(AGENPARL) – mar 21 febbraio 2023 You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.
02/21/2023 01:59 PM EST
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State
Athens, Greece
Hotel Grande Bretagne
QUESTION: Secretary Blinken, thank you so much for being with us today.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: It’s a pleasure.
QUESTION: I would like to start by asking you whether you’re here in Greece coming from Türkiye with a concrete initiative. We’ve seen, and you’ve said in an interview, that Türkiye has made some steps towards improving relations with Greece. So which are these steps, and are you here again with a concrete proposal, a new initiative perhaps?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, I think, in the first instance, the focus really is on the earthquake, and the fact that Greece jumped in, stood up immediately to help those in need in Türkiye has played an important part in, I think, reaching Turkish hearts.
I was just there, as you said. I talked to many Turkish colleagues, and one of the first things that they said was how meaningful it was that so many Greek citizens, so much Greek assistance came in their hour of need. I think that creates a better atmosphere.
But, look, this is obviously, in both Greece and Türkiye, an election period. So that always makes things challenging. I think, in the first instance, my hope would be that both Greece and Türkiye keep the waters as calm as possible, and perhaps in the months ahead there will be some opportunity to strengthen even more of the dialogue, the diplomacy, and to look at resolving some of the longstanding issues between them.
For us, the United States, that’s very important because both Greece and Türkiye are close allies, close partners, close friends, and, of course, we want to see them come together. If they do, I think the opportunities are extraordinary for Greeks and Turks alike.
QUESTION: Do you have any indication that what we’re currently seeing – I mean, after the devastation of the earthquakes, is something more than imposed – which is more or less imposed by mourn and grief?
And of course, our hearts go out to the people who mourn, but are you optimistic that this could bring a change in Türkiye’s stance towards the West in general?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Okay, I think what’s powerful is it’s a reminder of our common humanity and that, ultimately, what brings us together is more powerful than what keeps us apart.
But, of course, there are longstanding issues, differences, disputes, and I don’t want to be one way or another suggesting that anything gets resolved overnight. But I hope that the spirit of cooperation, the spirit of coming to each other’s help may be – have some role in the future.
But first things first. Türkiye is, of course, absolutely focused on trying to recover from this earthquake. We just saw there was a significant aftershock just yesterday.
QUESTION: Last night.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: People are terrified. People who have survived are terrified. They’re scared about going home, if they even have a home to go back to.
QUESTION: Now, you said that you urge both countries – and you usually say that, I mean, the Department of State usually says that both countries must solve their differences through dialogue – but many say that this is, in a sense, an equal distance between a country that threatens and a country that is being threatened. How do you address that?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Of course, we are always mindful of Greece’s security concerns. It’s something we take very, very seriously. But we also believe that, with good will and good faith on both sides, there is always room to improve, to address the differences, and to make a meaningful difference in resolving them.
QUESTION: Did you have the chance to discuss it with your counterpart in Türkiye, perhaps?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: I did, I did.
QUESTION: Did you get any commitment that this would change?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: My – look, I don’t want to – it’s not appropriate for me to speak for them.
QUESTION: I understand.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: But I can say that my sense is that there is certainly an interest and a willingness – and that’s certainly true here in Greece – to try to find ways to move forward productively together.
QUESTION: Secretary, there is a question that I am sure most Greeks would want me to ask you, so I will, even though it’s a difficult one. How far does our defense cooperation go? What are the Greeks to expect from the United States in case, God forbid, of an attack against Greece?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, I think our defense cooperation has only deepened and strengthened, especially in the last few years. We have a Defense Cooperation Agreement that we just revised last year. That’s resulted, among other things, in more than $100 million invested in upgrading Greek ports. At the same time, Greece’s F-16 program is in the midst of a major modernization effort, more than 80 Greek F-16s, as we speak, are being brought up to the highest standard. I expect there will be more planes that go through that program.
And in addition, of course, Greece is looking to acquire the F-35, something that we support. So our cooperation has reached, I think, extraordinary levels. Of course, we have new places where we’re working together in terms of training and cooperation, so we have our forces working together, more of our forces in more places than at any time.
At the same time, we’re NATO Allies, and President Biden has been absolutely clear that we, the United States, are committed to Article V in the NATO Agreement, and we will defend every inch of NATO territory, were it to come under threat.
QUESTION: Yes, but interestingly enough, I had recently the chance to interview Senator Menendez, and he told me that he shared his concern with the Secretary General of NATO, Mr. Stoltenberg, of what would happen if a NATO country attacks, unprovoked, another NATO country. So this was my question.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yeah, and of course, I’m not going to engage in hypothetical discussions. But what I can say is that, as always, we urge all of our friends to engage diplomatically to resolve any differences peacefully, not to engage in provocative actions, not to engage in provocative rhetoric. That risks creating problems, even if unintended.
QUESTION: This rhetoric coming from the Turkish side, these threats of invasion, how do you listen to these in Washington? Do you think that it’s just rhetoric?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Again, we’ve said to all our friends that, from our perspective, engaging in rhetoric, and certainly engaging in actions that are in any way threatening is not something we support. On the contrary. And we continue to believe strongly that our partners can best succeed by engaging directly and working together diplomatically to resolve whatever separates them.