“This is the first EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit and it [is happening] at a very crucial time, when we are faced with increased tensions in the Middle East,” stated Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday, in a doorstep statement as he arrived for the Summit in Brussels.
“I think it is important to establish this dialogue at the highest possible level, in order to join our voices in the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in order to ensure that this conflict does not completely spiral out of control,” Mitsotakis said.
He noted that the meeting will also address other topics, such as cooperation in economic matters and energy, while also pointing out that the Middle East is a crucial component of the IMEC Corridor that connects the European Union to India.
“I expect a fruitful and substantive discussion and Greece is, of course, a country that is very close to the Gulf, we have excellent bilateral relations with all six countries but I think it is important in this context to establish a more institutional dialogue between the EU and the six Gulf countries,” Mitsotakis added.
During statements in Greek, the Greek premier highlighted Greece’s geographical position at the southeastern edge of the EU, noting that Athens had every reason to want deeper ties between the EU and the Gulf states, as well as its close ties with all six states making up the Gulf Cooperation Council.
He also emphasised the importance of closer relations at a time when the Middle East faces the risk of a broader military conflagration.
“It is very important at this time to reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza so that this unthinkable humanitarian disaster does not continue and to intensify our pressure so that southern Lebanon does not become another ‘Gaza’ in the context of Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself against Iranian attacks.
At the moment, however, what is required first and foremost is restraint, so that we can give time to put the only political solution that can address the structural problem of the Middle East back on the table, namely the creation of two states that can coexist in peace, so that we can address the root of the structural problem that leads this region to a state of certain conflagration.”
