[B-0]22315[B-1]
[B-2]Turkey must understand that it cannot intimidate Greece and Cyprus, Mitsotakis says Greek Prime Minister interviewed by Handelsblatt[B-3]
[B-4]I am always willing to cooperate with Turkey, but Turkey must understand that it cannot intimidate Greece and Cyprus, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in an interview with Handelsblatt newspaper.[B-5][B-6]Asked what he looks forward to from the new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he said he knows "and I am very optimistic that we will create a good, honest channel of communication. I believe that the German government has set ambitious goals, for example on structural reforms, digitalisation and climate. And I know that as Finance Minister at the time he was very supportive of the EU's Recovery and Resilience Fund."[B-7][B-8] On the role of the new German Finance Minister Lindner said he was "pleasantly surprised by what he said in the past few days about the Greek economy. It is good that in Germany it is understood that a lot has changed in Greece in the last two years (...) I was pleased that Mr. Lindner recognizes this. It is important for the debate around the reform of the EU Stability and Growth Pact."[B-9][B-10] In response to the remark that there is a suspicion in Germany that a southern alliance is being formed in the debate by Greece, France and Italy, which because of their higher debt have common interests, the Greek Prime Minister noted that "an alliance to protect entrenched self-interests or outdated bad practices would be a bad alliance."[B-9][B-10] In response to the remark that there is a suspicion in Germany that a southern alliance is being formed in the debate by Greece, France and Italy, which because of their higher debt have common interests, the Greek Prime Minister noted that "an alliance to protect entrenched self-interests or outdated bad practices would be a bad alliance.[B-11][B-12]"But", he continued, "if it is an alliance of reforms that will motivate Europe to seize the opportunities of the future, then that would be a good alliance. I speak often with President Macron and Prime Minister Draghi. I think of us as a group of countries with the same perceptions: countries - at least I can say this about Greece - that were considered incapable of reform, but are now at the forefront of reform."[B-13][B-14]He said he is aware that Greece is still viewed with skepticism, as "we saw it in the discussion on the Recovery Fund after the coronavirus," but added that "if we use the Recovery Fund money for a good purpose, then I am sure that a permanent tool will come out of it."[B-15][B-16]Regarding last week's meeting in Sochi with Vladimir Putin and the question of whether there is a risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Greek Prime Minister said that "my impression is that all sides are seriously seeking de-escalation. This is the message I conveyed to President Putin. We would all lose out if there were an invasion. The result would be new, tough sanctions. That would make a reasonable solution even more difficult. I hope, and my instinct tells me this, that all parties involved recognize the grave dangers of an escalation and seek de-escalation."[B-17]
[B-18]On how the EU should deal with authoritarian regimes such as Russia, China or Saudi Arabia, Kyriakos Mitsotakis replied that "our strength lies in our values and principles, which are the framework for our relations with other countries. We talk to other countries, we have trade relations with them and some of them are strategic partners. But we do not compromise on human rights and the rule of law. This is what sets the EU apart."[B-19][B-20]Regarding the chances of a rapprochement between Greece and Turkey, Mitsotakis said that he is "optimistic and always willing to cooperate with Turkey. But Turkey must understand that it cannot intimidate Greece and Cyprus. Since 1995 Turkey has been threatening us with a "casus belli", i.e. military attack, if we extend our territorial waters in the Aegean to twelve miles, which is allowed by international law."[B-21][B-22]"This threat of war is unacceptable. I have the full support of the European Council in this matter. How Turkey behaves in the Eastern Mediterranean affects Europe as a whole. Think of irregular migration. Or that Turkey is blocking our plans for a gas pipeline from Israel and Egypt to Europe via Cyprus and Greece. This touches on Europe's energy security."[B-23][B-24]On whether he would like more support from Germany on these issues, Mitsotakis said: "I think Chancellor Merkel has made sincere efforts to mediate. But we want Germany's support. Germany is not an uninvolved, neutral third party. We belong to the same European family."[B-25][B-26]Finally, on his message to the Turkish President, he noted that "we base our relations on prudence. We are not the ones who imagine the glory of empires of the past. Let us look to the future instead of the past."[B-27][B-28]Source: CNA[B-29][B-29]
[B-30]Contents of this article including associated images are belongs [B-31]Cyprus Times[B-32]
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or [B-33]Cyprus Times[B-34][B-35]
[B-36]Source[B-37]
