Gerapetritis says maritime zones are not up for negotiation
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis has stressed that maritime zones must be governed by international law, declaring that Greece will not tolerate unlawful actions concerning maritime boundaries.
Speaking on Wednesday after meeting United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at UN headquarters in New York, Gerapetritis reaffirmed Athens’ commitment to resolving disputes through international law and peaceful dialogue.
“As far as Greece is concerned, I want to be absolutely clear. Greece will not tolerate any illegality with regard to maritime zones,” he said.
Athens rejects unlawful maritime delimitations
Gerapetritis said maritime security was among the issues discussed with Guterres, highlighting concerns over unlawful maritime delimitations.
He stressed that seas and oceans could not be treated as private property and that neighboring coastal states must respect internationally established rules.
“There are rules governing relations between neighbouring maritime states, and these rules must be respected,” he said, noting that most UN member states had endorsed the international legal framework governing the law of the sea.
The minister reiterated that Greece supports cooperation between neighboring countries but would not accept aggressive actions contrary to international law.
Global crises and UN role discussed
The meeting also addressed major international crises, including developments in Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa.
Gerapetritis described the current period as one of the most critical junctures for global peace and prosperity since World War II, calling for action to de-escalate conflicts, end wars and address energy and food crises.
He also emphasized that the United Nations must remain at the forefront of international efforts to preserve peace.
“The peaceful settlement of disputes remains the most important achievement we secured after the World War II,” he said.
Greece calls for progress on Cyprus
The Cyprus issue was also discussed, with Gerapetritis calling for more formal negotiations on the substance of the dispute.
He stressed that the diplomatic momentum developed during Guterres’ tenure should be preserved and urged all parties to respect UN Security Council resolutions to facilitate the reunification of the island.
Source: (AMNA)
