2024-06-10 00:36:09
He gave an interview on the “Kimon” frigate, on the Naval Group services in Lorient, France, to ERT a number of days earlier than the June 9 European elections.
Initially, the Prime Minister famous that “I don’t share the pessimism in regards to the finish of Europe. I consider that Europe is discovering the energy to regenerate and adapt to the brand new geopolitical situations.”
Requested whether or not he shares President Macron’s worry that “Europe is in peril of dying”, whether or not he considers Europe’s fundamental stake for the subsequent 5 years to be its strategic autonomy and the way he locations Greece on this dialogue, highlighted, specifically:
“At the moment we have fun the eightieth anniversary of the biggest army operation in historical past, the Normandy Landings, which additionally concerned Greek forces, firstly of the top for Nazi Germany – Fascist Italy had already been defeated. And I feel a relentless reminder, that in right now’s occasions no geopolitical and geostrategic naivety is justified. We dwell in turbulent occasions. I don’t share the pessimism in regards to the finish of Europe. I consider that Europe is discovering the energy to regenerate and adapt to the brand new geopolitical situations.
However what I’d say is that I and President Macron (President Macron and I) had been the primary to speak in regards to the want for Europe’s strategic autonomy and earlier than the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I consider that this strategy to the brand new position of Europe right now is justified – and this in fact additionally requires extra trans-European cooperation.
It’s no coincidence that we’ve chosen to construct our ships in a French shipyard, with the added worth – I wish to say this – of the Salamis shipyards, as this ship consists of 9 blocks. One of many 9 blocks comes from Salamis. And this additionally demonstrates the dynamics that the Greek Shipyards sector can purchase, which is now being modernized, has come out of the quagmire it had been in for many years and may also add vital added worth. We aren’t solely thinking about constructing a ship in France. We’re thinking about having added worth of Greek companies and creating Greek jobs”.
The prime minister additionally stated firstly of the controversy: “To start with, let me say that right now is a crucial second for me, as it’s the first time that I’ve been given the chance to go to the Naval Group shipyard. We’re on the “Kimon” frigate, one of many three state-of-the-art Belhara frigates that can have joined our Navy by 2026. We’re speaking about probably the most fashionable ships that can sail within the Mediterranean, on account of the strategic cooperation that Greece has with the France and a vital funding, a very powerful in current a long time when it comes to upgrading our Navy. I’d say that this ship involves be added to a really superb historical past of necessary Greek ships that raised the blue and white flag with pleasure.”
Relating to Greek-Turkish points, he stated that he desires the dialogue to proceed and that “we’ve stated that our function on the stage of overseas ministers is to get to the core of our distinction relating to the delimitation of the EEZ and the continental shelf within the Aegean and the Japanese Mediterranean”.
Nevertheless, he added that the risk stays and that’s the reason Greece is shielding its protection.