Greece wants 'calm waters' in relations with Turkiye while strengthening its position, Hatzidakis says

We are striving to ensure calm waters in our relations with Turkiye but without, on the other hand, allowing the constant strengthening of the country's international position and defensive capability to be overlooked," Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis commented on Thursday in an interview on Open TV.

"We have managed to break free from the climate that prevailed in 2020-2021," he added, noting that nobody wanted a return to a time of tension, infringements and violations, when migrants were trying to cross the Evros River into Greece. "Now there is cooperation on these issues and we have very many Turkish tourists who come to our islands using the special visa regime," he said.

Asked about the results of Wednesday's meeting between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Hatzidakis said: "The signing of a joint agreement regarding recourse to the International Court at The Hague over issues relating to the continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which are the only issues we recognise, is a longstanding Greek position. Greece believes in international law and we would be glad if this position was matched by the other side. I don't want to overstress this, but perhaps the fact that the Turkish president referred to international law for the resolution of these issues may have some significance."

In any case, he added, Greece was simultaneously reinforcing its position through actions like the EEZ agreements with Egypt and Italy, maritime spatial planning, the Aegean marine parks and the agreement with Chevron for exploratory drilling south of Crete, which he said was also linked to the non-recognition of the illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum, as well as agreements with Exxon for drilling in the Ionian Sea, deals for transporting American LNG via Alexandroupolis and the purchases of the latest-generation aircraft and ships for the Armed Forces.

The deputy prime minister also referred to the plans for the construction of a new football stadium for Panathinaikos F.C. in Athens' Eleonas district and his hopes for a broader redevelopment project to transform the area into a "mini-Hellinikon".