First of all, I had a very interesting meeting today with US Secretary of State, A. Blinken. We discussed, of course, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and what Greece can do to help Ukraine.
Beyond that, we also had the opportunity to discuss the Eastern Mediterranean. I explained to him the challenges Greece faces in the Eastern Mediterranean, at the very moment when NATO should be united. I also explained the way in which Turkish provocations, overflights over Greek territory, and over Greek islands work.
We also had a broader discussion on the 3 + 1 initiative. We had, as you may remember, a virtual meeting the previous days, and we should organize it again with physical presence in September. We should deepen this cooperation between Cyprus, Israel, and Greece with the participation of the USA with the prospect of the 3 + 1 becoming 4, and expand it to other areas, such as the environment-friendly economy, and research, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. Overall, it was a particularly interesting discussion.
Immediately afterwards, I met with the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate J. Kerry, with whom we had an extensive and interesting discussion on issues pertaining to the protection of the environment, the seas, the oceans, the Mediterranean, the Aegean. I think that in this field we are working in a way that will allow us to announce new initiatives very soon.
JOURNALIST: Minister, one more question. Do the Americans understand the problems created by the Turks in Greece in the Aegean, but also for the cohesion of NATO?
N. DENDIAS: I think, Mr. Ignatiou, that one thing became clear during the Prime Minister’s visit –yesterday with the very good meeting with President Biden, but, let me say that, with his triumphant presence and speech in Congress today as well. Not just the US government, the US administration, or the President, but the US political system as a whole has realized that Greece is a loyal ally that has acceded to a values-based system: the system of democracies, the system of countries that believe that the world should be governed by laws and rules. On the other hand, Turkey is a peculiar partner, which does not hesitate to break rules, and it often pursues markedly revisionist policies. I think this has become clear by now.
May 17, 2022