“This is not about explanations”, clarified government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, when asked if there will be communication between the prime minister and Antonis Samaras to ask him for an explanation following the criticism he made of the way the government handled the Greek-Turkish crisis. and Cypriot issues.
“The Prime Minister responded with absolute general clarity to all these questions relating to foreign policy, leaving no room for misinterpretation or questioning of his words,” he said during the political editors’ briefing to add: “He was very clear and unequivocal and set out the entire context of the last five years, where Greece has been and where it is today at a diplomatic and defense level. There is no meeting like the one you speak of. He also responded about the former prime minister without there being. room to misinterpret what he said. There is no question of explanation.
“The only difference with Turkey is the determination of the EEZ and the continental shelf – nothing else could be on the table”
As for whether the government is optimistic or pessimistic regarding Giorgos Gerapetritis’ meeting with Hakan Fidan, the government representative replied that it makes no sense to be optimistic or pessimistic. “We certainly should not be naive. Dialogue does not mean retreat or naivety. The objective for us is just one difference, the determination of the EEZ and the continental shelf. There is nothing more that can be put on the table. I represent a government and a prime minister. minister who took steps to strengthen the country that had not been done for decades, both in terms of the EEZ, and in terms of agreements with other states and agreements to define EEZ with other countries. What is needed for other countries is given for Greece. We believe in dialogue, we hope for a good result, not a spectacular result, we are not naive and we are not discussing anything other than the difference with Turkey, which is the determination of the EEZ and the continental shelf”.
“There are no scenarios of early elections or changes to the electoral law”
Asked about the matter, Marinakis clarified that “there are no scenarios of early elections or changes to the electoral law”.
Regarding Nikitas Kaklamanis’ question about the Energy Exchange, Pavlos Marinakis said that in the vast majority what the ND MP mentions. the leadership of the Ministry of Environment and Energy will respond. He noted that there are points in the issue that are in the right direction. In this regard, he recalled that in general the issue of wholesale electricity has worried the government and the Prime Minister, who is the first European leader to send a relevant letter. “There is a distortion, that poorer countries pay more for electricity without having any responsibility”, he highlighted. As for the PPC, he said that it was collapsing and the government’s choices were justified, and he questioned what would happen if, with the image of dissolution it had 5 years ago, it was called upon to manage such a huge global crisis.
When asked whether there is a political issue for Mr Staikouras due to reports about direct assignments from the Ministry of Transport to consultancy firms, he replied that there is no issue and referred to the minister’s announcement.
Regarding the renewal of the mandate of AADE governor Giorgos Pitsilis, Mr. Marinakis stated the following: “There is no privatization of structures. This is reminiscent of the privatization of water that was never privatized. There is also no suspicion of a cover-up of such allegations. In all services and public structures there is disciplinary and criminal control carried out by the judiciary. All of this is completely unsupported. The criteria decided by the State are those of efficiency. Because this criticism is somewhat unfair, the revelations of recent months about various circuits describe the state’s general desire for zero tolerance. When we said legality everywhere, that didn’t just describe our will regarding police operations. This has to do with all individual aspects of public administration. AADE has notable successes.”
“The question of finishing the meeting with Androulakis is technical”
Regarding PASOK and his assessment of the opposition he will exert in the future, he said that there are many legislative initiatives and a bright field of glory for a minimum of consents. Especially for tomorrow’s debate in Parliament on civil protection and fires, he noted that “we do not consider these issues in particular to be an opportunity for an intense confrontation”, while with regard to the meeting between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Nikos Androulakis he stated that a communication from partners is pending on Mr. Androulakis and as the issue of finalizing the meeting is technical.
For the PASOK amendment on the suspension of funding for the Spartans
Asked about the PASOK amendment to suspend funding for the Spartans, Pavlos Marinakis stated that it will be discussed in Parliament and there will be a relevant response from the Ministry of the Interior. He noted that the government, with the assistance of PASOK KO, has taken important initiatives to give the justice system the appropriate tools to exclude criminal parties-organizations from electoral processes. “So the issue of financing will be discussed in Parliament. It is important to make decisions in the logic of the previous amendments. We will examine it very seriously with the aim of making the best possible decision, the right decision legally and politically,” he added.
For immigration
Regarding the government’s position regarding the Meloni model with the Italy-Albania agreement on immigration, Mr. Marinakis stated that “it is a given that we see it positively, but we have to look at the details”. “We cannot say that we accept all proposals without studying them. Greece passed exams on respect for human rights. Fortunately we don’t have Molecules and Idomenes. Greece does not need to take exams, nor do Greek port employees. The implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum is very important. We cannot fail to emphasize that now more and more EU factors, such as the President of the Commission, accept statements and objections made repeatedly by the Greek Prime Minister”, he added. On the subject of returns, he stated that the process is governed by a framework specific European policy and the discussion is about this framework, to be accelerated without violating the human rights of an asylum seeker whose application has been rejected.