Μake us preferred on Google Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis declined Monday to say whether Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had raised concerns about the Mecca Agreement during talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following the Greek leader’s visit to Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Asked by To Vima whether the agreement and its potential implications for Greek interests had been discussed, and whether Athens had received any assurances, Marinakis said he had nothing to add to information already made public. He did not confirm whether the Greek delegation had raised the matter during the meeting. The Mecca Agreement, announced in August, had caused unease in Athens over its potential implications for Greek interests and Turkey’s regional role.
Greece-Cyprus Power Cable: Permits vs. Notification
Marinakis also addressed questions concerning the planned electricity interconnection (GSI) between Greece and Cyprus, drawing a distinction between seeking permission to conduct maritime surveys and notifying other countries of planned activities.
Referring to remarks by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis in a radio interview, Marinakis said Greece would seek authorization for the project only from Greek authorities, not from another country. He explained that requesting a permit would amount to recognizing the jurisdiction of the coastal state issuing it. In this case, he said, that authority rests exclusively with Greece.
By contrast, he described notification as a standard procedure for similar projects that carries no legal implications concerning jurisdiction.
Marinakis Responds to Former Prime Minister Karamanlis
The spokesman also responded to questions about recent remarks by former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis on Greek foreign policy. Marinakis disputed the headlines and interpretations surrounding Karamanlis’ intervention, saying they did not accurately reflect his remarks.
He said the government respected the former prime minister and paid close attention to his advice on foreign policy, emphasizing Karamanlis’ concluding appeal for unity and national solidarity.
St. Catherine’s Monastery Agreement Draws Opposition Criticism
Marinakis took a sharper tone toward opposition parties over their objections to an agreement being negotiated between Egypt and the Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai. He maintained that the agreement would settle a dispute over the monastery’s legal status that had remained unresolved for 1,500 years. The government spokesperson accused opposition parties of pettiness and negativity over a development that, he argued, should be a source of national unity.
Marinakis said the agreement would preserve the monastery’s religious character and protect its Church properties, while allowing monks to remain in Egypt under long-term residence permits.
He said the agreement would be published once finalized. He also pointed to the support expressed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Orthodox churches of Greece and Cyprus, criticizing opposition parties for continuing to raise objections.
The spokesman also said Greece and Egypt had agreed to continue consultations on expanding the geographical scope of their 2020 agreement delimiting their exclusive economic zones.
Basketball Investigation and Political Responsibility
Turning to the investigation involving Greek basketball officials and referees, Marinakis criticized opposition parties for attempting to turn every case under investigation into a political controversy.
He rejected the suggestion that a meeting between politicians and individuals subsequently implicated in an investigation was sufficient to establish political responsibility.
Marinakis argued that investigations pursued under the current administration also covered alleged offenses dating to before 2019, without that necessarily implicating previous governments. He reiterated that the judiciary alone was responsible for determining the facts and any criminal liability.
The government has temporarily suspended state subsidies to the Hellenic Basketball Federation following allegations involving individuals in the sport’s administration and refereeing.
Deputy Sports Minister Giannis Vroutsis has also ordered financial and administrative audits of the federation covering 2024, 2025 and 2026, involving the Finance Ministry’s fiscal audit directorate and the National Transparency Authority.
Government Highlights Tax Enforcement, Social Media Rules and Tourism
In his opening statement, Marinakis also touted the government’s record on financial crime, citing the recent exposure of two major alleged tax evasion networks.
He said the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime had handled 1,510 cases since its establishment, brought charges against nearly 5,500 individuals and dismantled 259 criminal organizations.
The Greek Independent Authority for Public Revenue conducted more than 60,000 regular tax audits in 2024 and 2025, assessing more than 5.2 billion euros in taxes and penalties, according to figures presented by the spokesman.
The spokesman also condemned what he described as a terrorist attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in Karak, Jordan, expressing condolences to the victims’ families and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
