Giannis Kantelis (SKAI): Good evening, Mr. Prime Minister. I would like to start with Ukraine, it was one of the main topics of the EU Summit. I would like to ask how far is the European Union prepared to go to prevent Russia from winning or for Ukraine to win, and how does this, the Ukraine – Russia front, affect Euro-Atlantic relations, Europe’s relations with the new Trump administration?
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: The stance of the European Union, Mr. Kantelis, as reflected in the conclusions of the European Council, remains firm. We continue to support Ukraine, not only militarily but also economically, because we want to give Ukraine the opportunity to negotiate a possible peace with Russia on its own terms and at the time it chooses, but not from a position of weakness.
Beyond that, I don’t know what the US President’s policy will be on the Ukraine issue, but what I do know is that the conclusions of the European Council reflect that the position of the European Union on this issue has not changed.
Spyros Mourelatos (ANT1 – AMNA): Mr. Prime Minister, we know that you discussed the issue of Syria at the dinner and I would like to ask whether the European Union and the Greek government are concerned about the increasing influence that Turkey seems to have in Damascus, whether this, in your view, will create a problem in Greek-Turkish relations in view of the High Level Cooperation Council in Ankara at the beginning of the year. Because we remember very well that Turkey, with a puppet regime in Libya three years ago, attempted the Turkish-Libyan memorandum, and I would like to ask whether you are concerned that something similar might happen with Syria this time. Thank you very much.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: First of all, we welcomed the fact that a brutal regime – about which in the last few weeks, in the last few days in fact, we have learned the level and intensity of the violence that was used to essentially suppress the Syrian people – this regime has collapsed. It is in principle a positive development.
I believe that what we are all interested in – and I believe that Turkey should also be interested in – is the defence of the territorial integrity of Syria and the possibility of a new regime with democratic legitimacy, which first and foremost respects the rights of religious minorities.
You are well aware that I was in Lebanon a few days ago and met with the Patriarch of Antioch. Greece has an important role to play as, I would say, the spiritual protector of both the Patriarchate of Antioch and, thereby, of all Greek Orthodox living in both Syria and Lebanon.
And the first concern right now is precisely their safety and that we don’t face new refugee flows as a result of people not feeling safe under the new situation.
And of course, I would say to you that Europe as a whole, but also Greece, still has a reason to seek stability in Syria, because this is a necessary condition in order for refugees to start returning from Europe to Syria with safety.
Obviously we are not there yet and it is too early to draw conclusions. Just as it’s too early to draw conclusions about Turkey’s role in Syria and what the future implications might be of Turkish involvement in a country with which, I remind you, it has a border. Turkey is a neighbouring country to Syria.
Maria Psara (STAR): Mr. Prime Minister, if I may ask a follow-up question to Spyros Mourelatos’ question. Was the risk raised by you and the Cypriot President, as reflected in statements by Hulusi Akar, of a Turkish-Syrian EEZ deal, effectively excluding Cyprus, along the lines of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum?
And one more question, although you have partially answered it: Does Greece intend to proceed with the return of Syrian refugees and how, in what way, under which procedure can this be done?
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: First of all, let me remind you, Ms. Psara, that not only in the view of Greece but also in the view of the European Union, the Turkish-Libyan memorandum is illegal and invalid.
Obviously, both I and President Christodoulides have informed our counterparts about these discussions that are coming to light, that some kind of Exclusive Economic Zone between Turkey and Syria could be defined, which would ignore the undeniable sovereign rights of Cyprus. Therefore, there has been an update on something which, however, at this level is simply, to date, only circulating among journalists’ reports.
Now on the issue of returns (of Syrian refugees), I think the first thing we need to explore is whether there is a willingness to do voluntary returns. And, at the same time, to support those structures, especially the structures of the United Nations, that will ensure that the people who return will at least have their basic needs covered.
And of course, as you know, Greece and many other European countries have effectively suspended the procedures for issuing asylum decisions to Syrians who are in our country for a very simple reason: because as a general rule these decisions had a basic justification with regard to why the asylum seeker was seeking protection, and that was that they were in danger from the Assad regime, which no longer exists. So we will have to wait a while and see how the situation develops.
Obviously Syria has not become a safe country overnight. It would be very naive to claim that. But the facts on the ground have clearly changed, and that is why I repeat that the stabilisation of Syria is not only important for the protection of the Greek Orthodox element in the country, which is very significant, it is also of great importance for the whole of Europe, because in this way we could initiate the return of people who fled Syria precisely because they felt that they were being persecuted by a regime that no longer exists.
