FM Gerapetritis: Greece Backs Turkey’s EU Membership Bid, Conditional on Compliance with International Law

Greece supports Turkey’s bid to join the European Union, provided that Turkey adheres to international law and respects the EU’s legal standards, as well as the sovereignty of all member states.

Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis made this statement on Thursday upon arriving at the informal council of EU Foreign Affairs ministers in Brussels.

Gerapetritis emphasised that while Greece is broadly in favour of Turkey’s European aspirations, it is crucial for Turkey to comply with established international norms and the EU acquis. He also highlighted the importance of advancing discussions on the Cyprus issue, which remains a significant challenge for global peace and security. Gerapetritis noted the ongoing United Nations-led efforts to restart negotiations and stressed the need for a constructive approach to resolve the matter in line with Security Council decisions.

Additionally, Gerapetritis addressed the situation involving the tanker ‘Sounion‘ in the Red Sea, noting that significant diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent an ecological disaster. He revealed that he had spoken with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister to ensure the safe handling of the situation.

(Source: Amna)–Komalenko Charlie