PM Mitsotakis to Turkey: No challenge will remain unanswered

Turkey’s reaction to the legal agreement between Greece and Egypt on establishing an Exclusive Economic Zone shows that the neighboring country “cannot come to terms with the European principles of the 21st century and remains stuck in the logic of using force and threats,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a televised public message on Wednesday on the escalation of tension in the East Mediterranean.

Greece is not a country to threaten others or to accept being blackmailed, but remains vigilant, deploys its armed forces, and resorts to diplomacy to resolve issues, Mitsotakis said.

It will not initiate tension, but will respond to any challenge, we do not tolerate provocative actions, he added. 

“Greece is a proud and strong country. Member of the European family and pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. We remain steadfastly committed to the principles of International Law and the rules of good neighborliness. We seek with all bridges of peace, good faith and cooperation.”

With this policy of principles, we have negotiated and signed the Maritime Zone delimitation agreements with Italy and, most recently, with Egypt. Agreements fully compatible with the Law of the Sea.

“Without discounts, we are ready to talk to all our neighbors. We are not afraid of dialogue, even the most difficult one, because we have faith in the law of our positions. But dialogue with challenges and in a climate of tension is obviously pointless,” Mitsotakis stressed.

Noting that Turkey has signed a “non-existent and illegal memorandum” with the administration in Tripoli, Mitsotakis said that “with the repeated challenges, Turkey tests the endurance of Greece and Europe.”

The militarization of the situation by Turkey is also an admission of the absence of legally strong positions. Because the projection of power is nothing but an attempt to compensate for its weakness in matters of law.

Responding to the development of its fleet, we also developed our own, placing our Armed Forces on alert. I am sure that all Greeks have the same absolute confidence in the capabilities of our Armed Forces that I have.

The Greek Prime Minister referred to the several diplomatic actions the country activated on the issue of Turkey and said “We are not alone in this effort. The immediate response of the European Union to our request for the convening of the Foreign Affairs Council confirms that the issue does not only concern Greek-Turkish relations. But also the relations of the whole of Europe with Turkey.”

“The policy of aggressive provocations, the only path that Turkey opens is that of strong sanctions against it,” Mitsotakis underlined giving a hint on the way Greece plans to follow.

“I emphasize again: We answer, we do not provoke. And we firmly hope that logic will finally prevail in our neighboring country. So that a bona fide dialogue can begin,” he said.

He warned that “the risk of an accident lurks when so many troops are concentrated in a limited area. And the responsibility in such a case will be borne by the one who causes these conditions.”

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to international legitimacy and in the power of diplomacy to resolve even the most complex issues,” Mitsotakis said and warned Turkey “No challenge will remain unanswered.”