“ France is fully aligned with the Greek positions calling for full compliance by all states with the International Law of the Sea, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean,” stated Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on Friday, following his meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot in Paris.
When asked about the issue of Libya and France’s stance regarding Greece’s initiatives, he said that both sides agreed that “ there should be a framework of understanding, so that member states can exercise their sovereign rights based on international law, without any departure from those rights.”
Gerapetritis said the meeting had touched upon the common challenges and matters related to migration. “ And of course, the matter of political stability in Libya, especially now that Africa - and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular - is experiencing widespread instability, which creates conditions for a spillover of the crisis that will also affect Europe,” he emphasised.
He said that the French foreign minister showed particular interest in Greece’s relationship with Libya and the possibility of an upcoming visit, requesting a briefing on these matters. “ The French government’s position is that there must be a political solution to the issue of Libya, so that Libya, with its own plan - a plan of Libyan ownership - can transition to a unified and strong governance structure.”
At present, he stressed, there has been an increase in migration flows from Libya in both directions - from the east toward Greece and from the west toward Italy. “ It is important to underscore that Libya must fully adhere to international law, and particularly respect the regulations related to the International Law of the Sea.”
On bilateral issues, the two sides highlighted the increase in bilateral trade over the past five years and the potential for further growth in sectors such as energy, environmental protection, artificial intelligence, and of course, educational exchanges and university cooperation.
The two ministers also discussed European issues, with a special reference to strategic autonomy and migration.
“ The Greek State believes that Europe’s autonomy - both in defence and more broadly in geopolitics - will bring multiple benefits for Europe and its member states,” Gerapetritis emphasised.
Furthermore, regarding migration, he noted that Greece and France share existing concerns: “ We have a firm conviction that the external borders of the European Union must be protected and that there should be a fair distribution of burdens.”
The meeting also covered events in Gaza, the broader Middle East, the war in Ukraine, Libya, and Syria.
Regarding Gaza, Gerapetritis said: “ We have share views on the issues concerning the status quo in the wider Middle East. We acknowledged the need for a European mechanism to monitor the humanitarian aid currently being provided, in order to prevent a devastating humanitarian crisis. Additionally, we discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages.”
Concerning Ukraine, Gerapetritis said that both sides "condemn the ongoing Russian aggression. We referred to the need to prevent violations of the current sanctions framework against Russia and stressed the importance of achieving a substantial, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire in order to ensure Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
With respect to Syria, he said they agreed that there must be a much more robust preventative security policy, particularly for religious communities. "The transitional government must demonstrate inclusiveness in practice by incorporating members of religious communities into all governing bodies and ensuring an environment of complete security for the entire population,” he concluded.