Greek leadership, past and present, spoke extensively over the country’s foreign policy during the past half century, during the first day of a two-day Conference entitled “Metapolitefsi 1974-2024: 50 Years of Greek Foreign Policy”, organized by the newspaper “To Vima”, The Council for International Relations and the Delphi Economic Forum.

The event coincides with the 50 years milestone since the restoration of democracy in Greece, an utterly transformative period described in the country with the single word “Metapolitefsi”, which in Greek means “regime change” or “regime transition”.

President of the Republic Sakellaropoulou

President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou kicked off the conference, taking place at a downtown Athens hotel, by reminding that the long-standing Cyprus issues remains a “deep trauma” for Hellenism.

“An assessment of the post-restoration era, a long period of unprecedented normality for our country, includes the most important milestones in our foreign policy and for our society, as Greece’s position was consolidated among the advanced states of Europe.

“Yet, this seminal moment of the Metapolitefsi also constitutes a national tragedy, as the deepest trauma of Hellenism remains open. The illegal Turkish invasion and the occupation of Cyprus is a painful reminder of our responsibility and debt for a solution to the Cyprus issue on the basis of United Nations resolutions,” Sakellaropoulou said.

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FM George Gerapetritis

Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, in his address and a subsequent Q&A session, said dialogue always remains a means of finding solutions, an indirect answer to sharp criticism he has faced, especially in dealings with Turkish diplomacy.

“Greece has acquired a very strong diplomatic footprint, an international footprint that allows the country to not only have a regional role, but a purely international role too; to have a voice and to impose the principles of international law. By improving Greek-Turkish relations, we have managed to rekindle discussion over a resolution of the Cyprus problem. No problem can be solved without a fruitful and consultative discussion based on fundamental principles. We must stop thinking of dialogue as a pretext. Dialogue is a means to a solution. It is the opportunity to take the major step forward.”

In fielding a question over migrant smuggling rings attempting to funnel third country nationals into Greece, and then on to preferred destinations in central and western Europe, Gerapetritis said:

“We’re able to combat these smuggling rings due to an improvement in Greek-Turkish ties. Greek citizens want security from foreign policy; they want peace and prosperity in our neighborhood, let us listen to the people.”

Regarding the latest developments in the Middle East, and whether this boosts Turkey’s role and will affect Greek-Turkish dialogue, Gerapetritis said: “…The Middle East obviously affects our geostrategic position. It also affects the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations.”

Former PM George Papandreou

On his part, former prime minister and foreign George Papandreou first kicked off his address by stressing that the Prespa agreement finally ending the “Macedonia name issue” was a significant development.

“Foreign policy is not a cold formal process. It is deeply connected to each people’s narrative, their hopes, experiences and dreams. I consider the Helsinki decisions and the EU Presidency in 2003 as two highlights of Greek foreign policy.

“The Prespa agreement is an important development that should have contributed to the advancement of the Western Balkans, which was put on the brakes by France. In the face of the real existential challenge for humanity and by making use of our position in the European Union, the Mediterranean and our region, we can become a beacon of civilization.

“Greece for so many peoples is ‘an idea’. With our history and our tradition, we have all the ingredients to lead in this new era”.

Former president Prokopis Pavlopoulos

Former president of the republic and long-time New Democracy (ND) minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos noted, in his remarks, that “we’re ‘prisoners’ of history and geography”, in referring to the recent events in Syria. He added that the creation of “new states” in the region would be harmful for Greece, as this would constitute a revision of the Lausanne Treaty, “which we don’t accept”.

He also called on the government to consider expanding territorial waters to 12 nautical miles south of Crete by activating a 2011 law on declaring exclusive economic zones and thereby neutralizing the so-called Turko-Libyan maritime agreement – which Athens considers as arbitrary and illegal.

“No one will say ‘what are the Greeks doing?’ if we extend to 12 nautical miles Crete’s EEZ in the Libyan Sea. And I don’t understand why we haven’t done this. We’re merely exercising a right under the terms of the Law of the Sea.”

Pavlopoulos, a law professor and veteran office-holder, said Turkish foreign policy vis-a-vis Greece has three objectives, namely, achieving a kind of suzerainty over Cyprus in order to have a long-term foothold in the EU; co-sovereignty in the Aegean Sea and dividing the maritime region in half, as well as trying to create conditions for autonomy in Thrace, Greece’s northeastern most province.
“These three objectives show the audacity of Turkey. We must stop every step (in this direction) that Turkey takes. We do not always do so with the same continuity, however…We must declare that if we cannot come to an understanding with Turkey, it is not Greece’s fault.”

Former PM Antonis Samaras

Former prime minister and current MP Antonis Samaras, who was expelled from ruling ND last month for his scathing criticism of the government’s foreign policy and Gerapetritis, in particular, was again apologetic on Thursday.

