Athens, 3 December 2020

Participation of Secretary of Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs of Hellenic Parliament in interparliamentary forum organized by initiative of Italian Parliament

The interparliamentary forum MED-Mediterranean Dialogues took place by initiative of the Italian House of Representatives and the Italian Senate. The Hellenic Parliament was represented by Mr. Anastasios Chatzivasileiou, MP, Secretary of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs. It is an annual forum with the participation of government and parliamentary representatives from Mediterranean states, as well as officials from other states and also representatives of the business world, the academic community, the Media and the civil society. 

During his intervention the Greek MP referred to the concerted efforts to tackle the pandemic and the need for cooperation on the basis of International Law, for peace, stability and prosperity, highlighting the infringing and provocative tactics of Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region. 

In particular, Mr. Chatzivasileiou underlined:
“It is true that we are going through an unprecedented sanitary crisis that has affected directly our populations and economies.” “... the orchestrated reaction of the EU in order to face the consequences in all state members, the funding for the fast creation of a safe and effective vaccine and the measures for the recovery of the economy give us all hope for the future of our continent.”

“ … against the interests of our region and in complete contempt for international law, Turkey acts in the most provocative way, putting in danger the regional stability. It has been finally accepted by everyone that it is the common denominator of trouble in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

“On the contrary, we are committed to international law, respect international agreements and prove our good neighbouring behaviour by participating in multilateral cooperation schemes in the region, such as the ones with Egypt, Israel, Cyprus and the UAE. Cooperation is the only way for peace, stability and common prosperity in the region. And we must insist on it.”

The Greek MP concluded by underlining “It is high time for all to understand that common challenges in the region call for common action. Tensions and provocations are counter-productive. Dialogue and cooperation are the best way forward. Greece believes that interparliamentary dialogue among states of the Mediterranean is a condition sine qua non for our people’s prosperity.”

 

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