The government’s will not to engage in warfare in the Middle East, but also to protect Greek-owned ships, was mentioned by Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis.

“There is no question of our country’s involvement. But Greece is not naive. We are not complacent and yes, there is a clear will that was decided in the KYSEA to protect ships of Greek interests,” he stressed during the briefing of political editors.

Referring to a complex and worrying situation, the government spokesman noted that the prime minister has called on the parties involved to return to the negotiating table, while reiterating the government’s position that Iran should not acquire a nuclear arsenal.

According to Marinakis, there is no cause for concern, and if citizens and households need to be supported if there is an excessive increase, “we will be here to support”.

“The Prime Minister has made an important announcement, which adds to the other actions. Greece has shown the way to successfully address the migration issue,” he said. The preparation has been done, and the government wants the border guarded. “Fortunately, the country for six years now has had a government that believes there are maritime borders,” he said.

Asked about maritime zones, Marinakis said there is no discussion and that the Turcolibian memorandum is unsubstantiated. “We believe in dialogue, our moves are moves with a footprint, there is a need for the channel of communication to continue to exist with both sides of Libya,” he said, adding that Greece is doing all that is needed. “Despite the predictions of do-gooders within the borders, Greece is being vindicated.”

Need to protect Christian populations in Syria

He expressed anguish, shame, and disgust at the attack on the Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus. The Greek government demands immediate action. The need to protect Christian populations is particularly critical,” he said, adding that such incidents make us uneasy.

About Turkey

Asked about Turkey’s efforts to raise the issue of an allegedly “Turkish” minority in Thrace and an allegedly “Turkish” community of the Dodecanese, which caused the reaction of a group of countries, Marinakis said that “the development is also the result of the foreign policy principles followed by the Greek government. We are promoting respect for international law”, while he said that the reaction of the countries is a response “to those who make suggestions or lessons in foreign policy from the couch in simplistic terms”.

On the OPEKEPE case

The government spokesman was also asked about the case of OPEKEPE, as the case file will be forwarded to the Parliament to investigate any responsibilities of the two former ministers of Rural Development, Makis Voridis and Lefteris Aygenakis.

“A report does not mean that it constitutes a description of criminal responsibility,” he said, adding that under the Greek Constitution, the mere mention of a political person obliges officials to send the case file to Parliament.

“For OPEKEPE, the government has done what it needed to do to stop the morbid situation. Our country has paid billions from this sad phenomenon, (…) the money will be reclaimed from those who should not have taken it,” he said, adding that on the criminal side, the judiciary will do its job. “We will see the file, what the report is, when we have a picture, we will answer,” he said.