Greek PM: “We respond with stability, self-confidence and adherence to international law to Turkey”

“We hope, we encourage the European Union to take bold initiatives – as we have discussed many times – because without a European response it is very difficult to tame this explosive rise in natural gas prices,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Friday during his meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades.

“I am personally happy, as Greek Prime Minister, that many of the proposals we have submitted to the European Union are currently being processed by the European Commission. I point out, however, that we have delayed and that we must do everything possible to gain the lost ground,” he added.

Mitsotakis also underlined that with stability, self-confidence and adherence to international law we respond to Turkey’s rhetoric which unfortunately have recently exceeded all limits. “This does not mean, however, that we, in any way, will change the responsible attitude with which we deal with all these issues,” he said.

Referring to the donation of an aircraft by the Greek government, President Anastasiades said “on behalf of the Cypriot people and the government, but also myself, I want to thank you very much. We were perhaps the only EU country without a presidential aircraft and the most important thing is, due to the isolation of the Republic of Cyprus, a normal trip to Brussels could mean an extra two days.”

“You have rightly pointed out and I am sincerely glad that many of the initiatives you are taking are being adopted. And with regard to the European Union, but especially with regard to the sanctions imposed, most of which are unfortunately not targeted, as they mainly affect the European states instead of Russia, which is responsible for the war,” Anastasiades added.