Monday, March 26, 2012
Foreign Minister Stavros Dimas represented Greece at an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on March 23.
The Council discussed recent developments in Syria, the situation in Belarus, and the EU strategy for the Sahel countries in light of the coup in Mali. In his statement on Syria, Dimas said that Greece supports the efforts of the UN Secretary General’s envoy, Kofi Annan, and expressed Greece’s satisfaction at the adoption of a relevant statement, supported by all Security Council members.
On the margins of the Council, Dimas met with UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer, who briefed him on recent developments concerning the negotiations on the Cyprus issue.Dimas expressed Greece’s disappointment at the lack of progress, which is due to the intransigent stance maintained by the Turkish- Cypriot side. He also expressed Greece’s irritation at Turkey’s constant statements regarding a "plan B", which have reached the point of even suggesting the annexation of occupied Cyprus.
MFA Statement on "Piri Reis" vessel
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Gregory Delavekouras made a statement on March 24, in response to a statement by Turkey regarding the movements of a Turkish research vessel, Piri Reis, which, on March 21, entered a region of the Greek continental shelf northwest of Mytilini.
"Our country’s continental shelf rights exist, as is well known, ab initio and ipso facto, while notification of the coastal state -namely, Greece- of maritime scientific research in waters over the Greek continental shelf is requested in accordance with the international Law of the Sea and international practice, in order to ensure respect for those sovereign rights," reads the statement.
