We do not accept gray zones or the questioning of sovereign rights, Varvitsiotis says

"We do not accept the logic of either gray zones or the questioning of sovereign rights," Alternate Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis said on Tuesday in an interview with ANT1 TV.

Asked about the framework of sanctions against Turkey that were presented during the informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union, Varvitsiotis pointed out that "today we are discussing sanctions against the state of Turkey. And the sanctions that Mr. Borrell has put on the table are much stricter than those imposed for the illegal drilling in the Cypriot EEZ. The sanctions are accompanied by a package of proposals, which either Turkey accepts or rejects: an immediate de-escalation of the crisis in the south-eastern Mediterranean and a return to the negotiating table, in a spirit of respect for international law and good neighbourly relations, otherwise Europe will impose sanctions and relations between the European Union and Turkey will deteriorate."

The Alternate Minister said that the framework of sanctions will be decided at the forthcoming Summit, on September 24. Prior to that, he added, "the summit of the countries of the South MED7, which has been prepared by Greece, will take place creating a discussion framework that is tightly focused on the issues that concern us. And it will be demonstrated whether the countries of the South will all come together in the face of Turkish provocations, or whether this front will be split."

Asked about the signing of the EEZ with Albania, Varvitsiotis noted that the previous agreement has set a bar for the demands of both sides. Regarding the country's European accession perspective, he stressed that a tough negotiating framework has been set. "We stand by it, but we will also stand against it if we find that it violates the basic principles of the European family, which are above all good neighbourly relations," he said.

Varvitsiotis underlined that "we are in a state of high readiness both in the diplomatic arena and in the field of responsibility. We continue to cultivate the framework of multilateral or bilateral cooperation and we will continue to do so, sending a very clear message that Greece certainly does not provoke and is determined to defend its sovereign rights whenever it is challenged."