Greek PM’s plans for developments in Middle East

Athens wants an active role on the diplomatic chessboard, following closely but with growing concern the developments in the Middle East, especially after the bloodshed in the hospital in Gaza. Kyriakos Mitsotakis was planning, according to information, to go to Israel, tomorrow, Thursday.

The rapid developments obviously affect the moves of Athens, but as long as the thought of the prime minister‘s immediate visit goes ahead, everything will be locked in its details today. It is most likely that the prime minister will make relevant references to the crisis in the Middle East – or even announcements – during the morning meeting of the Council of Ministers and also in the evening in his television interview (ANT1).

However, already late yesterday afternoon he informed his European counterparts about his upcoming visit to the region. And this is because the information says that the initial planning did not only concern a transition to Israel – which remains to be announced when it will take place – but probably also a visit to Jordan.

Mitsotakis also informed the Europeans in detail about the telephone conversation he had with Egyptian President Fatah al-Sisi, reportedly emphasizing the importance of a strategic relationship between the EU and Cairo.

Self-restraint

At a time when both European and American diplomacy are sending Israel a message of restraint with an eye on civilians, and while last night’s events are taking on new nightmare dimensions, Athens, for its part, is emphasizing the need for any “answers” to be given based on international law. It is something that, according to information, Mitsotakis conveyed to the “27” of Europe in their teleconference, underlining Israel’s right to self-defense but emphasizing the protection of the civilian population as the main concern.

The prospect of a diffusion of the crisis and a regional conflagration has raised a red alert.

“Greece is currently a player that has a role in this case. At the same time, Greece also supports the right to self-defense, but also not to have a humanitarian tragedy in the Middle East. “Let this whole crisis not develop into a regional crisis,” State Minister Akis Skertsos noted on ERT channel.

“One Voice”

Athens underlines the need to register a “unified voice” on the critical issue of regional and European security as well as coordination of security services at the European level.

The dimension of security (internal and external) is constantly on the carpet in Maximos, since a few days ago the Government Council on Defense and Foreign Relations signaled the alertness of the Greek authorities on the basis of the analysis of the possible consequences for Greece from the situation in Israel and Gaza not only in the short term but also in the long term.

Greece has presented at the recent EU-Gulf Cooperation Council meeting in Oman the five-point plan to manage the crisis, diplomatic moves are intensifying while the prime minister is keeping an open line with the leaders of the wider region.

Mitsotakis, in addition to his communication with his Israeli counterpart and her upcoming meeting, has called Egyptian President Fatah al-Sisi (it should be noted that yesterday he also stressed to European leaders the “imperative need” for the EU to have a strategic relationship with Egypt ) but also to the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.