Greek foreign minister, Nikos Dendias, accompanied by visiting EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, toured the Greek-Turkish frontier on Wednesday, with both men noting that Greece’s borders with Turkey are also the EU borders, and that the Union has the determination to protect its external borders effectively.
Dendias added that Greece is “…always open to dialogue, but will not enter into talks under duress, nor assist the legalization of continuous violations of legality by Turkey.”
Dendias referred to various incidents on the Greek-Turkish borders:
He added “…At this spot less than four months ago, Greeks, other Europeans and the international community became witnesses to an unbelievable situation; the exploitation by Turkey of the hopes of thousands of people for a better life.”
Earlier, Dendias and Borrell were briefed by police officials and held talks with Frontex officers stationed in the Evros border prefecture.
On his part, the EU High Representative reminded that the EU is determined to protect the EU’s external borders and to strongly support Greece’s sovereignty, speaking after his visit to the Kastanies border post.