G. DELAVEKOURAS: Good morning.
M. MIHELIDAKI: We know that a meeting is coming up in Turkey, between Mr. Samaras and Mr. Erdogan, and now, a few days before that meeting, we see this move on the part of Greece. Tell us exactly what has happened.
G. DELAVEKOURAS: What has happened is that Turkey, in the spring of 2012, granted exploration permits for areas of the Greek continental shelf. As soon as that became known, Greece made representations to the Turkey side and notified …
G. KOUVARAS: In July, if I’m not mistaken, we made that demarche.
G. DELAVEKOURAS: Exactly, and the European Union and NATO were informed. We took a further step, that of officially notifying the United Nations Organization and its competent organs, and in this way we essentially informed the international community, the states that are party to the convention on the Law of the Sea, of Greece’s positions, and in this way we are defending our country’s sovereign rights.
G. KOUVARAS: Mr. Delavekouras, was this the only way, essentially, for us to be able to defend our sovereign rights given Turkey’s stance?
G. DELAVEKOURAS: It is a move that safeguards Greece’s interests and sovereign rights. Greece’s strongest card is that its moves are fully in line with the Convention on the Law of the Sea, with customary Law, which must be implemented universally by all countries, and which Turkey must respect.
M. MIHELIDAKI: Right. Now, of course, we had this visit from Mr. Hollande, who made a statement on the side of the Greeks, regarding the declaration of the exclusive economic zone in the Aegean, and what will happen with that? And at the same time – simultaneously – we had a Turkish frigate in the Aegean, entering our waters, so we connected these in way. Of course, there is the meeting between the two men in the coming days, so we imagine that this move is also designed to secure the field of the discussions, so there won’t be any grey areas?
G. DELAVEKOURAS: First of all, Greece’s positions are crystal clear, and with this move I don’t think there is anyone who doubts these positions. We want relations of cooperation and good neighbourliness with Turkey, and we can get such a result. This is the will of Greece. But these relations have to evolve within the framework set by International Law. There has to be mutual respect.
G. KOUVARAS: Mr. Delavekouras, Greece’s position is a given, and we know what it is and it’s what you set out for us, but how do you explain the fact that Turkey is opting for the path of provocation just a few days before the joint Ministerial Council of the two countries in Ankara? First of all, might this stance impact the carrying out of the High Level Cooperation Council?
G. DELAVEKOURAS: What we want is to be able to move ahead, and to do that, as I said before, the two countries have to respect one another and International Law, which is the principle framework of rules of conduct for the international community, in international relations. We can achieve this if there is mutual political will, and if there is compliance with the provisions of International Law. That is why Greece’s positions are so clear and so strong. All of the members of the international community concur with these positions. We are talking about the Convention on the Law of the Sea, which has been ratified by 162 countries around the world. So this particular issue …
G. KOUVARAS: I don’t think there is any issue of anyone questioning Greece’s rights. The issue here – we are trying to understand – is to explain why Turkey persists in this provocative stance. First of all, let me ask, had the Greek side predicted this provocation, or did it take you by surprise? Might this provocative stance have something to do with Greece’s intention to declare an exclusive economic zone, which also surfaced in the public debate with Hollande’s visit to Athens?
G. DELAVEKOURAS: As I already told you, Turkey proceeded to the granting of these permits. So far, they have not moved ahead with the explorations themselves, and I would like to believe they won’t do so. I would like to believe that Turkey will respect International Law. For our part, we have made it clear that this region is a region of the Greek continental shelf, a region in which Greece exercises sovereign rights and has economic interests, and that has to be respected.
M. MIHELIDAKI: Right, thank you very much, and have a good day.
G. KOUVARAS: Good day, Mr. Delavekouras.
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