“I met with the Prime Minister and we discussed about the latest developments. It is true that the attack in Paris is an attack against Europe, like the September 11th.

We express our condolences to the French people and all Europeans must realize that the issue of global terrorism, which the ISIS has exported from Middle East and Northern Africa to Europe, is an issue that we, the European Union and NATO, must face, united.

Greece is a safe country, a country which from the first moment, beyond its capabilities, took all those measures which have been agreed upon by the European Union. At this moment, I would like to say that the Hellenic Police, as well as the Hellenic Coast Guard, the women and men of the Hellenic Police and the Hellenic Coast Guard, officers and NCOs, particularly on the islands of Eastern Aegean, have overcome themselves in their efforts.

It is now clear that, together with the victims of Islamic fascism in the Middle East who come to our country as refugees, extremists too are coming to Europe. This is an issue that I had put forward officially also in NATO a long while ago, stating clearly that, as far as NATO’s south sector is concerned, the threat of ISIS terrorism is much bigger that other threats that we had been considering and regarded the northern sector of NATO.
    
Greece is a country which has developed relations with countries that confront ISIS, like Egypt – in close relations – with Israel, UAE, as well as every moderate country of the Middle East. Greece is one of the countries that can keep long-lasting relations and conduct talks with both Israel and the UAE at the same time. In the Middle East and in Northern Africa we have many issues. Country’s stability is very important to face this issue.

I believe that as of tomorrow the decisions that will be made at a European level will protect Europe from the entrance of extremists. It is clear, however, that in this war terrorists have no identity. Many of them may be residents of Western Europe, people who had a certain past until yesterday and the next day they have joined terrorist groups.

The important thing to all of us is to ensure that the necessary conditions exist which will help refugees return to their homelands, so that they will not be used by extremist groups who try to go to the West”.