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Greek PM Mitsotakis says living alongside Türkiye is their destiny
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said at the 81st United Nations General Assembly that relations with Türkiye should be improved and channels of dialogue kept open.
In his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis assessed Greece-Türkiye relations, the Cyprus issue, Gaza, Lebanon, maritime security and artificial intelligence regulations.
Addressing relations between Türkiye and Greece, Mitsotakis said they had made sustained efforts over the past three years to improve ties, build trust and keep channels of dialogue open. He said these efforts aimed to prevent potential tensions that could lead to unwanted crises.
Relations with Türkiye
Mitsotakis said Türkiye and Greece had a sensitive relationship shaped by the weight of history. Given regional and broader developments, he said there was an urgent need for a shared understanding of how the two countries should move forward.
Mitsotakis said this understanding should be built on respect for international law and good-neighborly relations, adding, “We cannot change geography; living alongside one another is our destiny.”
Mitsotakis argued that the only dispute between Türkiye and Greece concerned the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf. He said the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was the only institutional framework for resolving these issues.
Cyprus and regional issues
Addressing the Cyprus issue, Mitsotakis said it was a “litmus test” of the United Nations’ ability to implement its own resolutions. He said Greece supported United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ efforts to restart negotiations on Cyprus.
Mitsotakis said the world was going through a dangerous period, with conflicts and tensions increasing, and that the United Nations needed multilateralism more than ever in such a period.
Mitsotakis said the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provided a legal framework for resolving disputes through peaceful means. He said strategic sea routes including the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and those extending into the Indo-Pacific Ocean were increasingly becoming arenas of geopolitical conflict.
Mitsotakis said commercial vessels were being targeted and vital trade routes were being used as a means of pressure, adding that this had global consequences for supply chains, energy markets and food security. He said protecting maritime trade was everyone’s responsibility.
Assessment of Gaza and Lebanon
On Gaza, Mitsotakis said the peace plan adopted last year should be implemented and that reconstruction should proceed on the basis of Palestinians taking control of their own future.
Recalling that Greece had a strategic partnership with Israel, Mitsotakis said developments in the West Bank remained a source of deep concern. He said activities that violate international law and endanger the existence of a future Palestinian state could not be allowed.
Mitsotakis said there was an opportunity for lasting peace in Lebanon and announced that Greece supported a sovereign and united Lebanon.
Call for artificial intelligence regulation
Mitsotakis said regulations were needed despite the benefits of artificial intelligence, adding that AI companies must comply with humanitarian values, transparency and safety requirements.
Mitsotakis also said he supported proposals for a voluntary and temporary pause in the development of artificial intelligence models until the necessary regulations were put in place.
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