Honorable, Mr. President, on behalf of the Greek delegation, I would like to begin by thanking you for the very warm welcome and, as always when I visit your country, the impeccable hospitality.
Our presence here in Ankara, at the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council meeting between Greece and Turkey, marks, I believe, the very significance of the event, confirming above all, as you said, the value of dialogue and good neighborly relations, especially in a fluid and constantly changing international environment.
President Erdoğan and I had the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive review of our bilateral relations over the past two years, as in 2023 we made a strategic decision to structure our contacts around a three-pillar approach: political dialogue, the positive agenda, which was also reflected in our talks today, and confidence-building measures.
Through this process, we have indeed established a clear network of meetings and open channels of communication for the benefit of both peoples.
With the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have established a new model of direct cooperation, with the aim of achieving a mutually beneficial, but above all functional, relationship.
As neighboring countries, Mr. President, Greece and Turkey, Turkey and Greece, we are called upon to manage our problems calmly and responsibly, speaking honestly and always referring to international law.
Even when we disagree, it is important not to let ourselves be led into judgments and tensions. And I want to repeat that Greece is a peaceful country; we are always committed to dialogue, which should be conducted in good faith and mutual respect.
It is true that this effort has already borne fruit, preventing tensions that have strained our relations in the past. A few weeks ago, in fact, a new round of political dialogue and positive agenda took place in Athens, with extremely encouraging results.
At the same time, annual actions within the framework of confidence-building measures were finalized, and today, in the presence of many of our ministers, we agreed on a series of new joint initiatives that broaden the scope of bilateral cooperation.
I would say that our cooperation on the program for the temporary issuance of short-stay visas for Turkish visitors and their families on 12 islands in the Eastern Aegean has been particularly successful. In the last year alone, hundreds of thousands of Turkish friends have traveled to the Greek islands, bringing our peoples closer together. We have agreed that Greece will ask the European Union and the European Commission to renew the program.
You mentioned, Mr. President -we also discussed this at the High-Level Cooperation Council- the excellent cooperation we have on the issue of migration.
Flows in the eastern Aegean have decreased by almost 60% in the last year alone. This is the result of systematic surveillance of land and sea borders, as well as improved coordination between the two countries. This is something that can and must be further strengthened, as the recent tragic incident off the coast of Chios reminded us. The fight against inhumane smuggling networks must be a constant, long-term goal for both our countries.
A constant goal must be to expand cooperation in other areas, such as bilateral trade. We have set an ambitious target of reaching $10 billion in bilateral trade. It is no coincidence that Greece is upgrading the infrastructure of its border stations in Kastanies and Kipoi.
Parallel investments still have potential. Significant investments are currently being made by Greek companies in Turkey and by Turkish companies in Greece.
And, of course, I would like to emphasize the great importance I attach to civil protection actions, not only because they address common risks arising from the climate crisis, but because I believe, Mr. President, that they could also serve as a model for broader regional cooperation.
All of the above are undoubtedly achievements and steps forward. They were by no means self-evident or a given. On the contrary, they were the result of political will and systematic efforts on both sides, demonstrating in practice that yes, we can maintain a functional framework for bilateral cooperation while also contributing jointly to the stability of a wider region that is being tested by multiple crises.
We are aware, of course, that there are significant disagreements, with the Greek position remaining firm: that the delimitation of maritime zones -the continental shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone- in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean, is the only difference that could be brought before an international judicial body, based on international law and, in particular, the Law of the Sea.
I sincerely hope, Mr. President, that I can share your optimism that circumstances will allow developments in this direction.
That is why I believe, Mr. President, that in the spirit of the positive experience that has taken place, it is now time to lift any threat, formal or substantive, to our relations. If not now, then when?
We also discussed developments regarding the Cyprus issue with the President, where Greece’s position remains clear. The initiatives of the Secretary-General of the United Nations create a window of opportunity to restart a meaningful dialogue from where it was interrupted in 2017, in a process which, of course, must always be conducted within the framework of Security Council resolutions.
Our view of minorities in both states is equally clear. As you well know, Mr. President, we have discussed this many times, that their status is defined with absolute clarity by the Treaty of Lausanne, which explicitly states that the minority in Thrace is religious, ruling out any other misinterpretation.
But I will repeat what I said two years ago: Greek Muslims in Thrace live harmoniously with our Christian fellow citizens, based on the principles of equality and equal citizenship.
At the same time, in Turkey, primarily in Istanbul, the Greek minority, despite its unfortunate decline in numbers, continues to enrich the social and cultural life of Turkey.
Let us therefore work on how these two minorities can truly become bridges of friendship and mutual understanding between our peoples.
Finally, we also discussed developments in the broader region and internationally, where tensions are mounting, making diplomacy, dialogue, and respect for international law more necessary than ever.
We look forward to the end of the war in Ukraine with respect for its sovereignty, and of course we look forward, and on this we are in complete agreement with the President, to the launch of the second phase of the peace plan for Gaza, with the aim of achieving stability and security in the Middle East.
I will repeat it here from Ankara: Greece firmly supports the two-state solution as the only realistic solution for lasting peace in the region.
We are in favor of reforming the Palestinian Authority so that it can effectively take over the administration of Gaza and the West Bank. However, we consider the complete disarmament of Hamas and the elimination of terrorism to be a necessary prerequisite, because Israel also has the right to live in security.
However, I would also like to take this opportunity to express our categorical opposition to any plan that could lead to a possible annexation of the West Bank by Israel.
The expansion of settlements, which essentially creates a reality on the ground that makes the creation of a Palestinian state even more complex, is also reprehensible.
Greece, Mr. President, is a force for peace. We want sincere relations with all our neighbors and we want, wherever possible, to achieve cooperation that will help us consolidate regional stability.
You mentioned the major challenges facing Syria. This is an area where Greece and Turkey can work together to achieve political stability, with respect for the rights and full protection of religious minorities, but -why not?- as we discussed with the Finance Ministers, we can also coordinate and work together on efforts related to the reconstruction of Syria.
A stable Syria would be mutually beneficial to Greece and Turkey, allowing refugees, both those in Turkey and those in Greece, to finally return to their homeland.
I conclude, Mr. President, dear Tayyip, with the thought that fate has designated us to live in the same neighborhood. We cannot change geography, but we can make it our ally by choosing convergence, dialogue, and faith in international law, so that, with a sense of responsibility, we can build a future of peace, progress, and prosperity for our countries, honoring the legacy of Eleftherios Venizelos and Kemal Atatürk.
I would like to conclude by expressing my gratitude once again for the excellent organization of this meeting, for the fruitful discussions we had, and for the warm hospitality shown to the Greek delegation. I look forward to continuing our cooperation.
And I will be delighted, Mr. President, to welcome you and your colleagues, your ministers, to Greece for the next High-Level Cooperation Council meeting.
Thank you.
