Meeting with Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS, Greek Prime Minister

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and visiting EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy Josep Borrell expressed their commitment to protecting Greek and European borders from Turkey’s threats, during their meeting at Maximos Mansion on Wednesday, said government sources.

These borders are decisively guarded and the EU’s support for Greece will be steadfast, as was demonstrated by the visit of EU high officials at the Evros Greek-Turkish border in March, both men reportedly underlined.

Borrell, who visited the Kastanies Greek-Turkish border crossing station at Evros earlier on Wednesday with Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias, reaffirmed that the EU is committed to the protection of Greece’s sovereignty. He also referred to the overflights of Turkish fighter jets into Greek air space and Turkey’s announcements of illegal drilling in the East Mediterranean. The EU official also noted however the importance of building a basic level of dialogue and trust with Ankara, an issue he said he had discussed extensively earlier with Dendias.

“For our part, we were also very clear, I hope, in expressing not only European solidarity but also our commitment to Greece, to protecting your sovereignty, your external borders, which are also the external borders of the whole of the European Union,” he emphasized.

Thank you very much Prime Minister [of Greece] Kyriakos [Mitsotakis]. It is really a pleasure to be here, how not being in Athens? I had a wonderful morning today, accompanied by my friend, your Foreign Affairs Minister [Nikos Dendias].
#eudebates #Borrell
It is a pleasure, an honor and a duty to be here, because you, in the last #EuropeanCouncil, were very clear about the situation and we have also been very clear - I hope so - expressing European – more than solidarity - commitment together with #Greece in order to protect your sovereignty, your external #borders.

The external borders of a Member of the European Union are the external borders of the whole #Union. We acted supporting and helping Greece on the last events and we will continue doing so.

I know that there are a lot of overflights - today a couple more - on the islands and even the mainland. We have this strong problem with the drilling, which affects your sovereignty. And I wanted to be here –well, it was foreseen that I should come, but after the European Council with more reasons- in order to express this commitment and support, but also at the same time - and I have been talking with your #ForeignAffairs Minister - about the need of restablishing a minimum trust and dialogue with #Turkey in order to stop this escalation.

Greece is maybe the Member State most interested in having a good relationship with Turkey and I think that we have to work together in order to fulfil this purpose and to go back to a certain normal –as we say now, a new normal, the old normal. And I think that if we can be of any help, believe me that I will be more than happy, because it is one of the most important commitments I have to fulfil, to improve the relationship with Turkey, to protect the rights and interests of the European Union - and for sure when I say European Union I mean Greece and Cyprus first of all.