Rabat, 15 February 2024

Ioannis Plakiotakis: "50-year-long ongoing illegal occupation of Cyprus poses geostrategic challenge"

The role of Greece as a factor of stability and security in the Southeastern Mediterranean was noted by the First Vice President of the Hellenic Parliament Ioannis Plakiotakis, speaking at the 8^th Summit of the Speakers of the Parliaments of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, which is taking place today in Rabat.

Mr Plakiotakis expressed his satisfaction for the resumption of discussions with Turkey, stressing that dialogue and respect for International Law and the Law of the Sea are the only means to achieve peace and security. At the same time, he pointed out that among the geostrategic challenges that continue to torment the Mediterranean basin is the continued illegal occupation of Cyprus for 50 years.

“The goal of our Conference has been to turn the Mediterranean basin into an area of dialogue and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity for our people” Mr Plakiotakis noted, adding that “Greece condemns any acts of violence or terrorism”.  At the same time, he expressed his deep concern about the ongoing wars in Ukraine and in Gaza, the ensuing humanitarian crisis and the increasing migration flows, as well as the potential spreading of the crisis in the entire region noting that it is time to restart the negotiations for the Middle East Peace Process, with the aim of reaching a just, viable and comprehensive two-state solution in accordance with the International Law and the relevant UN Resolutions.

At another point of his intervention, Mr Plakiotakis referred to the systematic migratory pressure that our country and the other countries of the northern Mediterranean basin are under: “We need to protect people in need but at the same time to step up our efforts in the fields of external border protection and combating illegal migrant smuggling and trafficking” he stressed, expressing the need for increased regional cooperation in this area. 

Concluding, he referred to the challenges facing the Mediterranean countries in relation to climate change and pointed out that enhanced cooperation is needed for a sustainable energy transition.

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