Greek ambassador to Egypt, Nikos Garilidis, clarified the Athens-Cairo talks regarding the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Answering a question from a journalist, Garilidis clarified that "press releases that circulated regarding my alleged statements on the ongoing Greece-Egypt negotiation on the delimitation of the EEZ, it is pointed out that the published wording does not correspond."
"The agreement between Greece and Egypt on the definition of the EEZ is nearing completion," were the statements that were leaked distorted on Friday morning.
"Specifically, when asked by the journalist about the long-term contacts between the two sides on this issue and their possible end date, I refrained from answering vaguely," adding that "I do not have divination skills."
According to a report by state-owned APE-MPE, the ambassador allegedly stated to Egyptian media Al-Ahram that Greece and Egypt are close to an agreement on the establishment of an EEZ.
In June, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Cairo, where he had successive meetings with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Sukri.
Dendias then sent the message that "we have again caught the thread of the negotiation for the agreement of the economic zones between Greece and Egypt."
In the same interview that Garilidis says his words were taken out of context, he emphasised that it is up to Turkey to continue the good relations with its neighbours.
"If Turkey abandoned its Ottoman ideas, then Greece could contribute to further economic co-operation," he added.
Regarding Libya and the role that Turkey is trying to play, Garilidis argued that Turkey wants to play a dominant role in the region, but this cannot be accepted by many Mediterranean countries.
Finally he stressed that Turkey should enter into agreements, but on the basis of international law.
