Greece’s Top Diplomat Labels Gaza Conflict a ‘Nightmare’

Greece’s Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, in an interview with The Associated Press, described the global landscape as the most turbulent since World War II, highlighting a crisis in democracy and Europe’s “political identity crisis.”

Key points from the Monday interview:

Democracy Under Strain Gerapetritis, whose country currently holds the U.N. Security Council’s rotating presidency, linked global unrest to growing inequalities that undermine democracy and the rule of law, fueling populism and demagoguery. He attributed the turmoil to technological shifts, global mobility, and challenges like pandemics, climate change, and migration, compounded by declining trust in international organizations. However, he expressed faith in democracy’s ability to self-correct, urging strong leadership to foster global unity and peace.

Europe’s Challenges and Support for Ukraine The Greek minister criticized the EU’s unanimous decision-making process, which allows a single nation to veto policies, as an obstacle, though he acknowledged it reflects vital national interests. Europe, he said, is grappling with a “political identity crisis” and the aftermath of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Greece firmly supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but Gerapetritis noted that sanctions on Russia have been only partially effective, as Moscow has found ways to evade them, failing to advance peace significantly.

Gaza: A Call for Ceasefire Gerapetritis described the war in Gaza as a “nightmare,” condemning Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took hostages as “inhumane.” He also expressed dismay at the over 53,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, reported by Gaza’s health ministry. Greece, which enjoys good relations with both Israel and the Palestinians, supports a two-state solution and aims to act as an “honest broker” in Gaza’s reconstruction. Ahead of a Security Council meeting on protecting civilians in conflict, he called for urgent humanitarian aid and a ceasefire. Recent aid deliveries to Gaza followed a nearly three-month Israeli blockade, with Israel implementing a new system to prevent Hamas from diverting supplies.

U.S. Tariffs and Bilateral Ties Gerapetritis highlighted strengthening U.S.-Greek relations, driven by investments from companies like Amazon, Google, and Pfizer. He downplayed the impact of Trump administration tariffs on Greece, citing limited exposure to affected trade. While favoring free trade and viewing tariffs as undesirable, he advocated for a “modus vivendi”—a compromise—to address U.S. trade concerns. Trump’s 20% tariff on EU goods was paused to allow negotiations, with a 10% baseline tariff applying to countries under the pause.

The interview underscored Greece’s commitment to diplomacy amid global crises, with Gerapetritis emphasizing the need for resilience, cooperation, and humanitarian action.

Source: greek city times