Simitis warns that Greece may be faced with a fait accompli

The government must call the EU to make a stament on its Decemeber 1999 decision regarding border disputes

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The former Prime Minister Kostas Simitis has commented on the risk of Greece being faced with a a ‘fait accompli’, in relation to the upcoming European Council summit meeting on the 17^th of March.
Mr. Simitis argued that the Greek government must be especially careful in the negotiations for Turkey's accession to the European Union, which begin on Thursday. The former PM notes that the EU decided in 1999 that each prospect state must bring forward its border disputes with a member-state before the International Courts.
As such, the former PM argues, the Greek government must demand that the European Union makes a statement on this decision, since Turkey may later claim that the rule was never enforced. Turkey may then set a precedent and make demands against Greek interests.
 “If we want peace, cooperation and international support we must insist upon regulations that exclude future conflicts. Otherwise, we will be at the mercy of momentary problems, such as the refugee crisis today” he concluded.