Responding to criticism from the opposition parties over the government’s decision to send defence supplies to Ukraine, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday noted that Greece had more reasons than most to support Ukraine, in his rejoinder during the debate on the Ukraine invasion held in parliament.
He also noted that there was a European decision to send arms that was binding for all member-states, apart from those with established neutrality.
“We have additional reasons than, let’s say Portugal, to support Ukraine by sending defence supplies. We will be able to ask for support if we need something similar,” Mitsotakis stressed, noting that a “reliable ally who believes in the value of alliances has an obligation to be able to discern and read the geopolitical field and the interests of the country.”
The prime minister also denied have “shut the door to dialogue with Turkey,” saying he was open to the prospects of a meeting with the Turkish president.
“We come with faith in the power of our arguments and the additional precedent of how important alliances are. We have all realised that revisionism in action can have a huge cost,” he added.
“In Greece’s rich history, there have been more than a few times when decisions of national importance had to be made. Every time the country has adopted a clear position with its natural allies it has gained,” Mitsotakis said, adding that “the decision to send military equipment clearly signals where we belong and … and what is right in politics and international relations.”
Concluding, the Greek premier said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a blatant violation of the International Law. Any delay or ambivalence would be to the detriment of the country’s national interests, he added.
“I hold on to the agreement of the three largest opposition parties to the condemnation of the Russian invasion, the correctness of the sanctions and I would ask main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras to re-evaluate his position on defence spending. Investing in defence is a necessity and an essential prerequisite for the country to be free and for the prosperity of the Greek people,” Mitsotakis said.
SOURCE; AMNA
