Speaking to Deutsche Welle at the Munich Security Conference, the Greek Prime Minister stressed that in case of escalation, there will be only losers.
Question: Mr. President, you are coming from Brussels, there is information about what is happening at the border, on the Ukrainian border, because the information is contradictory. What is your image?
Answer: There is no doubt that the situation is quite confused and I do not think we can draw a safe conclusion. What is certain is that we are facing a very important mobilization of Russian troops. We do not yet have any tangible indications that we have de-escalation moves. We had the opportunity yesterday in Brussels to reiterate the unity of the EU, our full coexistence and solidarity with our Euro-Atlantic allies. I think the frame has been placed with absolute clarity. There will be severe sanctions if Russia chooses to invade and challenge Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty. We hope and want to keep the channels of communication and diplomacy open with Russia.
Question: Mr. Dendias is in Moscow today…
Answer: Found in Russia in a conversation with his counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. I do not have information yet, but it conveyed what I think everyone understands. That in a possible escalation of the crisis there will be no winners, there will only be losers. We therefore look forward to tangible moves and signs of de-escalation, we keep all channels of communication open, whether we are talking about bilateral communications between EU member states, or we are talking about the Normandy scheme with France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine, or we are talking for the OSCE, and we hope for the best, that logic prevails.
QuestionIn other words, it is considered that there is still room for diplomacy.
Answer: There is always room for diplomacy, especially when everyone realizes that the consequences of a further escalation will be dramatic.
Question: Some observers are of the opinion that the West did not take the sensitivities and concerns so seriously all this time after the fall of the Berlin Wall. How true do you think it is?
Answer: This is a big discussion, I would not like to make a detailed comment now. I will limit myself to saying what I said when I was in Sochi and met with President Putin, that Russia must be within the framework of Europe’s security architecture.
Question: In conclusion, what should be the message from this Munich Security Conference in an insecure Europe?
Answer: The Munich Conference is always an opportunity to meet on both sides of the Atlantic. I think that the level of understanding and cooperation between the EU countries, NATO and the United States, which obviously have a leading role in these negotiations, is at least as good as in the past.
Interview: Irini Anastassopoulou (shipping to Munich)
Source: Deutsche Welle
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