PM Tsipras: Protecting Greece's sovereign rights an unwavering policy

Tsipras was being asked about the ship “Barbaros Hayreddin Pasa”, which Turkey said began seismic research on Thursday. The Greek Foreign Ministry had issued a statement this week saying the research is carried out on sections of the Greek continental shelf, which requires permission by Greece. Turkey has rebutted the statement.

Tsipras said that “Greece always had and will have an unwavering foreign policy that prioritizes the protection of its sovereign rights.” On the Barbaros, he added that “in this case we have taken all expected steps on diplomatic and defence level.”

The PM added that he did not wish to make a bigger issue of it, and he noted that Greek-Turkish relations are part of the EU-Turkish relations. He added that the EU made it clear to Turkey during March’s summit that the country needs to respect international law in the Aegean and the East Mediterranean.

He also said that he personally is at the forefront of the effort to build bridges with the neighboring country, and to keep talking. “We support the restart of talks for a just and viable solution for the Cyprus issue,” he said.

Source: AMNA