Foreign minister on maritime zone delineation; new Mideast envoy

"The goal and policy of the Greek government is the delineation of the sea zones with all neighbouring countries," Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas underlined on Tuesday . 

 

Speaking to an Athens radio station, he stressed that "the issue is very complex with many legal details and foreign ministry experts in cooperation with other specialists were assigned this serious systematic and comprehensive work". 

 

Droutsas also stressed that "Greece is not influenced by a casus belli or any other threat", adding that "it has firm and very strong positions" and "a strong deterrent ability". 

 

As regards a question tabled by the Communist Party (KKE) in Parliament concerning the results of the prime minister's recent trip to Turkey, Droutsas stated that views expressed by political parties and political party leaders are being respected. 

 

He added, however, that the absolute success of the premier's visit to Turkey has become annoying and there are those who try to regain the lost ground through "populist views". 

 

He acknowledged that there are problems in the Greek-Turkish relations, adding that "step-by-step we are trying to resolve them always keeping in mind our country's interests and legitimate rights." 

 

Appointment of special Mideast envoy 

 

Meanwhile, the Greek foreign minister announced the appointment of ambassador-at-large Antonios Nikolaidis as Greece's special envoy to the Middle East. 

 

Ambassador Nikolaidis, who hails from the Middle East and speaks Arabic, is a veteran member of the Greek diplomatic service, currently serving as ambassador-at-large and foreign ministry inspector general.





ANA