policy is either based on principles or it is not a policy at all. Our country, will never deviate from the strict adherence to international law. And we will never deviate from this position. With commitment, with numerous means, utilizing modern diplomacy tools, with our international economic diplomacy, which has upgraded our economic relations with countries that are very powerful, regionally and internationally. With our public diplomacy, with the Strategic Plan for Greeks Abroad and with all those tools that bring the Greek Diaspora closer to Greece.
But where does Greece stand today? I heard the former Prime Minister, Mr. Tsipras, mention that Greece is relatively weak today and that our neighbours, especially Türkiye, are getting stronger and stronger. I feel that the former Prime Minister failed to mention what happened in 2020 in Evros. Where does Greece stand today compared to 2019? Let each person speak about their own affairs and I will speak on those issues.
In 2020, Greece averted a major hybrid threat, the most significant we had to face until then. Since that year, our national defence capacity has been boosted in multiple levels. I recall that in 2019 Greece was not participating in the F-35 aircrafts program. Greece was weaker, as far as the Armed Forces were concerned, without even having entered the program for upgrading the F-16 aircrafts. As we speak today, Greece is participating in the F-16 program, our fighter jets are being upgraded to Viper, and at the same time we have joined the F-35 program, in which Türkiye does not participate anymore. Greece has grown, our territorial sea has grown up to Cape Tainaron and has been extended to 12 miles. The impactful agreements that have been concluded with Egypt and Italy to define the Exclusive Economic Zone have increased our country's footprint in the Aegean Sea, in the Eastern Mediterranean, in the Adriatic Sea.
Greece has become an energy hub in Eastern Europe, with the city of Alexandroupolis currently being the centre of the vertical axis to the North. Major European policies have been initiated by Greece. The Recovery and Resilience Fund was initiated as a proposal by our country. The Covid certificate was also an initiative of our country. All the recoveries, which were made in relation to energy issues, the cap, they all originated from our country. And our country today is at the forefront in all international organizations. In a few days, Greece’s term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council will commence. Greece becomes a co-shaper of international politics and security architecture, with a 97% approval rate. Of the 188 countries that voted, 182 voted in favour of Greece. There is a universal respect for the principles-based policy that our country pursues. Our actions are not guided by fear and are not defined by external influence. And at the same time, we are making sure that our efforts are channelled into the new structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an attempt to increase the personnel, so that we can have a broader footprint, to accelerate procedures and to increase resources.
Next week, hopefully, the new law on the structure and functioning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be voted in Parliament, which stipulates the increase of our personnel. We are recruiting an additional 100 consular and administrative staff in order to fill the significant vacancies that exist in our Consular Authorities abroad. And at the same time, thanks also to the contribution of the Ministry of Finance, a new resource is being created from the consular revenues, so that we can upgrade our infrastructure abroad. It is a fund dedicated to the maintenance of the buildings that Greece owns abroad.
And at this juncture I would like to address the actions our Ministry undertakes regarding our national issues.
On the Cyprus issue, I think things are obvious. Today Cyprus is the number one issue, apart from the ongoing wars, for the United Nations. Already, on October 15, we had the first discussion under the auspices of the Secretary General of the United Nations and the participation of the leaders of both sides, so that the dialogue could be resumed. A discussion, with an extended composition, will also be held in the future. Finding a solution for the Cyprus Issue within the framework of the Security Council Resolutions is now a priority, so that Cyprus can be reunited again.
And above all, let us not forget, Greece has succeeded in upgrading issues, which until now were considered by many to be bilateral, to a European level. In the common position of the 27 member states of the European Union on Albania's accession process, special reference was made to the respect of minorities and especially of the Greek National Minority and the respect of the property rights of minorities.
In the Conclusions of the European Council of June 2023, we included the European Union's participation in all stages of the settlement of the Cyprus issue. In the Conclusions of April 2024, Türkiye’s European course was linked to the developments in the Cyprus issue. We are constantly upgrading the issues that concern us into European policies.
As far as Türkiye is concerned. If one listens to the debate on the Greek-Turkish dialogue today, one will tend to believe three things. The first is that Türkiye's claims have been built up over the last 18 months. The second is that all issues are under discussion. And the third is that we are discussing behind closed doors. So, let us examine those assumptions. What is true in relation to them. But first we need to affirm that we ought to discuss with our neighbors. We have always done so. We will continue to do so. Occasionally Prime Ministers, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and experts have discussed more often, in more length, and much more privately.
Regarding Türkiye's claims. Demilitarization, 1964. Casus belli, 1995. The publication of maps of Türkiye's maximalist claims, 1974. The blue homeland, 2006. The granting of exploration permits by the government of Türkiye to the Turkish Oil Company, 2012. The grey zones in the 1990s. All of those issues have long existed and yet all governments, and rightly so, have been in discussion with Türkiye. There has been no expansion of the agenda of topics. Quite the contrary. And I am not only talking about the rhetoric. I am not only talking about active coordination on migration and on important trade agreements, or about the resumption of discussions on the Cyprus issue, which Türkiye has joined despite its well-known position regarding a “two-state solution”. I am talking about the issue of the violations of national airspace.
We need to remember, because sometimes we easily forget. During 2018 and for the first half of 2019, for 18 months, more than 6,000 violations of national airspace took place. More than 3,000 Turkish aircraft flew over Greek territory, over Greek airspace. This situation today has been reduced to zero and I think everyone understands the significance of that. The claim that we are discussing everything. I can't say anything about that, because you all know what my fundamental position is, as well as the position expressed by the Prime Minister, by the Government Council for National Security (KYSEA), by the Ministerial Council, which decides the foreign policy that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs implements. No sovereignty issue is being discussed, nor will it ever be discussed. The one and only issue, which constitutes the major dispute that can be brought before international jurisdiction, is the delimitation of the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone. Unfortunately, we are not at that stage today, because Türkiye's position is that it is linked to other issues. Obviously, the discussion will not move forward unless Türkiye adheres to the fundamental position, which is the only one in accordance with international law, that there is only one dispute. Only then will the discussion move forward. In any case, we must ensure that we will continue to improve bilateral relations, in order to avoid tensions and crises.
Regarding the claim that we are discussing behind closed doors. With all due respect, I believe that this exaggeration can only be based on petty political agendas. It is the first time, I think, that Greek foreign policy engages this closely with the Parliament. As you know, I have adopted a strictly institutional approach. And this is something I do by disposition. Over the last 18 months there have been constant briefings of the political leaders, constant briefings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs. I have answered all questions regarding these issues. It is a reality that Greek foreign policy respects all red lines, and is being pursued jointly by the Greek government and the Greek Parliament as a common Greek position.
We will not wake up one day reading about the Prespa Agreement, as it has happened. I repeat, we will not wake up one morning to read about the Prespa Agreement in the newspapers. Whatever happens will be the product of consultations in the representative body that has the popular legitimacy to grant this mandate. No agreement will be concluded, unless there is broad political consent. But we need to stop this hypocritical attitude.
You know, diplomacy is not easy and anyone who approaches it in an oversimplified way is either unrealistic or populist, one of the two. History will tell who the true patriot was. A true patriot is not one who did not dare to do what is needed today. A true patriot is one who puts aside his ego for the real interest of the country. And foreign policy cannot be determined by populism and it does not benefit from inaction. Peace and security are not promoted by dogmatic inaction, they are promoted by the strengthening of power and by a structured and principled dialogue. And we are committed to this, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Parliament.
Thank you very much.
December 14, 2024