«Since 2019, we have had enough of an opposition that sees national defeats everywhere. We "lost" in 2019 at the Evros border, when illegal migrants were supposed to cross into the country but did not. We "lost" in 2020 amid tensions in the Aegean, but the Armed Forces showed vigilance and effectiveness, and the Cassandras were proved wrong. Some people saw the Oruc Reis. Didn’t they see the Greek fleet that sailed into the Aegean? Nor do they see that the vessel that will conduct the surveys for the electricity interconnection has now set sail?».
Government Vice-President Kostis Hatzidakis made these remarks in an interview today with radio station Parapolitika FM, responding to opposition claims following developments concerning the Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnection. «Hold on a minute! There is no reason for the country to cast itself as a victim», he said, adding:
«Was the agreement with France on a mutual defence assistance clause, signed twice, a national defeat? Is it a defeat that we have strengthened ties with the US and agreed to acquire F-35s, which Turkey wants but has been refused? Imagine if things were the other way round! Was the delimitation of exclusive economic zones with Egypt and Italy a fiasco? What about maritime spatial planning in the Aegean? The ecological parks?
What about the fact that Chevron will conduct exploration in the area covered by the illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum, which the EU condemned from the outset? Or the Exxon drilling west of Corfu, due to take place in April? Is the Vertical Corridor a fiasco? There are more than one or two areas in foreign policy and defence where the government has scored successive national victories. At some point, we need to have discussions that better reflect reality», the deputy prime minister said.
«The government is certainly not known for bombast or balcony-style speeches, but it is moving forward with seriousness and a plan, and is strengthening the country’s position and its Armed Forces in practice».
In response to questions, Mr Hatzidakis said Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis would brief political leaders in the coming days on the cable issue.
«What will count in the end is the cable itself. The final result is what matters», he said.
On the elections, he also stressed that New Democracy aims to present a programme featuring innovations that will pleasantly surprise voters and show that it is the only political force on which Greek citizens can realistically place their hopes.
«Our programme will affect the result. So will our work, our modesty, the advancement of reforms, our effectiveness, how well we communicate our messages, and our candidate lists. We want to be ahead by a sufficiently wide margin to form a majority government on our own. Otherwise, we will enter a period of instability, and that is something the country does not need».