Gov’t on Greek-Turkish relations; Evros fence

Government spokesman Giorgos Petalotis on Friday stressed that Prime Minister George Papandreou follows an extrovert foreign policy.

Speaking to a private radio station, Petalotis made the comment in response to opposition party accusations alleging “secret diplomacy”.

Petalotis rejected the accusations made by Communist Party (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga on a joint exploitation of the Aegean with Turkey that presupposes ceding sovereign rights, characterising them as “fiction”. He underlined that “the government has proved that it serves the national interests in the best way”.

As regards a fence to be built along a stretch of Greece’s land border with Turkey in the Evros prefecture, Petalotis stated that “this is an issue that had to be dealt with years ago … had to be made a European issue, which was achieved through Frontex and other solutions that will help reduce the number of illegal migrants entering the country”.