In an environment of instability and uncertainty, Greece aims to be the bridge between North and South, East and West and to function as a stabilizing factor, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency ahead of Greece’s term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council from January 1.
Gerapetritis pointed out that “diplomacy is either conducted on the basis of International Law, or it is not diplomacy” and this, as he stated, will be Greece’s motto in the Security Council, while emphasizing that everyone will be called upon to demonstrate faith in international legitimacy. He added that Greece’s aim in assuming its mandate is to keep the Cyprus issue on the active agenda of the UN.

He stated that the situation in Syria remains extremely fluid and it is absolutely necessary for the transition to be smooth, free from foreign intervention. Greece attaches particular importance to ensuring the security of the Greek diaspora, the protection of the Greek Orthodox community, as well as to ending refugee flows and reversing them. That is why it is taking initiatives for a more active presence of the European Union in Syria.

Finally, regarding the Greek-Turkish dialogue, he emphasized that the positions of Athens and Ankara on the scope of the discussion continue to diverge substantially. However, he added, regardless of whether the discussion on the demarcation begins, “we continue to believe that inaction and inertia cannot be an option.”