Marinakis: 'Greece will never seek permission to proceed with initiatives in areas under its own sovereignty'

The announcement that Greece is establishing two marine national parks, one in the Ionian Sea and one in the South Aegean, and the new legislation eliminating fees charged for use of ATMs were the topics that dominated an interview by government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis on public broadcaster ERT on Tuesday.
Marinakis described the decision to create the two marine parks "a move of immense environmental importance and also greatly symbolic", pointing out that it puts Greece at the forefront of this effort and covers an expanse that is 25% larger than the prime minister's initial commitment, extending over 27.500 square kilometres of sea within Greece's sovereignty, and well ahead of schedule.
He dismissed assertions concerning "grey zones", stressing that "there is no such thing in the Aegean, it is not recognised, nor does it derive from any source. It is an assertion that is completely outside any framework, any institutional framework of international law, and therefore it is an unfounded and above all illegal claim...Something either holds true or it does not, and in this case it does not. Beyond that, Greece will never seek permission to proceed with an initiative on territories or areas under its own sovereignty. This is something that, I think, a sovereign state will never consider."
Asked about the "calm waters" policy with neighbouring Turkiye, Marinakis said calm in the Aegean did not mean inaction and making concessions but the opposite, pointing to a number of initiatives taken in the last six years, such as agreements with Egypt and Italy regarding the EEZ, the maritime spatial planning and others, while continuing dialogue with Turkiye and cultivating good relations. 
He also clarified that the two marine parks will be followed by further initiatives for other areas, saying that the first two regions were selected based on environmental criteria.
On the issue of ATM charges, he said the government had acted, at the prime minister's request, to stop attempts to "bypass" the previous laws eliminating charges via loopholes, stressing that this would not be tolerated. In fact, he said, the government had gone further and also eliminated fees charged for interbanking transactions, as well as placing a cap of 1.5 euros on transaction fees. While the government was in favour of supporting the banking system, he added, it could not tolerate charges that were disproportionately high with respect to the rest of Europe.
Marinakis also referred to the OPEKEPE issue and the ruling majority's decision to set up a Parliamentary investigation committee, rather than a Parliamentary Preliminary Investigation Committee to examine specific charges and refer those involved to justice. He also noted the need to amend article 86 of the Constitution relating to the prosecution of ministers.
In the final part of the interview, Marinakis spoke about the fiscal margins and the measures that will be announced at the Thessaloniki International Fair, saying that the extra fiscal space was the result of a decline in unemployment levels to a 17-year low, the tackling of tax evasion and the growth of the economy. He said the measures will seek to support incomes and particularly middle incomes and especially families with children.
He also answered a question on the measures to discourage illegal migration, saying that there had been a decline in arrivals in the days after the new measures were announced and stressed that Greece was sending a clear message that illegal entry into the country meant going to jail or going back.

 

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