Greek PM: Dialogue with Turkey begins once provocations end

“Exploratory talks with Turkey can begin, once provocations end, “Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated during joint statements  with the European Council President Charles Michel in Athens on Tuesday.

“If we see tangible proof of good behavior, we are ready to begin exploratory contacts with Turkey at once, on the sole difference that exists between us. Until there is a final delimitation, however, either through a bilateral agreement or through an international court ruling, the international law of the sea prohibits unilateral actions,” Mitsotakis said.

He added that “the framework of repercussions has already been clarified. The time has come for actions, not for words. Turkey has time, both before and after the EU summit, to follow up the first encouraging step of disengagement from the crisis.”

Turkey has “in the last months, unfortunately been threatening stability and disputing the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus,” he said.

The prime minister said that his views coincide with those of the European Council president, pointing out that “the EU’s geopolitical and strategic interests are at stake here”.

Greece will continue to strictly protect its borders in Evros and at sea, ” the Premier said. He stressed that European support must now be translated into tangible solidarity also regarding the migration issue.

Mitsotakis underlined that the migration/refugee issue needs a European answer.

Security in the Eastern Mediterranean is an issue that concerns the European Union as a whole, not just Greece and Cyprus, Charles Michel said.

Referring to the upcoming European Council and on how Europe will address Turkey’s actions, he said: “We must work closely together and see how we will progress in a dual way. On one hand, we should be strict and clear in order for the principles that are important for Greece and Cyprus to be respected and, on the other hand, we must be ready to open our arms and show that a positive agenda can exist if there is common volition for these principles to  be respected.”

He underlined that “it is an important issue that will be discussed at the EU Summit on 24 and 25 September and we will prepare in order to demonstrate the EU’s unity and strength, because security and stability are a strategic interest of the EU.”