The need to avoid any move that could lead to uncontrolled escalation, without Athens taking a step back from its sovereign rights, was underlined by Foreign Minister (FM) Giorgos Gerapetritis, speaking on SKAI television, in the wake of the new tension in Greek-Turkish relations.
The minister sent a message both to Ankara and domestically, warning of the danger of warlike rhetoric, while at the same time assuring that Greece has plans and operational readiness for every contingency.
«First of all, let us note that there are many ahistorical and warmongering people. They will come out and try to create a tone of hostility and vanity, which is truly dangerous for security and prosperity in the region», he said.
Mr. Gerapetritis, in fact, hastened to clarify that this specific rhetoric does not concern exclusively Turkey.
«To be fair, they do not exist only in Turkey. They also exist in Greece, they exist everywhere», he said, noting that the duty of a responsible government is to act as a deterrent against crises.
The foreign minister acknowledged that in the recent period further tension has been recorded in Greek-Turkish relations, which he attributed to a series of factors, including the country's international alliances. At the same time, he stressed that escalation always creates risks and repeated that the Greek side seeks peace and good neighborly relations.
Asked about the possibility of a crisis, Mr. Gerapetritis appeared reassuring regarding the situation on the ground, without however leaving any room for doubt as to Greece's readiness.
«Our sense is that there is no danger on the ground. Of course, we are always vigilant. We have all scenarios ready for any tension, for any increase in pressure», he said.
«Obviously, we are ready to respond on the ground», he himself said.
«Real power is not in words»
The foreign minister placed particular emphasis on the concept of “real power”, which he linked not to rhetorical tension but to diplomatic presence, defense fortification and economic resilience.
«Besides, real power is not in words. Real power lies in expanding the diplomatic footprint, in defense resilience, in a strong economy», he said characteristically.
«Over the last three years Greece has developed all these fields. We understand that this type of over-intensity, which we often see from circles in neighboring Turkey, is also due to the fact that Greece has acquired real power, a voice that is heard more than ever before».
«Whoever shouts is not always the one who is the strongest. More likely it is the weak one».
The foreign minister made special reference to the issue of extending territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, a matter that is once again at the center of Greek-Turkish confrontation.
«We have repeatedly said that the extension of territorial waters to 12 nautical miles is a prerogative of the Greek state deriving from the international law of the sea. We have never relinquished it», he stated.
«The Greek state will exercise it at the time and in the manner it deems appropriate. As we did for the Ionian and up to Cape Tainaro. Thus it will become reality when it is judged so by the Greek state», he continued.
«I obviously cannot give you a timetable for this issue. But it is a unilateral right», he said.
«We do not have a fear syndrome - The cable laying will take place»
At the same time, Mr. Gerapetritis defended the government's choice to keep communication channels with Ankara open, even during periods of heightened tension.
«Of course there are communication channels. This is exactly what we established 3 years ago through the structured Greek-Turkish dialogue and the Athens Declaration», he said.
As he said, contacts between Athens and Ankara should not depend exclusively on the circumstances of the moment.
«Our conviction is that this dialogue should continue. I think that talking with your neighbor, especially with your neighbor with whom you have historical differences, is a necessity».
«At the same time, we cannot come and say that Greece seeks peace and stability in the region, and on the other hand close the door», he said.
«Those who think that by closing the table of dialogue, by not sitting down to discuss, we gain something, are simply, I think, deeply mistaken».
For Mr. Gerapetritis, dialogue and deterrent power are not mutually canceling choices. «Never close the door to dialogue. Closing the door to dialogue, essentially, constitutes a legacy of war and not of peace».
«We were not afraid to carry out maritime spatial planning. We were not afraid to create marine parks. We were not afraid to create a force structure that strengthens our islands despite what was being said. We were not afraid to extend territorial waters. We were not afraid to make delimitation agreements with neighboring countries».
«So I assure you that the present government is not afflicted by any fear syndrome», he added.
Immediately afterwards, Mr. Gerapetritis referred to two issues that have been at the center of Greek-Turkish confrontation: the marine parks and the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnection.
«Of course there will be implementing decrees for the marine parks, and of course there will also be the laying of the Greece-Cyprus electricity interconnection cable».
As he stressed, the electricity interconnection is also a European obligation of Greece and will proceed based on the company's planning.
The foreign minister also referred extensively to Greece's international footprint, making special mention of relations with the countries of the Gulf, India, the European Union and Israel.
«Greece, of course, has footholds on the international stage», he said, adding however that alliances cannot be a substitute for national power.
«What we must take care of is to strengthen our own house, to become constantly stronger, to acquire defense resilience», he stressed.
He then stressed that «our defense has been equipped in such a way that it has acquired a power that is not only real, it also has to do with the display of power». As a characteristic example he cited the Greek presence in Cyprus and the Gulf, with the frigate and the upgraded F-16s, arguing that Greece now operates as an “exporter of security.”
«The only certainty is that we will not determine international alliances based on the wishes of other countries. Let us forget that», he stressed.
And he used a characteristic reference to the laws of physics:
«Inertia does not produce power. Power is produced by strong alliances, it is produced by a strong economy and strong defense, and above all it is produced by a government that has the credibility and the power to do those things to which it commits itself».
«Greece will continue cooperation with Israel»
As regards Israel in particular, the minister was categorical that Athens is not going to limit its cooperation because of reactions from other countries.
«So the answer is clear: of course Greece will develop its cooperation with Israel».
«It has brought significant added value especially at the levels of defense and technology, but at the same time Greece has the privilege of speaking, in truly strategic terms, with the entire Arab world».
Mr. Gerapetritis also referred to the European dimension of Greek-Turkish tension, revealing that Athens has already informed the European institutions and the member states about the Turkish positions.
«From the very first moment we observed a significant escalation in Turkey's positions, the European Union was informed, all the authorities of the European Union were informed».
As he said, he himself informed the foreign ministers of the member states about these issues. «It is obvious that, if there is an escalation that is established, then there are those possibilities for practical solidarity to be sought from our allies as well».
«All the partnerships that Greece undertakes on the international stage have a defensive character. It threatens no country. And above all it takes care of our own strength».
«We do not discuss issues of sovereignty and demilitarization of the islands»
In the final part of the interview, Giorgos Gerapetritis set out in a particularly clear way the limits that Athens sets in the Greek-Turkish dialogue.
«The answer is categorical. Greece is not going to discuss issues of its sovereignty».
In this context, he made clear that Athens is not going to discuss either the so-called “gray zones” or the demilitarization of the Greek islands.
On the other hand, the minister acknowledged that Turkey will continue to put the entirety of its claims on the table, first and foremost the theory of the “Blue Homeland”. «As long as there is no delimitation, these issues are not going to leave Turkey's table, nor did we expect them to».
Mr. Gerapetritis repeated that Athens seeks a functional relationship with Ankara, but without any “starry-eyed perception” that Turkey will abandon its longstanding positions.
The solution, according to the Greek position, passes exclusively through international law. «That is, through discussions regarding the delimitation of the EEZ and continental shelf, and ultimately, if there is any disagreement on this, through referral to international jurisdiction by means of a compromis».
«Greece considers that there is one and only one dispute that can be brought before international jurisdiction, while Turkey considers that there are also ancillary issues. On this there is no middle ground», he said characteristically. «As long as the delimitation remains pending, these facts will exist».
Source: SKAI