Georgia Skitzi (ERT): I will take you, Mr. Prime Minister, to yesterday’s EU-Western Balkans Summit. You mentioned both Serbia and Albania. Regarding Serbia you said that we must show Serbia it belongs to the European family, while for Albania you said that Greece is essentially the “guardian” of its European course.
But we also had the leader of another Western Balkan country, North Macedonia, who from here in Brussels spoke of “Macedonian” citizens and “Macedonia”, while Mr Mitskoski has pledged that in the official obligations of the state he will use the official name. I would like your comment.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: In front of me, I mean in the meeting that we had yesterday at the EU Summit, but also this morning when we met in the context of the preparatory meeting of the European People’s Party, he used the official and – I want to stress – the only name of the country, which is North Macedonia, which, after all, he is obliged to use erga omnes, that is, also within his country.
I reiterated yesterday and today the need for absolute respect for international agreements. I will not repeat my view on the Prespa Agreement. I have said that our country is obliged to respect it and the neighbouring country is equally obliged to respect it. And this is obviously a necessary, not sufficient, but certainly a necessary condition for the country to start at some point, to actually “open” its European course.
Sofia Fasoulaki (MEGA): Good evening, Mr. Prime Minister. You have mentioned many times the need to strengthen European defence, it is a proposal that you constantly bring to the table of our partners and I would like to ask if this discussion took place today, if you expanded, if you discussed this issue at all.
We face two ongoing wars and no one knows what may happen in the future. This need is becoming more and more urgent, if this allocation of funds is not forthcoming, how can European defence be strengthened?
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Ms. Fasoulaki, I am glad because, following my proposal, there will be an extraordinary Summit which will take place on February 3, and it will be exclusively devoted to European defence.
Greece’s positions are well known, I don’t need to repeat them. You are right, however, when you say that the enormous geopolitical tension we are facing requires a geopolitical and defence awakening of our continent, which can move on many different levels.
I will continue to advocate that we need to mobilise European resources, as I have written and explained many times, in order to have what we call a European defence fund, which will be able to finance defence actions that will concern the whole of the European Union, that this is not an action that competes with NATO but is absolutely complementary. And that in this way we could also send a message to the United States – which, with President Trump, I am sure, will put pressure on the European Union for more defence spending – that we are also taking our responsibilities seriously, after all, for our own defence.
George Papakonstantinou (ACTION24): Good evening, Mr. Prime Minister. This coming weekend the informal North-South summit will be convened by the Finnish Prime Minister, Mr. Petteri Orpo. I would like you to tell me, what are your expectations from this summit and what will be the focus of your discussions?
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: With the hope that Ms. Meloni, who was very ill today, will be able to travel tomorrow to the extremely cold Lapland, this summit which brings Finland, Sweden, Italy and Greece to the same table is a first-class opportunity to discuss exactly the issues I spoke about before, how the countries of the north and the countries of the south perceive the new defence challenges of the European Union, each from their own perspective.
It is an opportunity to discuss also the very interesting study that the former Finnish President conducted on the issues of the European Union’s defence preparedness and I believe we can learn from each other.
Finland, for example, is a country which is a pioneer, I would say, in organising the whole of society on issues of civil protection, strengthening defence and defence resilience.
Therefore, I think that in a more relaxed atmosphere, somewhere in the north of frozen Finland, we can have meaningful discussions that I think will be mutually beneficial.
Maria Aroni (OPEN – AMNA): Mr. Prime Minister, the situation in Syria is very volatile and we see that the only power that seems to have tangible benefits in Syria at the moment is Turkey. Does Greece have anything to say, to offer, to gain from a completely new Syria that may emerge on an economic, social level? I am also referring to the great “weapon” that we have, the Patriarchate of Antioch.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: I think I already answered that. Greece has a role and will have a role in the region. And I insist that we should all at this moment look forward to an inclusive Syria, to a Syria that will not follow the path of other countries that have gone through similar phases of removing despotic leaders, that the same mistakes that may have been made in Iraq and Libya will not be repeated, that the country will not fall back into a regime of instability and anarchy.
And in this challenge – I believe it is a common challenge – I think that everyone can play their own distinct role under certain conditions.
