The Alternate Minister of National Defence Dimitris Vitsas in an interview that he gave to journalists Giannis Darras and Marina Demertzian on ERT TV on Monday, October 10, 2016, he stated, among other things:
About Turkish submarines sailing in the Aegean Sea
It is always important to tell people specific information and not to yell inarticulate war cries. What has really happened – and it is unacceptable, so we already took action – is that Turkey, during an exercise, has planned movement in areas which are beyond its rights.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defence, has raised this issue before all the international organizations in which we participate via the diplomatic channel and the necessary expostulations have been made. As far as security and deterrence capability are concerned, there is no problem. I wish to remind that the Greek exercise “PARMENION” was conducted over the same period.
This is an unacceptable action of Turkey, an unacceptable attitude. We conducted our exercise which was absolutely successful and we do not accept this kind of planning. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs which undertakes this procedure in an excellent cooperation with the Ministry of National Defence, has proceeded and the results have become obvious and they will also be obvious over the next period.
Turkey is a country which is still in instability, after the coup attempt. Our duty is, firstly, to watch the developments, secondly, to interfere when it comes to Greece’s interests and rights, and, thirdly, to keep our diplomatic and other forces ready. And this is what we do.
As far as our country’s political situation is concerned, every political force has the right to say what it wants and is criticised for that. It is criticized, in politics, not only by other parties, yet by voters as well. When I say that war cries should stop, I do not refer only to our neighbours, but to other communiqués as well.
The Democratic Alignment party says that they are concerned, yet governments and parties do not exist only in order to concern but to find solutions. I am asking them: Do they propose something other than what has already been done by the Greek government?
The Communist Party, on its side, says that NATO cannot protect us. Yet did anyone ask for anybody’s protection?
I am also impressed by the manner in which this issue was formulated by the New Democracy party which was in the Ministry of National Defence, just as PASOK did, for years and they know how these controversies are solved, via which channels; they are always faced with determination and diplomacy.
This (presence of submarines) is an equivalent, in a different manner, of air violations. We face it in this manner and with determination. There are no issues now that should concern us. We need to be alert and not to worry.
The Treaty of Lausanne has defined what belongs to us. End of discussion. This issue is resolved. With regards to some statements. The Greek position has been expressed in a clear manner by the President of the Republic who says that who brings the Greek borders in question, brings also the European borders in question and everybody should assume its responsibility about it. These issues cannot be an object of an easy discussion. Everybody has this right, yet there are issues about which everybody must be more careful.
About the refugees’ issue:
The issue is clear, apart from a period when the coup attempt in Turkey created new problems, that is the fact that over that period there was no official, technical manner of returning people to Turkey.
There is the great problem that we have not received any assistance of the one which was provided for in the EU-Turkey agreement. The result of this fact was for the asylum requests the number of which has risen to 100% of those who cross the borders to Greece coasts while it was 20%, to be examined in a very slow manner.
We, on our side, would like to increase our capabilities, so that the first assessment of the first asylum requests is made. The second assessment which lasts longer, is made by the Committee for the Refugees. We would like the procedure to proceed faster, so that those who will have to return to Turkey, return faster, those who will be granted asylum in Europe, can come to continental Greece sooner where there are free places for accommodation and new ones are being created for them to be relocated in Europe.
The problem that is here is that some countries of Europe do not accept, such as Visegrad Group, to fulfil their obligation. It is a matter that will concern us and I agree with what Mr. Avramopoulos said; that as far as such a situation is formed, the European Union faces a problem which it must manage and solve.
From the beginning of this procedure we said that the problem is not primarily financial. Greece is not to become Europe’s camp of souls with some money which will be given or are being given. On the contrary, there must be a legal manner for refugees to pass and be relocated, so that the burden will be shared. This, finally, is about how united Europe is and towards which direction.
The main concern is that people must start to be relocated from the islands. To this direction, at first, we must focus on three categories: first, the vulnerable groups and minors who will not return anyway, so they must be relocated to the Greek mainland and from there to be relocated to Europe and even find their families etc. Secondly, the procedures for those people whose profile does not fit with the one of a refugee must last quite shorter. And thirdly, to state it clearly, there is the Greek law to be applied for whom has an illegal behavior, whether foreigners or Greeks. The solidarity due to the situation cannot become tolerance of law violations.
