President Karolos Papoulias (L) and Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Greece’s participation in NATO has not managed to respond to the significant threat represented by Turkey, the foreign minister, Stavros Dimas, told a special event held to mark the 60th anniversary of the country’s membership of the military bloc.
“Since the mid-1970s, Greece has been facing a standing threat by one of its [Nato] allies, Turkey.
Nato’s silence since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus has been deafening. The systematic dispute of Greece’s sovereign rights by Turkey is, and is being treated by the Greek people as, a real and direct threat. In that light, Greece’s participation has not managed to respond to this significant threat,” the foreign minister said.
Nato’s silence since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus has been deafening. The systematic dispute of Greece’s sovereign rights by Turkey is, and is being treated by the Greek people as, a real and direct threat. In that light, Greece’s participation has not managed to respond to this significant threat,” the foreign minister said.
Also addressing the event, organised by Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (Eliamep), was Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who is visiting Athens for the anniversary.
In his address, Rasmussen said that the global economic environment has led to uncertainty.
Replying to a question on the Cyprus issue, he said that the non-resolution of the problem was a cause of concern and has negative consequences not only for Cyprus and Greek-Turkish relations, but also for Nato-EU relations.
He called “on all sides” to make every effort to resolve the Cyprus issue, and soon at that, under the auspices of the UN.
“The existing plans appear to be very close to what apparently both sides can accept,” the Nato chief added.
Reception
Earlier, President Karolos Papoulias told Rasmussen of his annoyance over continuing Turkish violations of Greek national airspace, explaining that Greece continues to have problems with Turkey.
He warned that Ankara’s stance does not help in consolidating the neighbourly climate that Greece seeks.
“I was disturbed by the fact that yesterday, when I went to the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Turkish warplanes were making overflights over a Greek island,” Papoulias said.
The president also told Rasmussen that Greece wants to see Turkey join the EU and is contributing to achieving that target.
Papoulias also raised the issue of Fyrom, and thanked the Nato chief for the position he has taken on it.
“You understand our sensitivities on this issue, given that our northern neighbours are maintaining a tough stance whereas we have extended our hand and are acting like good neighbours. We will continue in this direction so that a mutually acceptable solution may be found on the Fyrom name issue,” the president continued.
He further described as “a joke” Fyrom’s persistence in altering history and trying to present Alexander the Great as a “Skopjean”, and asked Rasmussen to help in overcoming this problem.
Defence not hit
In his meeting with the Nato chief, Defence Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos underlined that the country’s financial woes have not affected the country’s defence system.
He reminded Rasmussen that Greece continues to be an important factor of security, cooperation and understanding in the wider region.
In turn, Rasmussen noted that Greece is one of the longest-standing Nato members and a pillar of the collective security.
He praised the country’s contribution to Nato operations from Afghanistan to Kosovo, and also for the protection of the unarmed population in Libya.
He also spoke of difficult economic conditions and the need for Nato to make tough choices, expressing certainty that the alliance, as a “family that helps each other”, will emerge stronger from the crisis, that that this will be reaffirmed at a Nato summit in May.
Rasmussen also had a meeting with Prime Minister Lucas Papademos.
Source: athensnews.gr
No comments:
Post a Comment