Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a dialogue with the previous US ambassador in Athens Daniel Speckhart emphasised that the usage of the constitutional identify of North Macedonia erga omnes, for all makes use of, is key within the Prespa settlement and isn’t negotiable.
The prime minister mentioned that the issue with the Balkans is that fairly often the specter of nationalism emerges when nobody essentially expects it, and he cited North Macedonia for instance.
“North Macedonia is a member of NATO right this moment as a result of Greece lifted its veto after the Prespa Settlement signed and ratified by the earlier authorities. We’ve got made it clear that that is a global settlement that obliges the nation. We revered that and I respect that. One of many basic, if not probably the most basic, facets of this settlement needed to do with the identify North Macedonia getting used erga omnes. And that is one thing that may be very clear and non-negotiable for Greece. Once I hear that the brand new authorities refers back to the nation because the Republic of Macedonia inside the nation, I’ve severe considerations. And this can be a matter I intend to deal with. It’s not constructive and doesn’t assist North Macedonia’s European path”, underlined the Prime Minister.
“Cyprus is an occupied European nation”
Mr. Mitsotakis additionally referred to the Cyprus concern. He mentioned that it was 50 years because the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and reiterated the necessity for a decision based mostly on the selections of the UN Safety Council. The Prime Minister characteristically reminded that Cyprus is an occupied European nation.
Concerning the warfare in Ukraine, the prime minister mentioned that Greece was aligned with its allies from the beginning and provided full assist to Ukraine.
“And this was not a given for a rustic that had historic, cultural and non secular ties with Russia,” he famous and added: “We made our place clear. We’ve got delivered it by way of political, financial and navy assist and our place just isn’t going to alter.”
He identified, on the identical time, that the EU was remarkably united. “We’ve got put in place quite a lot of sturdy actions and in reality we have been those who delivered a big fiscal assist bundle,” he mentioned.
Very constant European assist to Ukraine
Concerning the prospect of Ukraine becoming a member of the EU, he identified that “we’ve crossed this bridge and this lengthy journey has begun”.
He added: “Due to this fact, I see no signal of European dedication wavering. Sure, we might have points with one or two international locations. One among them occurs to be main the EU Council as we converse. However total European assist has been very constant and robust.”
The prime minister additionally referred to the group of European safety and the potential of it functioning along with NATO.
On this he spoke in regards to the proposal he has made with the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. “For a European protection initiative that’s basically a European air protection defend to strengthen our current protection capabilities by committing extra European assets to this undertaking, at all times totally built-in into NATO constructions,” he famous.
Concerning the connection with Turkey, he recalled that we had three years of inauspicious instances, noting that within the final yr and a half, issues have improved considerably and we should acknowledge that.
“On the identical time, we acknowledge that a number of the basic Turkish positions relating to the scenario within the Jap Mediterranean haven’t basically modified. However the truth that we have had sixteen months of quiet, by way of not having violations of Greek airspace, that we’re cooperating higher on immigration, that we have really made an settlement that enables Turkish residents to journey to the Aegean islands and take the their visas in a short time, these are all some constructive steps,” he added.
Supply: RES-MPE
#Mitsotakis #North #Macedonia #negotiable
