In an interview on Thema 104.6, with journalists Babis Koutras and Nikos Felekis, Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis emphasised the importance of the Prime Minister’s visit to Libya. Mr. Varvitsiotis underscored that Mr. Mitsotakis’ visit “planted a seed that is starting to take root,” adding that it is a major success that Libya acknowledged that it must enter into dialogue with the other parties and with Greece in particular. In fact, he noted that this was not said at a Greek-Libyan bilateral meeting, but in Turkey, by the Libyan Prime Minister himself. Regarding the Foreign Minister’s upcoming trip to Turkey, Mr. Varvitsiotis stressed that the goal is to open the channel of communication. “Everything won’t be resolved in one meeting,” he said, adding that after the easing of Turkish provocations in the field, “we have to give diplomacy a chance.” With regard to the ‘sofagate’, the Alternate Minister said it was the “cherry on the cake,” adding that there is an understanding among EU countries about how Turkey is distancing itself from the European acquis, particularly following Ankara’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention on preventing violence against women. Asked about the article by Kostas Karamanlis, he pointed out that the former Prime Minister took a clear stance on foreign policy issues and that he agrees with Mr. Karamanlis’ stance on Helsinki. Finally, he referred to the upcoming five-sided talks on the Cyprus issue, noting that in all the contacts of Greek diplomacy at the international level it becomes clear that the two-state solution proposed by Turkey is a solution outside the UN framework and that the EU has been asked to participate as an observer.
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