The Alternate Minister of National Defence, Panos Rigas, in an interview he gave to the Athens – Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) on 18/05/2019 and to the journalists, Dimitris Spyridonas and Kostas Giannarakos, stated amongst others the following:
– Are you afraid that the rising tension caused by Turkey in the Aegean Sea and Cyprus may foment trouble?
We are following the developments calmly and we interfere each time based on the circumstances and the necessary means. We will not fall into the trap of escalation; of course, this does not mean that we will not respond to any challenge. The possibility of a “trouble”, as you call it, is more or less very real over time. By our attitude, we aim at cancelling such a possibility. The greatest risk in such a case relates to the fact that the other side may take advantage of a “trouble” to create certain faits accomplis that will form the basis in the future for a discussion. Therefore, by our attitude, we are taking away such a prospect from the diplomatic “toolbox” of the Turkish side. Our country, by means of the deterrent effect of the Greek Armed Forces may be both cool-headed and strong-minded where needed.
– Do you believe that the international community’s condemnation of Turkey’s illegal actions in the Cyprus EEZ shall act as a deterrent and if not, what are Greece’s and Cyprus’ next steps in this respect?
I believe that the overall situation during this period and the geopolitical conditions in our wider region are such that restrict the possibilities of our neighbouring country to take advantage of international stakeholders. In its effort to maximize benefits resulting from its geopolitical position, Turkey is being led to the opposite effect; to its discredit through its unreliability. The cycle of challenges in the Cyprus EEZ recently is, in a way, prospective in nature. Both the European Union and the USA and other countries of the Eastern Mediterranean sea gave the necessary warnings to Turkey. I would like to believe that our neighbours’ plans do not include the escalation of challenges, because there is exactly no room for such an escalation; Turkey will not achieve any advantage and if it attempts to create faits accomplis, these will be nipped in the bud. In any case, both Greece and Cyprus have at their disposal a range of remedies, in the framework of international law, which Turkey cannot violate on a permanent basis. Turkish leadership should weigh very well all its movements, because whenever it acts in violation of the rules of International Law, it will be confronted with more harm than good.
– What does the Greek side expect from the discussion about the actions in the framework of Confidence-Building Measures and could you provide a general description of them?
Confidence-Building Measures have a long history. They constitute de-escalation measures of tension and not escalation; they are measures establishing confidence and therefore, they are incompatible with challenges. Moreover, they do not form part of the substance of any discussion about the settlement of Greek-Turkish problems. Given Turkey’s provocativeness that recently goes beyond rhetorics and uses specific practices, I would say that the first Confidence-Building Measure that has to be implemented by Turkey is its refraining from provocative actions. It is not enough to agree on Confidence-Building Measures; we should also abide by them. Confidence-Building Measures contribute to the creation of an environment of peaceful co-existence and co-development, from which both people, as well as security and stability in our region, may benefit.
– What are your comments on the statement of the British Minister of State for Europe, Sir Alan Duncan, who characterized the Cyprus EEZ as a “region under dispute”?
This specific statement is a cacophony that neither helps the region and the de-escalation nor his own country. Great Britain’s exit from the European Union should not initiate also a change in the diplomatic status in which this country was involved and to which it contributed. As for the substance of this statement, I find it as misplaced.
– What result of the May 26th elections, apart from all parties’ pursuit of victory, would be satisfactory for the Government, given that in such elections the electorate’s discontent with the government is usually expressed and what will this result possibly initiate?
The European elections next Sunday will be by their very nature a first assessment of SYRIZA’s government work. Our objective is that the Greek people will be the judge of all this, only after comparing the past with the present. At the same time, Greek people will be faced with a specific dilemma: Are we going to move backwards and all the sacrifices made that have already begun to produce positive results for ordinary people will be wasted? The discontent that you are referring to is normal; citizens always seek what is best for their lives and so they should be. It goes without saying that not everything was perfect the last 4.5 years; however, everybody knows the state in which the country was when we received it.
The sign of the government work is clearly positive. It is unacceptable that the victimizers, New Democracy and the Movement for Change (KINAL) are now lodging complaints – after this Government has managed to lead the country out of the crisis, even taking a step back at the time of the difficult agreement. Those who have done absolutely nothing at all; those who led the country to the situation that we are seeing today. We are very well aware of the sacrifices made by the Greek people, in order to be led out of the crisis and we are grateful for that. Without Greek people’s solidarity, tolerance and effort, our country would not be here today; we are recognizing that and as of the first day of the post-memorandum era, we are supporting them. Any developments initiated as a result of the elections will involve New Democracy and the Movement for Change (KINAL).
– Are you concerned about the fact that the extreme right wing will manage to increase its rates Europe-wide even further in the forthcoming European elections?
The problem with the extreme right wing and the revival of neonazi arrangements in Europe is not something that comes to the fore in view of the European elections and disappears when the polls close. It constitutes a symptom of political decline in Europe that is linked to the values cultivated and the priorities set by the political and financial elites. With the prevalence of neoliberalism, where everything involves economy and even people’s lives are counted as numbers in statistics, also comes the discredit of politics in the eyes of the European people.
On this void that has been left, the enemies of democracy have come to nest, poisoning the political space. That is why we are saying that a vote for Mr. Mitsotakis means a vote for the anti-Greek Mr. Weber and accordingly, for the right-wing extremist, Orban. That is why we are saying that the primary duty of every progressive citizen is to side up with those forces that will stand up to these phenomena. It is not any longer enough to speak against the rise of the extreme-right wing; we have to change the relationships, to intervene energetically. Thus, we are building patiently and resolutely those progressive political alliances that will give a victorious battle against neoliberal policies and the extreme-right wing.
What are your comments on New Democracy’s allegations that the government grants benefits for electioneering purposes?
Far too much grief will drive you insane. For the past four years, Mr. Mitsotakis and members of New Democracy party have found that one by one their doomster expectations have gone unfulfilled. They predicted that the evaluations would not be closed; however, they were closed! They predicted that the limiter would come into effect; however it did not! They predicted that we would enter into a fourth memorandum; fact that never occurred. That credit support would be needed; however it was never needed. That pensions would be reduced; however they did not.
They now find themselves in a political vertigo and argue that the durable support measures that we are legislating for the society are benefits, while at the same time they vote for each one of them in parliament! The increase in the minimum wage, the reduction in property tax (ENFIA) for public housing, the regulation of 120 installment payment to insurance funds, the tax office and the municipalities, the 13th pensions, the reduction in VAT on food, restauration and energy have already been legislated by the state and as Alexis Tsipras has said, “we move on”. We are very well aware of the sacrifices made by the Greek people, by most people, so that we would be led out of the crisis. Therefore, any fiscal space that we have, we return it to them based on a programme and a plan, always in abidance by the provisions of our agreements with Europe.
