Top EU Diplomat Says Bloc "Determined" to Protect Greek Borders

The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, said on Wednesday that the bloc is “determined” to protect its external borders and the territorial integrity of Greece.
Borrell, who was visiting the Kastanies crossing on the Greek-Turkish border, was accompanied on his visit there by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.
The two officials walked together up to the border crossing, where the last Greek soldiers are stationed before one comes to the border with Turkey.
“Greek concerns identify with the concerns of the EU… It is clear that we are determined to protect the EU’s external borders and to strongly support Greece’s sovereignty,” Borrell said, adding that Greece’s borders are also the borders of the European Union.

For his part, Greek Foreign Minister Dendias said that Greece is “always open to dialogue but will not enter into talks under duress nor assist the legalization of continuous violations of legality on Turkey’s part.”
He also referred to the incidents at the Greek-Turkish border in late February when thousands of migrants tried to storm the Greek border: “At this spot, less than four months ago, Greeks, 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.
“Today, after a short interval due to the pandemic, Turkey has once again stated that its land borders with Europe are open, its Coast Guard is escorting boats loaded with migrants heading toward the Greek islands and it insists on undermining security, stability and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Dendias charged.
Regarding the meetings he will have in Athens in the afternoon with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos, Borrell noted that the talks are expected to focus on the situation in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
He noted his awareness of not only Turkey’s current drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean but also the multiple violations of Greek airspace recently, which have exacerbated the situation between Greece and Turkey and, consequently, Euro-Turkish relations.