“The Casus Belli is a complete anachronism that is incompatible with NATO allies,” emphasized, among other things, Deputy Foreign Minister Tassos Hatzivassiliou, speaking on OPEN on Thursday morning, referring to the NATO Summit and the statements made by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Mr. Hatzivassiliou emphasized that the Prime Minister’s reference to the casus belli is of particular importance, as the issue has now been raised within the context of the Alliance. As he noted, “Casus Belli also concerns the cohesion of NATO,” as a member state of the Alliance cannot maintain a threat of war against another ally.

“The Greek government presented our national positions within Turkey,” he said, noting that Kyriakos Mitsotakis is the Prime Minister who put the issue of Casus Belli on the European agenda and now also on NATO’s agenda. “We are here to reiterate our national positions,” he added.

Mr. Hatzivassiliou emphasized that Greece does not interfere in the relations of third countries, but consistently emphasizes that defense agreements among allies must take into account the security sensitivities of all partners. “Countries that might use defense equipment against partners and allies cannot be allowed to receive it,” he noted. When asked about SAFE, he recalled that the negotiations led by George Gerapetritis were successful, as we secured the principle of unanimity for Europe’s agreements with third countries regarding the use of EU funds for defense.

Regarding “Blue Homeland,” the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that it is evolving into a new national narrative for Turkey, but many of the positions it contains are completely incompatible with international law. Mr. Hatzivassiliou reiterated that the only dispute between Greece and Turkey concerns the delimitation of the EEZ and the continental shelf. “If Turkey wishes to expand the agenda with issues that do not exist, that does not mean Greece accepts it,” he noted, adding that Athens remains ready, under certain conditions, to discuss the bilateral dispute, but exclusively on the basis of international law.

Asked to comment on the response he gave to former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, at The Economist conference, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that Mr. Davutoglu took offense at his reference to the Turkish occupation of Cyprus and the Casus Belli. “I replied politely but unequivocally that Turkey has been illegally occupying Cyprus since 1974 and that it must accept reality,” he said.