Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said Athens remains committed to supporting Cyprus despite recent developments involving Turkey in the island’s Turkish-controlled areas.
Speaking during a briefing with political reporters on Monday, Marinakis stressed that events in the self-declared northern administration do not affect Greece’s strategic decision to stand by Cyprus. “Greece will protect our brothers in Cyprus,” he said, adding that the country acts with respect for international law and without seeking escalation.
The spokesperson also referred to the visit of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Cyprus, where he is meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and French President Emmanuel Macron. Marinakis described the meeting as a substantive initiative rather than a purely symbolic move, emphasizing that Europe had shown solidarity with Cyprus in a critical moment. He also noted that Greece was the first country to send assistance to the island.
Addressing concerns about possible price increases amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Marinakis said the government is preparing a response plan. According to him, the prime minister is already in contact with relevant ministers and further announcements will be made once the plan is finalized in the coming days.
The spokesperson also highlighted ongoing efforts by Greece’s Foreign Ministry to repatriate citizens from areas affected by the conflict in the Middle East. Within five days, a total of 1,039 Greek nationals were returned from countries including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Israel, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and the Palestinian territories through coordinated air and land operations.
Marinakis added that Greece remains ready to assist citizens affected by the conflict and continues to cooperate with international partners on regional security measures. He noted that Greece has also provided equipment and personnel to help protect Bulgaria following a request from the neighboring NATO and EU member state.
Separately, Marinakis pointed to positive economic indicators for Greece in 2025, including economic growth of 2.1%, increased investment and exports, and rising household spending. According to government figures, investments grew by around 9% to exceed €37 billion, while wages increased faster than corporate profits, indicating that economic growth has primarily benefited workers.
He also highlighted progress in debt settlement through an out-of-court mechanism, with more than 55,000 cases completed since its launch, covering initial debts totaling over €17 billion.
Finally, Marinakis noted a new technical cooperation agreement between Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority and Eurocontrol, aimed at supporting the modernization of the country’s air traffic management system and improving the resilience and interoperability of national aviation infrastructure.
