New Greek Government Sends Message of Dialogue and Cooperation with Türkiye
Greek Foreign Minister Yorgos Gerapetritis stated that postponing the settlement of disputes with Türkiye is not in the interest of both countries and that the Greek government wants to increase dialogue and cooperation with Türkiye in the new period.
During the parliamentary meetings where the new government programme was discussed, Gerapetritis gave information on the foreign policy priorities of his country.
"Respect for international law and sincere intentions for cooperation and dialogue remain our compass in our relations with Türkiye," Gerapetritis said.
Stating that Greece desires good neighbourly relations with Türkiye, Gerapetritis stressed that the two sides aim to restart negotiations, create a positive agenda with confidence-building measures and increase economic cooperation.
Pointing out that Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis will meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the NATO Summit in Vilnius next week, Gerapetritis said that Mitsotakis will try to establish relations with Erdoğan within the framework of mutual respect.
Gerapetritis stated that Greece wants to solve the problems related to the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf with Türkiye in a similar way to the agreements Greece has made with Egypt and Italy, and said, "The continuous postponement of these problems does not serve the interests of both countries."
Noting that the Cyprus problem is Greece's foreign policy priority, Gerapetritis argued that a two-state solution cannot be accepted.
Yerapetritis emphasised that his country finds revisionism unacceptable and argued that the status quo determined by the Treaty of Lausanne and the Montreux Straits Convention cannot be changed.
Stating that Athens aims to pursue an active policy in international relations, Gerapetritis added that Greece supports Sweden's NATO membership, will continue to support Ukraine, will take the initiative for the European Union (EU) perspective of the Balkans, will attach importance to regional cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, and aims to improve its relations with Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States.
