Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his hope on Sunday for a future of peace with Turkey, emphasizing the importance of dialogue between the two countries whose relations have historically been strained. However, he also affirmed Athens’ determination to defend its sovereign rights vis-à-vis its neighbor.
At the conclusion of a three-day visit to the small island of Kastellorizo (also known as Megisti), located near the Greek-Turkish maritime border and off the western coast of Turkey, Mitsotakis said that dialogue is a choice that reflects self-confidence and a commitment to international law.
Speaking on the occasion of the 83rd anniversary of the island’s liberation in 1943, he added, “Here, at the easternmost point of our homeland, Greece’s borders coincide with the borders of Europe.”
In a live broadcast on public television, he continued, “The message Megesti sends carries special significance, because its territory is also European territory, making it a symbolic place to express our intention for a future of peace.”
He emphasized that Greece is committed to the security of the island, stating, “We do not threaten anyone, but we will not accept threats, and we are prepared to defend our territorial integrity and sovereign rights.”
In an effort to support the island’s fewer than 600 residents, he announced a package of financial measures, including aid and grants for government employees working on the island, as well as incentives to encourage other citizens from across the country to settle there.
The Greek Prime Minister’s remarks came after Turkey announced last August the establishment of two maritime protected zones: one in the Mediterranean Sea off the coasts of Fethiye and Kaş, and the other in the northern Aegean Sea off the Dardanelles Strait around the wrecks of World War I warships.
Athens deemed the creation of these maritime parks, located outside Turkish territorial waters, “illegal.”
In early September, after lodging a protest with Ankara, the Greek Foreign Ministry stated that such Turkish actions “do not contribute to establishing a climate of good neighborliness and seriously undermine efforts to maintain relations based on mutual understanding between the two countries.” (AFP)
