JOURNALIST: Minister, you had a foreign policy success at this
\nministerial meeting in Berlin, the EU is willing now to consider
\nsanctions against Turkey. Can you let us know the details?<\/p>\n
N.
\nDENDIAS: Well, I would not consider this a success for us; I would
\nconsider this a success for the common European family. The fact is that
\n in the South-Eastern Mediterranean we are facing Turkish aggression,
\nTurkish illegal behaviour. A behaviour which goes against international
\nlaw and the international law of the sea. So within our family we have
\nagreed that in case Turkey does not come back to its senses, does not
\ncome back to a process of dialogue and a process according to which the
\nrespect of international law, international law of the sea is paramount,
\n sanctions have to be the order of the day. That is what has been
\nagreed. <\/p>\n
JOURNALIST: The situation in the area is unstable.
\nGreek ships, French ships, Turkish ships monitor each other by radar.
\nThis is something that is not desirable among NATO partners. There was
\neven American involvement. Do you think that Greece and maybe the
\nEuropean Union should have intervened earlier? Is there something that
\nyou missed? Should things have been taken a bit harder earlier in the
\ngame?<\/p>\n
N. DENDIAS: Well, I have to say it is even worse. They
\ndon\u2019t only view each other through radar. As you probably know we had an
\n accident last week in the Aegean and it is thanks to the captains of
\nthe two ships and mainly the Greek captain that further escalation has
\nbeen avoided. But I have to say that the problem is that Turkey does not
\n understand the limits. And the limits are obvious. The limits are the
\ninternational law, the international law of the sea. And I have to say
\nthat if there is a mistake in the part of the European Union, if there
\nis a mistake in the part of the United States, is that they have not
\nspoken to Turkey with a clear enough language. But I think after today\u2019s
\n meeting, this could be put in order.<\/p>\n
JOURNALIST: But before the
\n meeting, you know, the German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas came with a
\nrather softly-softly approach. We need to withdraw our ships, then we
\nneed to talk and we need to have a dialogue with Turkey. This has failed
\n so far. Should we just scrap that? Or what is the goal of the next
\nsteps?<\/p>\n
N. DENDIAS: Well, Heiko is the Presidency of the European
\n Union and it is understandable that he has to take the softer of the
\noptions, hoping for the better of results and nobody disagrees with
\nthat. Of course, we will all prefer to resolve our issues and problems
\nthrough dialogue and that is Greece\u2019s preference as well. Greece has
\nalways said that we are ready for dialogue and the last thing we would
\nlike is to use the options, the option of the sanctions paper. We don\u2019t
\nwant that. We would love to avoid that. But yet again clear lines have
\nto be drawn. And Turkey has to understand. There is no way that the
\ncountry can exist by not respecting the international law and the
\ninternational law of the sea. This is problematic not just for the
\nregion but for the whole world.<\/p>\n
JOURNALIST: How scary is the
\nsituation? How scared do you feel? Personally, do you think Erdo\u011fan is
\nwilling to listen now, if he gets a stronger message? <\/p>\n
N.
\nDENDIAS: Well, it is not me or Greece or anybody that we dictate to
\nPresident Erdo\u011fan what he has to do for the benefit of Turkey, of
\nTurkish people of the Turkish society. What I would say is that what I
\nwould hope to see in the region is a common understanding between
\ncountries and nations. And Greece is perfectly willing to do so. It is
\nfor President Erdo\u011fan to choose. <\/p>\n
JOURNALIST: So, what do you
\nfinally think should happen? Would Greece be willing to sit down at a
\nnegotiating table somewhere, maybe in Stockholm and talk to Turkey with
\nall parties involved and figure out a solution, figure out an agreement
\nwith everyone?<\/p>\n
N. DENDIAS: We can do that as well. But we have
\nto have terms of references and what are the terms of references as a
\ndiscussion? It is clear. International law, international laws of the
\nsea. And also, if I may add, respect of human rights. Because there are
\nissues on Turkey about human rights. But yet again if Turkey is willing
\nto come to an understanding with the European Union, with Greece, with
\nCyprus, we would be perfectly happy, perfectly happy. <\/p>\n
JOURNALIST: Minister Dendias, thank you very much.<\/p>\n
N. DENDIAS: Thank you so much.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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