Greece reaffirms stance on Turkey’s participation in EU SAFE program

[InTime News]

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lana Zochiou reaffirmed Greece’s presumption that it will veto Turkey’s information successful the EU’s SAFE programme unless Ankara withdraws its casus belli (cause of war) declaration.

“Nothing has changed regarding our stance connected SAFE. For the accession of a third country, the signing of a bilateral statement is required,” said Zochiou during the regular property briefing.

“As agelong arsenic the casus belli remains, Greece will not judge Turkey’s information successful SAFE. The lifting of the casus belli is simply a indispensable information for the treatment to begin,” she added.

The casus belli was declared by Turkey’s parliament successful 1995 successful effect to a imaginable Greek enlargement of its territorial waters. 

However, Zochiou noted that relations betwixt Greece and Turkey person not been ruptured, nor has connection ceased. “We pass successful a structured manner: done governmental dialogue, the affirmative agenda, and confidence-building measures,” she said.

Zochiou’s statements travel astatine a clip when reports suggest that the EU is exerting unit connected Greece to judge Turkey’s information successful the program.

The Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, with a total fund of €150 billion, aims to strengthen the European Union’s defence capabilities by supporting subordinate states successful the procurement and accumulation of defence instrumentality done low-interest loans.

The inaugural offers a ten-year grace play for indebtedness repayment, competitory involvement rates, and the anticipation of bilateral agreements with third countries to grow participation.