Mitsotakis at the UN: Turkey Must Revoke the Casus Belli, the Path Forward Is Dialogue

From the podium of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered a message of peace, dialogue, and international cooperation — while sending a firm warning to Turkey.

He called on Ankara to “revoke the threat of war (casus belli)”, stressing that “this dark cloud continues to hang over us”. At the same time, he underlined Greece’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, stating: “The path forward is dialogue, not the language of arms.”

Toward a European Defense – Navigating Geopolitical Tensions

Mitsotakis painted a picture of a “new world order”, emerging through instability, with multilateralism under strain and global challenges like climate change, migration, and artificial intelligence transforming the geopolitical landscape.

He emphasized the need for a joint European defense strategy, advocating common borrowing mechanisms to strengthen EU defense. Quoting EU founding father Jean Monnet, he said: “Europe is built through crises”, adding: “It is time we act accordingly.”

Mitsotakis reminded the international community that Greece spends over 3% of its GDP on defense, signaling its readiness to be a pillar of regional stability.

Cyprus, Eastern Mediterranean, and Respect for International Law

Referring to the Cyprus issue, the Greek PM stated: “Cyprus has suffered for 51 years,” denouncing the ongoing violation of international law. He reaffirmed Greece’s support for the UN-led efforts to restart negotiations.

On the Eastern Mediterranean, Mitsotakis stressed that the region faces “complex challenges, including migration”, and reaffirmed that Greece operates with respect for international law as its guiding principle.

Regarding Libya, he emphasized that “Libyans must decide their own future without foreign interference”, while on Syria, he expressed “new hope” after 14 years of bloodshed.

Balanced Stance on Gaza – Support for Palestinians and Israel

On the conflict in the Middle East, Mitsotakis struck a delicate balance. While strongly condemning Hamas’ attack on Israel, he stressed that “nothing can justify the death of children or the humanitarian catastrophe facing Palestinians.”

“We are strategic partners with Israel,” he said, “but this does not prevent us from speaking with honesty.” He warned that “if Israel continues down this path, it will alienate its friends.”

He reiterated Greece’s unwavering support for the two-state solution as the only viable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Support for Ukraine – “We Reject Changing Borders by Force”

Turning to the war in Ukraine, the Greek Prime Minister praised the “indescribable courage” of the Ukrainian people, calling their struggle “a fight for democracy and dignity.”

“Greece stands with Ukraine,” he said, vowing continued support and making it clear that “we will never accept the changing of borders through violence.”

He also supported an immediate ceasefire, stating: “There can be no solution without Kyiv at the table.”

Source: pagenews.gr