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“We are absolutely satisfied with the conclusions of the Summit,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, starting the press conference after the Summit in Brussels.
“It is as clear as paragraph 20 that if Turkey continues to act unilaterally aggressively, there will be consequences,” he said. “In this case, the EU will use all the tools at its disposal to defend its interests.” The developments will be monitored. “Any decision will be made at the end of December.”
“It is reflected in paragraph 16 that the exploratory contacts relate to one issue, the delimitation of maritime zones in the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. “There is also a positive agenda.” We look forward to a fruitful and positive relationship with Turkey, provided the conditions are met, “he added.
Referring to Cyprus, he noted that “there are very clear references to issues relating to Cyprus. Clear condemnation of Turkish aggression. A very important reference to Cyprus is that the way it can resolve its disputes over maritime zones is through negotiations with respect to the law. international.
“A very important reference to UN resolution 550, which clearly refers to issues related to Famagusta,” continued the prime minister, noting that “it was a difficult negotiation. The final text is quite different from the original. I think we have reached a very good text for relations between Greece, Cyprus, Europe and the EU-Turkey “.
“Greece is ready, if we cannot reach an agreement, to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice in The Hague and accept its verdict,” said the Prime Minister, adding that “I hope that at some point these discussions will not be decorative but ending “. to a tangible result. “
Referring to the “agenda” for today, the second day of the Summit, the Prime Minister said that “Today we dedicate 3 hours to the issue of covid. There is concern. Greece is still doing much better than other countries.” Everyone is very concerned about how we can keep our economies open by reducing the virus and how we can work better together. “
And the sun. Mitsotakis continued: “One problem is vaccines, where the EU has made very significant progress. There are other areas where we can achieve a better framework for cooperation. One of them concerns travel within the EU and of course , we have a new tool at our disposal and it is none other than reliable “quick” tests. It is an additional weapon in our quiver. Use it to facilitate travel.
Finally we discuss the issue of Brexit. “It is on the agenda of the next European Council.”
“There is great European concern about the problem that is global”
“There is great European concern about the problem that is global,” he said, referring to the new outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. He pointed out, answering a relevant question, that there is more concern than the fact that autumn is coming, winter is coming and therefore we will not be able to be outside as much as in summer.
He pointed out that the fact that other countries are recording a worse picture does not mean that in Greece we should not worry, with special reference to the escalation in Attica.
“We are not yet ready to fully evaluate the measures we have taken,” he said, acknowledging that we are facing a reality of which people are tired. “Mandatory mask where distances cannot be observed,” he repeated.
He also stressed that dissatisfaction with the means of transport is taken very seriously. “All over the world during rush hours you cannot see the means of transport.” He referred to the measures that have already been taken and reiterated that there is a constant theme of individual and professional responsibility, with emphasis on the protection of vulnerable groups.
There is an important issue that will also concern us in the next Council, how we can resolve the different interpretation of the issue of how we will approach what is called the rule of law and what will be the field of reference for all European countries “, stressed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, responding to a question about his meeting with the Prime Minister of Hungary.
“This problem must be resolved as soon as possible.” We cannot delay on issues related to the Recovery Fund. “He also referred to the meeting held by the Wiesengrad countries, where the issue was discussed and his confidence in the presidency was expressed. German for the process to continue.
“It is a process initiated at the level of military officers. Any release mechanism is welcome.” I consider it positive that in the relevant announcement there is an explicit reference and a commitment from Turkey regarding compliance with international law, “the Prime Minister responded to a he asks about NATO’s announcement that there is a Greek-Turkish agreement between the military delegations.
However, he noted that no meeting has been scheduled, but “I think it makes sense at this point to start the exploration, look at the temperature of the climate in our relationships, and then see the timing of political contacts,” responding to a question about whether A meeting or communication with the Turkish President has been scheduled and whether such communication will take place before or after the exploratory contacts.
Both we and Cyprus have convinced our partners that these changes to the final text were imperative, balanced and appropriate.
When asked if he was bothered by the fact that the original text did not contain the provisions that had previously been established and when the exploratory talks would begin, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis replied that European Council meetings are a dynamic process in which always there is a process. texts. This time there were much more important changes than usual, the Prime Minister said, adding that “both we and Cyprus have convinced our partners that these changes were necessary, balanced and appropriate.”
He also highlighted that, unlike what happened in the past, where Turkey issues were discussed at the end, “now we have been reporting on what is happening in the eastern Mediterranean for more than half a year, and this is a legacy of knowledge. of what can happen from here and onwards. “
Referring to the texts rejected by Greece, he said that this was due to the fact that there was no absolute understanding of what was happening at the level of the leaders. “They did not have the same knowledge as us. There was detailed information on the Greek and Cypriot positions, but it was highlighted that” European strategic interests as a whole. It concerns the entire EU and not just Greece and Cyprus. Vital interests of the EU are at stake, “he said. Referring to the exploratory talks, he said there was no specific start date for the exploratory talks yet.
Asked about a possible extension of the agenda of the talks requested by the Turks, Mr. Mitsotakis said that he does not want to go into details but the text does not change, and has always been the same in all previous rounds.
“There are other mechanisms to discuss with Turkey on other issues related to our bilateral relations. Obviously, there are also meetings at the ministerial level and at the prime minister-president level,” Mitsotakis said, adding that the topic of exploratory talks concerns only demarcation. maritime zones, and if we do not agree then we are ready to go to The Hague. Referring to the rejection of the original texts, he said that the first did not cover our positions, the final text covers them.
Referring to the suspension of the Gulf of Turkey Memorandum at the UN, Mr. Mitsotakis said it is a formal process that has been delayed for 9 months. “I hope that the Greek-Egyptian memorandum ratified by sovereign parliaments will be published at the UN before the end of the year,” he said, adding that yesterday’s publication at the UN was a coincidence.
“It was a purely procedural action, there is no control and the UN was obliged to publish the memorandum,” Mitsotakis said. Referring to criticism from the opposition, the Prime Minister said that he did not have time to see him because he was busy in the last hours and pointed out that “the best answer is the reports from the foreign press that say what the context is and what the consequences will be. in Turkey if “Sanctioning Turkey is not an end in itself. The threat of a sanction is what can lead to a change in behavior. And that’s what we want, “he said. He also said that Mr. Tsipras should know how these things are done, as he participated in the European councils, but added that” as a negotiator, Mr. Tsipras was not successful. “
Finally, the Prime Minister, responding to a question from APE-MPE for a final text of the European Council, said that this came after much work.
“Many times not all member states are involved in the councils, the presidency is involved, which also has the responsibility to record the proposals and some member states that have a special interest, a special weight for these issues. I reiterate that we made it very clear to both Greece and Cyprus that the first text was not acceptable, we submitted many proposals in writing, most of which I can tell you were accepted and I think that is something that makes us very happy, because note that, when he is right, he will finally be able to convince his European colleagues that what he says must finally be written because the Council conclusions are binding decisions that are binding and affect the whole Union and all Member States, “he said.
He added that “the agreement on Turkey was the one that allowed us even more comfortably to approve and even bid on the need to impose sanctions on Belarus” and concluded that it was not possible to reveal how the negotiations were carried out. “
Source: skai.gr