“I maintain that we have lost our compass; this is not called foreign policy. Aiming for a type of Prespa (agreement) for the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean is not foreign policy, it’s an abdication of any form of foreign policy.

“In short, we are weakening our deterrence, we appear to be abandoning international law; we have reached the point of being called out by the (EU) Commission because we’re not implementing maritime spatial planning in order to not irritate Turkey; we’re not staking out any role in our region and we simply do not exist. This is called a complete abandonment of our external region.”

In continuing his very high-profile criticism of the way rapprochement with Ankara is taking place, Samaras charged that “…calm waters remained calm because they were provoking us, and we were looking elsewhere. Instead of making their map (the notorious ‘Blue Homeland’) our banner, we pretend not to understand. Turkey is asking for co-exploitation, and we are just playing a delay game, fearfully. But let’s go further. What has Greece gained?

“We had calm waters but in the air. Namely, we didn’t have many (airspace) violations. We had, however, repeated Turkish NAVTEXs, the most serious challenge being off Kassos (island).”

Asked about his unprecedented, for a former premier, expulsion last month by ND, Samaras said: “I believe I am spoiling the soup of rightsism...Do you think that what I said is something that only I believe? If it was only me then it wouldn’t have bothered anyone. I know there was an opinion poll that said that Samaras and (former PM Costas) Karamanlis’ views had 50% support, and that 40% disagreed with my expulsion. It was predetermined.”

Former prime minister Antonis Samaras.

Former FM, FinMin Evangelos Venizelos

Former foreign minister and ex-PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos emphasized that foreign policy must not be capricious.

“Foreign policy is first and foremost a policy that cannot be based on circumstances that arise at any given time, but it must be based on history. However, in order to conduct foreign policy you need a democratic mandate, which is based on circumstances. And this is the problem we have,” Venizelos said.

He added that the half century since the restoration of democracy in Greece has been a success story for the country as a whole.”

Regarding the Cyprus issue, Venizelos said: “Our strategy depends on the answer to the question of whether we can work out a scheme within UN resolutions, within international law and within the European acquis, which is accepted by the other side and accepted in a referendum.”

At the same time, he said the dominate foreign policy issues faced by Athens are Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem.

“On the contrary, Turkey has many (pending issues). For them, this (Greek-Turkish relations) is not the most critical security issue, while for us it is the only security issue. We have a priority that is neither NATO nor Western. Here lies our strategic loneliness.”

Two former Greek foreign ministers: Nikos Kotzias, left, and Evangelos Venizelos, center, with incumbent FM George Gerapetritis, on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Athens.

Former FM Nikos Kotzias

In opening his remarks, former foreign minister Nikos Kotzias, who served in the leftist SYRIZA government (2015-19), first noted that “…we are living amid a period of great crises. We have the Ukraine-Russia crisis and Russia’s unjust intervention. We have the destabilization of Bosnia, from which crises can descend to the south (of the Balkans). We have a conflict in the Middle East that seems to be expanding and changing the balance of power.

“Turkey appears to have become geopolitically stronger. But my experience tells me that it has also become stronger diplomatically. When relations with Turkey freeze, its aggression grows,” he added.

Regarding the long-standing Cyprus issue, Kotzias stressed that: “A solution is one thing and an arrangement to legitimize a relationship is another. In terms of the Cyprus problem, we often ran the risk of considering as a solution some arrangements that legitimized the fait accompli…Many of the opportunities for a resolution of the Cyprus problem were rejected by the Turks…Under the theory of missed opportunities, we mustn’t forget two basic fundamental things that Cyprus has gained: EU membership and EEZ agreements.”

Dep. FM Alexandra Papadopoulou

On her part, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou referred to the situation in the Middle East as living in “quick sand”.

“The Middle East requires a certain management, some things move along a gray zone.

“A long-standing focus on the Balkans is great. It is good that the EU and the United States tried to restore calm after the fall of the former Yugoslavia. They succeeded in some places and failed in others. This effort is not complete. It’s imperative for the Balkan countries to join the EU. Europe cannot have a black hole in the middle. It is more difficult than 20-25 years ago, but it is still a one-way street, and on this issue Greece is a trailblazer…Greece is aware that it’s not a superpower. But it is a friend to those who want friends.”

Margaritis Schinas: European Iron Dome isn’t science fiction

EU Vice-President and Commissioner for Promoting our European Way of Life (2019-2024), Margaritis Schinas, stressed that Europe needs to “build our own (defense) umbrella, our own shield, not competing NATO, but common defense products and solutions, like the European Iron Dome, which seemed like science fiction, but it isn’t”.

Schinas, who was Greece’s Commissioner in the previous executive, said “…everyone in Europe wants Greece to succeed and we must take advantage of the fact that the Greek brand name is stronger than ever. Greece must be in the inner core of unification. Those who are left out, lose. Those who are in can leverage their success.”

Margaritis Schinas, right, with former EU Commissioner, representing Greece, Maria Damanaki, on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024.