European Council President Michel, Mitsotakis agree on firm stance toward Turkey

Greece will continue to strictly protect its borders in Evros and at sea, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in joint statements today with visiting European Council President Charles Michel.

European support must now be translated into tangible solidarity, said the prime minister, while he also commented on the fire at the Moria hotspot, referring to «lamentable incidents» in which «injuries or fatalities were fortunately averted.»

He said that hundreds of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children have already left the island of Lesvos, adding that a temporary camp has been set up «where living conditions are better than in Moria».

Mitsotakis underlined that the refugee and migration issue demands an EU-wide response.

«We have agreed with the European Commission president and with the president of the European Council,» he said, adding that this dark moment may be followed by a brighter time. «Moria belongs to the past. Let’s proceed with the founding of a modern identification and reception centre in another location,» he said.

Mitsotakis said his talks with Michel focused on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.

«Turkey in the last months has unfortunately been threatening stability and disputing the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus.»

The PM said that his views coincide with those of the European Council president, pointing out that «the EU’s geopolitical and strategic interests are at stake here».

He expressed hopes that future developments will be positive in terms of Ankara’s behaviour.

«The framework of repercussions has already been clarified. The time has come for actions, not for words. Turkey has time, both before and after the EU summit, to follow up the first encouraging step of disengagement from the crisis.»

He reiterated that a dialogue can begin only once Turkish provocations end.

«If we see tangible proof of good behaviour, we are ready to begin exploratory contacts with Turkey at once, on the sole difference that exists between us. Until there is a final delimitation [continental shelf and EEZ] either through a bilateral agreement or through an international court ruling, the international law of the sea prohibits unilateral actions,» Mitsotakis said.

Michel: Security in the Eastern Mediterranean is an EU issue, not just of Greece and Cyprus

Security in the Eastern Mediterranean is an issue that concerns the European Union as a whole, not just Greece and Cyprus, European Council President Charles Michel said at the presser with Mitsotakis after their meeting at the Maximos Mansion in Athens.

Regarding migration, Michel said that he wanted to see «the reality we face» with his own eyes, noting that «we understand the responsibility Greece has undertaken in the face of such a violent event.»

Michel praised the Greek government «for its ability to provide effective answers in such a short space of time» and referred to the EU’s mobilisation to help Greece handle migration.

He also referred to the upcoming European Council, which will focus on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and EU-Turkey relations.

We have the issue of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean which is not the affair of Greece and Cyprus alone but an EU issue,» Michel said

«We believe that all the member-states must be respected and this is the meaning of my presence here today, to repeat this message,» he declared.

As for Turkey’s provocations Michel said, «We must work closely together and see how we will progress in a dual way. On the one hand we should be strict and clear in order for the principles that are important for Greece and Cyprus to be respected and on the other hand we must be ready to open our arms and show that a positive agenda can exist if there is common volition for these principles to  be respected. It is an important issue that will be discussed at the EU Summit on 24 and 25 September and we will prepare in order to demonstrate the EU’s unity and strength, because security and stability are a strategic interest of the EU.»

Michel also referred to the need for a multilateral meeting of all the countries of the region, «apart from the bilateral dialogue,» where issues of security, maritime affairs, economic cooperation, energy and others can be discussed, adding that the EU is examining this proposal so as to proceed with an agenda that is more positive and predictable than it has been recently.»

Michel appeared optimistic about  the four-day EU summit in July.

«We took action and earmarked 1.8 trillion euros to addressing the pandemic united. We will cooperate better in the future to face the crisis and to recover as soon as possible» he concluded.

Source: ANA