Greek President and Prime Minister’s Response to Turkish Threats

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“We historically seek cooperation with Turkey and invest in the harmonious coexistence and friendship of the two peoples. However, no retreat can exist in the face of Turkey’s unacceptable challenges and aggressive actions,” the President of the Republic stressed. Hellenic Katerina Sakellaropoulou in a statement to the Sunday edition of Kathimerini newspaper.

The President also underlined that “Greece is a modern European Republic which fully respects international law and good neighborly relations. Ensuring peace, security and stability in South Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean is the cornerstone of our national strategy. We have never abandoned the path of diplomacy with the country’s interest and the prosperity of the entire region as our guideline”.

Greece’s firm position was and is the country’s inalienable right to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, as clearly provided by international law and in particular the United Nations Treaty on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), diplomatic sources said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressing an online New Year event of the association of Ιmvrians (Greeks from the island of Imvros which belongs to Turkey) said that the Imvrians can count on the support and solidarity of the Greek government.

“You will have the unequivocal support of the Greek government in your actions which fully understands this duty to one of the oldest centers of our nation in the Aegean,” said
“We will support you and pressure Turkey in all international forums to respect everyone it has signed,” Mitsotakis said.

The Prime Minister pointed out that some measures have been taken because Greek schools which were illegally closed in 1964 are once again welcoming pupils. “We will continue to support the reopening of schools and send teachers but we will also not stop reminding Ankara of its official commitments because the Greeks of Imvros are Turkish citizens with all rights and any discrimination against them will not not only violates the Treaty of Lausanne but all international human rights treaties, so Turkey is called upon to respect them with equality and justice”.

In conclusion, Mitsotakis expressed hope to see each other again on Imvros.

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