Under Andreas Papandreou, Greece was the only country that had not officially recognized Israel

“Israel was recognized by a decision of Constantinos Mitsotakis in April 1990,” noted Kyriakos Mitsotakis

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the president of PASOK, Nikos Androulakis, were in an intense confrontation today in the Parliament. In particular, the conflict between Mitsotakis and Androulakis had as its occasion the Middle East. Mr. Androulakis noted that his party was the one that cultivated a relationship with the Arab world, with the initiatives of Andreas Papandreou and Yasser Arafat. Kyriakos Mitsotakis commented on the relevant reports, pointing out that Greece’s position was not balanced, as the state of Israel was officially recognized in April 1990 by the government of Konstantinos Mitsotakiswith Greece being the last European country to make this move.

“PASOK cultivated and created a stable relationship with the Arab world, with great initiatives by Andreas Papandreou and Yasser Arafat. We succeeded in Greece becoming a model of principles and values, which is recognized internationally. But this faction, this faction was the one that did not prevent and created, worked to have this strategic relationship with Israel, with George Papandreou as prime minister. An alliance that we believe should continue to exist in this sensitive region of the Middle East,” Mr. Androulakis said in his introduction.

Mitsotakis reaction to the Androulakis report on the Middle East

His reference to the Papandreou-Arafat era provoked the reaction of the prime minister, who in his rebuttal emphasized that during that period Greece did not practice a balanced policy, while it was the only European country that had not officially recognized the state of Israel.

“Mr. Androulakis, you came and told us about the great political legacy of PASOK. And you mentioned the times of Andreas Papandreou and Yasser Arafat. 1980s. But so what? That the country’s relations with our wider neighborhood were balanced? Why, I want to remind youbecause you probably don’t remember well, that during the time of Andreas Papandreou, Greece was the only country which had not officially recognized the state of Israel. And this is what you come and claim now, referring to that period, that it was a balanced policy. Either you don’t know them, so you’d do well to educate yourself and read a little more about your party’s history, or you’re just off topic by making this particular reference. I did not refer to other PASOK leaders who took a more balanced stance. The state of Israel was recognized by a decision of Constantinos Mitsotakis in April 1990 and we were the last European country to recognize Israel. You are also coming back to this period,” he said.