Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis: We don't need anyone's permission in the Aegean

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that they will not negotiate with Turkey from a weak position, emphasizing that Athens does not need permission from anyone in the Aegean.Mitsotakis answered questions from journalists Manos Niflis and Yannis Kolokythas on the Hora Ellados program on OPEN TV. In response to a question about the Blue Homeland bill, Mitsotakis said

We don't need anyone's permission right now. We don't need permission to connect our islands. We are currently implementing electricity connection projects on our islands. We didn't need permission from anyone to create marine parks within Greek territorial waters or to make spatial planning for our marine areas. We didn't need permission from anyone to strengthen our armed forces or to start the hydrocarbon exploration process in the south of Crete and the Ionian Sea.

.Mitsotakis pointed out that he does not know what Turkey will do, but emphasized that they have an answer to every possible step Turkey might take. Regarding the Blue Homeland bill, which is expected to be approved in the Turkish Parliament, Mitsotakis stated

I don't know what Turkey will ultimately do. What I do know is that we have an answer to every possible step Turkey might take. Therefore, let's not evaluate the news leaked to the press as if they are already finalized.

.Mitsotakis expressed his belief that the peoples of both countries want good relations, saying

Sometimes we see what some people who present themselves as 'ultra-patriots' say. Sometimes I read Greek newspapers. Believe me, even Turkish newspapers don't write these things.

. He also addressed the issue of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf in line with the decisions of the Greek Government Council for National Security (KYSEA).Mitsotakis reiterated his policy of negotiating from a position of strength, stating

In 2019, the situation of our Armed Forces was quite problematic. I won't blame this on any particular group. We went through a ten-year crisis period. Now look at where we are or where Turkey was in 2019.

.