Greece will not accept any external instructions on matters concerning its sovereign rights, especially in relation to its territorial waters, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis emphasized in a wide-ranging interview published Saturday in the newspaper TA NEA. His comments come amid regional tensions following Greece’s announcement of new national marine parks in the Ionian and Aegean Seas — a move that has drawn both praise from international environmental organizations and criticism from neighboring Turkiye.
“The government’s decision to establish national marine parks makes Greece a pioneer in marine ecosystem protection in the Mediterranean,” Gerapetritis stated, adding that the initiative has received “broad support from environmental organizations, international institutions, and civil society.”
According to the minister, the new marine parks will increase the protection of nearly one-third of Greece’s territorial waters. Surveillance of these areas will be significantly enhanced, and the legislative process — including public consultation and the issuance of a presidential decree — is already underway. Environmental studies are set to follow for the designated areas in the Aegean.
Responding to objections from Turkiye, Gerapetritis made Greece’s position clear:
“Greece does not accept instructions from anyone on what actions it will take in its territorial waters. Nothing will stop us from exercising our rights and implementing national policies.”
He cited recent developments such as Greece’s maritime spatial planning and the announcement of offshore exploration south of Crete, including interest expressed by energy giant Chevron, as examples of Greece asserting its sovereignty.
Gerapetritis also rejected what he called a “philosophy of inertia,” which, he argued, has historically encouraged Turkish revisionist claims.
“The idea of so-called ‘beneficial inaction’ has weakened our negotiating position over time. We must not repeat this mistake.”
On Greek-Turkish relations, the minister noted a positive momentum since September 2023, when both sides agreed to pursue structured dialogue through three coordinated pillars. Since then, several key meetings have taken place, including the Political Dialogue and Positive Agenda in June, a business mission to Istanbul in May, and Confidence-Building Measures held in Thessaloniki in April.
Looking ahead, he confirmed that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The timing of the next High-Level Cooperation Council may also be decided during that meeting.
Regarding maritime disputes, Gerapetritis reaffirmed Greece’s longstanding position:
“To open the path to The Hague, there must be agreement on the scope of the discussion. For us, there is only one dispute — the delimitation of maritime zones.”
On the Cyprus issue, the minister welcomed the resumption of informal talks under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General and emphasized that reunification remains a top national priority. “Divisive approaches that ignore international law will not be accepted by Greece, Cyprus, or the international community,” he stressed.
Gerapetritis also commented on regional dynamics in Libya, noting that Turkiye’s involvement and the 2019 maritime memorandum with the Tripoli-based government lacked legal grounding. Greece, he said, is rebuilding ties with both factions in Libya and is ready to resume technical dialogue on EEZ delimitation — excluding, however, any reference to invalid agreements.
Lastly, the minister addressed recent legal developments concerning the historic Greek Orthodox Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai. While a recent court ruling recognized the monastery’s religious character, it did not confirm ownership of disputed lands.
“We have not lost the Monastery,” he insisted. “Its Greek Orthodox identity remains intact.”
He added that further legal and diplomatic steps are planned, including upcoming talks with Egypt’s foreign minister in Athens this August.
Source: pagenews.gr