ATHENS – Speaking during a parliamentary debate on foreign policy issues, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece has “steadfastly defended its national interests, while at the same time upholding international law and consistently promoting peace and stability in the wider region.”
He noted that Europe is facing challenging geopolitical issues and the Russian invasion of Ukraine that is ongoing and he called on everyone, “with honesty and sincerity, beyond party lines, to address together the issues that concern foreign policy and national defence.”
Mitsotakis said Greece’s “principles define not only our course but also the way we interact with the world – a world that today is experiencing an unprecedented volatility,” and said he was trying to find common ground.
“Instead of seeking universal solutions to these shared problems, as happened after World War II, the truth is that multilateralism is unfortunately receding, traditional balances are being shaken, and power is too often replacing justice,” he said of the situation now.
“For these reasons, I welcomed the request of the leader of main opposition PASOK-Movement for Change, Nikos Androulakis, to hold a broader discussion on foreign policy issues – not only on the Palestinian question – and I turned this debate into a comprehensive briefing on all aspects of foreign policy.”
He added that “I believe it is very important, especially at this critical juncture, for political leaders to take a stand in Parliament on the full range of issues currently facing our country. I truly hope that at least on matters of foreign policy, we will rise to the occasion – because national decisions are not made in coffee shops or on television panels.”
“One cannot speak of a strong Greece if the country does not possess a strong economy,” he said, pointing out that economic indicators reflect the nation’s strength and that the solid progress of the economy effectively translates into enhanced international prestige and a robust deterrent capability.
He underlined that the source of every country’s hard power must be its deterrent capacity, noting a 12-year, 28-billion-euro defence programme – which has already begun to be implemented – was recently discussed in the parliament.
“The goal of our nation has always been to maintain qualitative superiority over any potential adversary. And for the first time, I believe we can say that this goal is being achieved,” he said, reported the Athens-Macedonia News Agency.
He said Greece has become an important energy hub and that, “six years ago, the quantity of natural gas entering our country was enough only for domestic needs. Today, 17 billion cubic meters of natural gas – either liquefied or piped from Azerbaijan – pass through Greece, effectively making our country a provider of energy security for the wider region and the Balkans, with the prospect that this gas could eventually reach as far as Ukraine.”
He pointed tot Chevron’s oil and gas explorations, following those of Exxon in Greek waters, constitute yet another “stamp of international credibility” for Greece, and proof that, “This government both knows how and is capable of exercising its sovereignty and sovereign rights based on international law – regardless of whatever irritation this may cause to some.”
He also highlighted that Greece’s upgraded international standing was reaffirmed by its participation in the international summit in Egypt, where the first phase of the Gaza peace agreement was signed.
“From the very beginning, Greece insisted on the need for a ceasefire and the release of hostages – a necessary though not sufficient first step toward lasting peace in the wider region. At the same time, it is a prerequisite for this peace to become a springboard for a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue,” he said.