[B-2]Turkey must understand that it cannot intimidate Greece and Cyprus, Mitsotakis says Greek Prime Minister interviewed by Handelsblatt[B-3]
[B-4]I am always willing to cooperate with Turkey, but Turkey must understand that it cannot intimidate Greece and Cyprus, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in an interview with Handelsblatt newspaper.[B-5][B-6]Asked what he looks forward to from the new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he said he knows "and I am very optimistic that we will create a good, honest channel of communication. I believe that the German government has set ambitious goals, for example on structural reforms, digitalisation and climate. And I know that as Finance Minister at the time he was very supportive of the EU's Recovery and Resilience Fund."[B-7][B-8] On the role of the new German Finance Minister Lindner said he was "pleasantly surprised by what he said in the past few days about the Greek economy. It is good that in Germany it is understood that a lot has changed in Greece in the last two years (...) I was pleased that Mr. Lindner recognizes this. It is important for the debate around the reform of the EU Stability and Growth Pact."[B-9][B-10] In response to the remark that there is a suspicion in Germany that a southern alliance is being formed in the debate by Greece, France and Italy, which because of their higher debt have common interests, the Greek Prime Minister noted that "an alliance to protect entrenched self-interests or outdated bad practices would be a bad alliance."[B-9][B-10] In response to the remark that there is a suspicion in Germany that a southern alliance is being formed in the debate by Greece, France and Italy, which because of their higher debt have common interests, the Greek Prime Minister noted that "an alliance to protect entrenched self-interests or outdated bad practices would be a bad alliance.[B-11][B-12]"But", he continued, "if it is an alliance of reforms that will motivate Europe to seize the opportunities of the future, then that would be a good alliance. I speak often with President Macron and Prime Minister Draghi. I think of us as a group of countries with the same perceptions: countries - at least I can say this about Greece - that were considered incapable of reform, but are now at the forefront of reform."[B-13][B-14]He said he is aware that Greece is still viewed with skepticism, as "we saw it in the discussion on the Recovery Fund after the coronavirus," but added that "if we use the Recovery Fund money for a good purpose, then I am sure that a permanent tool will come out of it."[B-15][B-16]Regarding last week's meeting in Sochi with Vladimir Putin and the question of whether there is a risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Greek Prime Minister said that "my impression is that all sides are seriously seeking de-escalation. This is the message I conveyed to President Putin. We would all lose out if there were an invasion. The result would be new, tough sanctions. That would make a reasonable solution even more difficult. I hope, and my instinct tells me this, that all parties involved recognize the grave dangers of an escalation and seek de-escalation."[B-17]
[B-18]On how the EU should deal with authoritarian regimes such as Russia, China or Saudi Arabia, Kyriakos Mitsotakis replied that "our strength lies in our values and principles, which are the framework for our relations with other countries. We talk to other countries, we have trade relations with them and some of them are strategic partners. But we do not compromise on human rights and the rule of law. This is what sets the EU apart."[B-19][B-20]Regarding the chances of a rapprochement between Greece and Turkey, Mitsotakis said that he is "optimistic and always willing to cooperate with Turkey. But Turkey must understand that it cannot intimidate Greece and Cyprus. Since 1995 Turkey has been threatening us with a "casus belli", i.e. military attack, if we extend our territorial waters in the Aegean to twelve miles, which is allowed by international law."[B-21][B-22]"This threat of war is unacceptable. I have the full support of the European Council in this matter. How Turkey behaves in the Eastern Mediterranean affects Europe as a whole. Think of irregular migration. Or that Turkey is blocking our plans for a gas pipeline from Israel and Egypt to Europe via Cyprus and Greece. This touches on Europe's energy security."[B-23][B-24]On whether he would like more support from Germany on these issues, Mitsotakis said: "I think Chancellor Merkel has made sincere efforts to mediate. But we want Germany's support. Germany is not an uninvolved, neutral third party. We belong to the same European family."[B-25][B-26]Finally, on his message to the Turkish President, he noted that "we base our relations on prudence. We are not the ones who imagine the glory of empires of the past. Let us look to the future instead of the past."[B-27][B-28]Source: CNA[B-29][B-29]
[B-30]Contents of this article including associated images are belongs [B-31]Cyprus Times[B-32]
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or [B-33]Cyprus Times[B-34][B-35]
[B-36]Source[B-37]
