Greek Prime Minister: “Self-restraint is only one aspect of our power” – VIDEO

With his speech, yesterday August 12, 2020, the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made it clear that no challenge from the Turks will remain unanswered. In his message, the Prime Minister stated that “Our country is neither threatened, nor blackmailed. And that is exactly why he does not succumb to threats and blackmail. Nor, however, does he tolerate provocative actions.” With this policy of principles, he noted, “we negotiated and signed the delimitation agreements of our Maritime Zones with Italy and, recently, with Egypt”.

Agreements “fully accordant with the Law of the Sea. Agreements that prove that when there is a good mood and a climate of trust, multi-year disputes can finally be resolved. “They ensure the progress and prosperity of the peoples, always within the framework of international law”, stressed Kyriakos Mitsotakis and added that in the same framework of legitimacy the Greek government is ready to discuss with all its neighbors.

Also read: New tension in Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean | Escorted by 7 warships, ORUC REIS sails with “radar off”

The Prime Minister stated, among other things, that “We respond, we do not provoke. And we firmly hope that logic will finally prevail in our neighboring country. So that a bona fide dialogue can begin. Based on International Law and mutual respect for the one dispute that is the subject of discussion and possible recourse to an international court: The delimitation of Maritime Zones in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean. We do not raise flags of opportunity. We raise the attitude of responsibility and legitimacy. Why not make a serious foreign policy with propaganda photos from non-existent seismic surveys. Not even with nationalist frenzy towards controlled media.”

Η Ελλάδα είναι μια χώρα υπερήφανη και ισχυρή. Μέλος της Ευρωπαϊκής οικογένειας, πυλώνας σταθερότητας στην Aν. Μεσόγειο, προσηλωμένη στις αρχές του Διεθνούς Δικαίου. Η πατρίδα μας δεν απειλεί, αλλά και δεν εκβιάζεται. Δεν υποκύπτει σε απειλές, ούτε ανέχεται προκλητικές ενέργειες. pic.twitter.com/GFYpIlVm4E

— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) August 12, 2020

The Greek Prime Minister also stressed that Greece remains firm in its commitment to international legitimacy and the power of diplomacy to resolve even the most complex issues. “We will never be the first to sharpen things. But self-control is only one aspect of our strength. No challenge will go unanswered. We have, moreover, proved it in practice. And we will prove it again if necessary,” concluded K. Mitsotakis.

As far as the Turkish research ship “Oruc Reis” is concerned, according to marinetraffic.com, she is moving northeast, following the illegally issued Turkish NAVTEX.

The “Oruc Reis” is escorted by auxiliary vessels and units of the Turkish Navy and their movements are monitored by units and means of the Greek Armed Forces.

With information from CNA