A top Greek diplomatic source said Greece was in a position to contribute to a viable solution in the ongoing Middle East crisis in a meaningful way, speaking to Athens News Agency (AMNA).
The source said Greece was widely acknowledged as a reliable broker by all parties involved in the conflict, referring to the excellent relations with both Israel and the Arab nations.
The anonymous source referred to the fact that Greece had taken the initiative to form a special task force consisting of Arab and European foreign ministers with a mediating role. A key position in this group will be held by Arab countries with a more moderate stance, such as Jordan, the source noted.
The source explained that any talks should be guided by international law and the implementation of a principles-based policy, adding that while the Greek side recognized Israel’s right to self-defense, respect for humanitarian law, and recognizing that any process should lead to the recognition of a Palestinian state would be an important part of negotiations.
“It is important to have Arab states with a moderate approach, as regional security relies on this (…) The longer the conflict lasts, the more radicalization increases,” warned the diplomatic source, while also stressing the need to support the Palestinian Authority by providing expertise to deepen democratic institutions, in order to gain greater legitimacy and assume a leadership role, as no other alternative is visibly available.
Commenting on the Greek-Turkish relations and more specifically on the Turkish violations of Greek airspace over the Aegean Sea, the same source called the situation “completely calm”.
He clarified that even though Athens and Ankara held different views on fundamental issues, both sides have agreed to take a “step-by-step” approach to build mutual trust and explore whether there is a framework for discussing boundary delimitations.
