FM Dendias: Greece will not fall into the undermining of the exploratory talks trap
Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias sent the message that Greece will not fall into the undermining of the exploratory talks trap adding that it's Turkey's turn now to prove in practice that it wishes the smooth continuation of the exploratory talks with Greece.
In an interview with the Sunday newspaper Real News, Dendias reiterated that Greece is positive to the possibility of a constructive dialogue with Turkey based on the international law and on the only bilateral difference: the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone and of the continental shelf in the Aegean and in the eastern Mediterranean.
Regarding the next round of exploratory talks with Turkey to be held in Athens, Dendias said he has proposed the dates of the meeting several weeks ago and is expecting for Turkey's answer.
Asked on how he evaluated the exit of the Turkish oceanographic vessel Cesme in the Aegean, Dendias said that he has delivered a demarche and has noted that not only the issue of the Turkish Navtex is illegal but is not consistent with the de-escalation effort.
Referring to the report on the Turkish behaviour that will be tabled to the EU Summit at the end of March, Dendias said that Greece expects to depict the total of the Turkish actions in the area, at least in 2020, as the incidents in Evros, the continuous infringements of Greece's airspace, the Oruc Reis, the picnic in Varosha and other. Additionally, he said that the specific report should include proposals οn possible sanctions and may also include proposals on specific positive steps in the Euro-Turkish relations, if such a positive margin exists.