ATHENS — The agreement between Greece and Egypt on their maritime zones serves Greek interests well and includes the borders Greece wanted, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias told Open TV station on Friday.

He said the agreement includes the coastline of Kastellorizo (Megisti) island and its complex, Strongyli island and a section of the coastline of Rhodes, because these will be used in the next delineation with Egypt and Cyprus, and in the far future Turkey, if the latter so wishes. A large section of the shoreline of Crete is also included.

The foreign minister said that one of this agreement's advantages is that only a small section of Crete's coastline was included. The greater part will be used for a future delineation with Libya and perhaps a smaller section with Egypt when Libya gets a strong government that represents its people and society, Dendias said, reiterating that the Turkey-Tripoli government memorandum is invalid, groundless and does not recognize any other country but Turkey.

Greece wants friendly relations with all countries, including Turkey, he said, and wants to work towards peace and stability in the region. It wants Turkey to be part of this. If Turkey sends the Oruc Reis research vessel inside the Greek exclusive economic zone, Dendias said in response to a question, "we shall do our duty and defend our sovereignty and sovereign rights."

He also said he appreciates extremely the efforts of the German presidency of the EU to play a positive and constructive role in de-escalating the tension.