Mitsotakis: Greece is ready to help Gaza with humanitarian aid

Our thoughts are with the families of the victims and hostages, pointed out Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking at the international conference on the provision of humanitarian aid to the civilian population of the Gaza Strip, which is being held in Paris following the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron. The prime minister pointed out that Greece as well as Cyprus are close to the crisis area, noting that the Greek state has already provided humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by aerial means.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis also supported the Cypriot proposal to create a sea corridor for the transfer of humanitarian aid from Cyprus to Gaza and noted that Greece intends to actively participate in the project. Finally, the prime minister stressed the necessity “to start the discussion for a political solution to this conflict, which is the only way to ensure peace and stability in the region”.

UPDATE PAULOS MARINAKIS

“The international humanitarian conference for the civilians of Gaza, organized at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron and attended by the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is underway in Paris,” said government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, starting the briefing for political editors. “The prime minister has emphasized Greece’s position many times, supporting Israel’s right to self-defense and condemning the terrorist Hamas,” he added, referring to the prime minister’s interview on the Politico podcast. “The prime minister pointed out that over the days we have expressed increased concern about the tragedy of innocent civilians and the horrifying images from Gaza and I believe that while we recognize Israel’s right to defend itself it is important how it does so. It is of particular importance, as the prime minister pointed out, for this reason we were at the forefront – when I say we I am referring to Greece – in recognizing the need for a humanitarian pause in order to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, to facilitate negotiations for the hostages and to allow the people who are in Gaza today, who want and are able to leave, to do so in safety.”

Mr. Marinakis then referred to the meeting that the Prime Minister had in the morning with the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohamed Ibrahim Staiyeh, during which the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip was discussed. “The prime minister reiterated his growing concern over civilian casualties and underlined the need for humanitarian pauses to ensure a steady flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.” He also said that “the prime minister reiterated Greece’s readiness to assist with humanitarian aid as well as that Greece is in contact with the Republic of Cyprus and the partners involved regarding the possibility of a humanitarian corridor by sea for the transfer of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip” .

At this point, he repeated that the prime minister stressed that Hamas is a terrorist organization, that it does not represent the Palestinian people and that the only legal representative of the Palestinian people is the Palestinian Authority, stressing “Greece’s long-standing support for the two-state solution”.

The government representative then stated that the law of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance on transparency in the management of debts, competition in the banking system and protection for the truly vulnerable was put into public consultation and with which it is integrated into the Greek legal order Directive 2021/2167.

He referred in detail to the five axes on which the regulations of the N/S move as well as to its basic regulations.

He then moved on to the announcement by the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Lefteris Avgenakis, of the implementation of the measures applicable to the farmers of Thessaly and to the farmers of Evros affected by the August fire. “The amount of compensation per product will be identical to that of Thessaly, while those who were not obliged to be insured by ELGA will receive compensation through the Agricultural Reserve.

Already, yesterday, ELGA credited 2,035 beneficiary breeders and beekeepers with 16,500,000 euros, as compensation advances for the loss of livestock from the Daniel disaster. And in the case of Evros, the non-disposal of compensations for those affected will apply, while Measure 5.2 will be activated for free replacement of the lost livestock and reconstruction – also free – of stable facilities that were operating legally”.

He also referred to the announcement of favorable arrangements for the stream of farmers in Thessaly. “Specifically, a regulation is being created which will contain a two-year grace period and then a five-year regulation of the obligations that exist in the rural stream for flood victims, with zero interest.

The obligations that will be regulated concern flood-affected farmers and their consumption from May 1 to September 30, 2023, plus any overdue debts that existed for these farmers.

The government continues to support our fellow citizens affected by the unprecedented floods in every way. That’s why, in the framework of the plan to support and restore the regions in Thessaly, in addition to the horizontal measures of state aid, we activate targeted measures where necessary”, Mr. Marinakis emphasized.

The government spokesman also outlined interventions “to deal with imported precision. As announced by the Ministry of Development, from the beginning of 2023 until November 3, 2023, 19,557 inspections have been carried out by DIMEA. 1,521 violations have been identified and fines of 6,904,032 have been imposed, and 1,299 of them, amounting to 4,348,762 euros, have been paid or confirmed by the competent authorities,” he said.

He made special mention of the “Students’ Basket”, the Market pass, the upgraded e-katanalotis platform, the transparency in fruit and vegetable prices, and the strengthening of disposable income with permanent measures. “These reforms will remain, for the benefit of society, even when the accuracy recedes”, he pointed out and added that applications for the Youth Pass, the voucher worth 150 euros that will be distributed to 200,000 young people aged 18 to 19 years old.

“The quality checks of the new electric buses, which will strengthen the urban transport fleet of Athens and Thessaloniki, were successfully completed during the visit of the Secretary General of Transport, Yiannis Xifaras and the Tender Committee for Receiving Buses and Accessories, which consists of officials of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and OSY SA, at the facilities of the company “Yutong International Holding”, in China”, said the government representative.

Concluding his introductory statement, he said that tomorrow the Supreme Cooperation Council between Greece and Cyprus will be held in Athens. “Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulidis will make joint statements after the Plenary Session”.