“The European Council’s message to Turkey is clear: if it desires a positive agenda, it must prove in practice that it respects the European acquis and that its stance is stable, consistent and honest”, stressed Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis in his interview in ‘Eleftheros Typos tis Kyriakis’ with journalist Apostolos Chondropoulos. The Alternate Minister added also that “Ankara is faced with the threat of a robust sanctions framework, which can be activated if it resumes its unilateral, provocative actions”.
In his interview, Mr Varvitsiotis discussed the decisions of the EU Summit and Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ strategy, President Biden’s message and US-Greece relations, the Prime Minister’s visit to Libya, the Conference on the Future of Europe, the National Recovery Plan, as well as domestic politics. “The government and the Prime Minister have proven in practice that they aim at achieving understanding, cooperation and consensus, not only on national issues but also on responding to the pandemic. However, SYRIZA aims at undermining social peace”, he underlines.
Entire interview below:
What is the context in EU-Turkey relations following the recent European Council meeting? Are sanctions still on the table?
The Joint Statement of the 27 EU leaders is very close to Greece’s positions and includes many of the conclusions contained in the Borrell report. This was the result of a coordinated effort by the Greek side, of the Prime Minister at the level of leaders as well as at the General Affairs Council, where I represent the country. The decisions of the Summit vindicate Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ strategy to make Greek-Turkish differences part of EU-Turkey relations. The European Council’s message to Turkey is clear: if it desires a positive agenda, it must prove in practice that it respects the European acquis and that its stance is stable, consistent and honest. At the same time, Ankara is faced with the threat of a robust sanctions framework, which can be activated if it resumes its unilateral, provocative actions.
What is your view of US-Greece relations following President Biden’s intervention and what does the invitation extended to Mr Mitsotakis to visit the USA signify?
President Biden’s intervention had a triple meaning. His message on the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution and his telephone talk with the Prime Minister represent strong support for Greece. By participating in the European Council, President Biden sent another two powerful messages: his concern over Turkey’s violations of human rights and democratic institutions, as well as over its alignment with Russia. The US President’s invitation to Kyriakos Mitsotakis to visit Washington demonstrates that the USA view Greece as a powerful ally and strategic partner.
What does the Prime Minister’s visit to Libya signify?
The Prime Minister’s visit to Libya next Tuesday is yet more proof that Greece is a force for stability in the wider region of the Southeastern Mediterranean. Greece actively supports the restoration of peace in Libya and aims at normalising and restoring relations with our neighbouring country, after the illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum. At the same time, this visit will mark the immediate reopening of our Embassy in Tripoli.
What is our country’s focus with regard to the Conference on the Future of Europe and what is its perspective on Social Europe?
The Conference on the Future of Europe coincides with the 40th anniversary of Greece’s accession to the EU. The consultation will begin in May and our goal is to give a voice to Greek citizens who, together with the other Europeans, voted for more Europe during the most recent European elections, turning their backs on populism. Our national proposal comprises 6+1 axes: The European Defence and Security framework; the European Cohesion Policies; Environment and Climate Change; Migration; Research and Innovation; the strategy for deepening the EMU; and the ‘Rule of Law – Democracy – Human Rights’ triptych. Moreover, in the context of the Portuguese Presidency, Greece is joining the ‘Social Europe’ discussion with a framework of proposals to combat poverty and social exclusion, establish a guaranteed minimum income, increase employment and improve working conditions, and specifically cater for the Next Generation, the demographic issue, gender equality, protection from domestic violence and violence against women.
The temperature of the political debate has risen sharply. Can a broader consensus be reached, at least with regard to certain major challenges, such as the National Recovery Plan?
The government and the Prime Minister have proven in practice that they aim at achieving understanding, cooperation and consensus, not only on national issues but also on responding to the pandemic. However, SYRIZA aims at undermining social peace. Be it through engaging in opposition “guerrilla warfare” on the streets by participating in demonstrations, as was recently the case, with the risk of spreading the virus, or through the “spreading” of fake news, and through extreme, divisive statements by its members that harken back to the Civil War. New Democracy will not follow them down this dangerous path. On the contrary, we are paving the road to the future, with the citizens on our side. The National Recovery Plan is the plan for the national uplifting of Greece. The “Greece 2.0” plan, with a total budget of EUR 57 billion, is based on the EUR 32-billion package of the Recovery Fund that our country secured through months of negotiations and a hard battle, fought jointly with the Prime Minister last July in Brussels. Properly leveraging this package is of the utmost national importance.
