ATHENS – “Our horizon for the next few months is now clear,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in his opening address to Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, noting that the government’s priorities were set out at the Thessaloniki International Fair, while his visit to New York had been an opportunity for Greece to present its positions regarding current challenges.

Commenting on the latest events concerning Turkey, he repeated that Greece will remain calm, confident in positions backed by international law, and not follow down the path chosen by its neighbour, while warning that Turkey was up against “not just Greece but all of Europe and our allies in NATO.”

Mitsotakis noted that the interlocking global crises and issues were “proof of how global uncertainty is now influencing the economies and societies of all countries, and of the importance which collective responses now have against supranational problems.”

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The premier repeated that no national budget could cover the unprecedented wave of high prices that went beyond national borders and which demanded bold decisions on a European level, in addition to national policies.

The prime minister praised the “maturity” of Greek society and referred to a recent Financial Times article on the Greek economy’s “miracle”, running counter to worldwide trends. He also repeated the positions he had outlined at the UN General Assembly regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying that international cooperation based on principles was a priority in the face of international uncertainty.

“Only if this form of aggressive violence is defeated can international law continue to govern relations between countries and only if a fait accompli of violating borders is repulsed will this not find potential imitators in other areas,” he said.

“Freedom, independence, democracy, the right of our societies to prosperity – all these are non-negotiable,” he added.

Mitsotakis concluded by saying that Greece had clearly said all it has to say at the UN, both as regards its “red lines” and its friendly intentions toward the Turkish people.

“The other side can monotonously repeat its lies and threats. It will remain alone in this game. We will calmly and self-confidently rest in our clear positions with the strength of international law, the vigilance of our armed forces, the support of our allies,” he added.

Instead of “fiery words”, he urged the other side to opt for “creative actions and the path of substantive dialogue”, saying that they had against them not just Greece but “all of Europe and our allies in NATO”.