Μake us preferred on Google

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to call for the continuation of dialogue between Greece and Turkey while stressing that it must be grounded in respect for international law and the principles of good-neighborly relations, when he delivers his address to the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday evening, local time.

In a scheduled address from the main hall during the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Mitsotakis is expected to again set out Athens’ positions on regional security, the Cyprus issue, energy and maritime affairs, while also addressing the economy, artificial intelligence and a series of international crises.

He is expected to stress that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides the only institutional framework for resolving what Athens considers the sole longstanding dispute between the two countries — the delimitation of the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Mitsotakis is also expected to argue that substantive dialogue cannot coexist with unilateral actions that violate international law or with threats of war over the exercise of legal rights under international law.

The Greek prime minister is expected to devote particular attention to the Cyprus issue, noting that 52 years after Turkey’s 1974 invasion and the continuing occupation of part of the island republic, the issue remains a test of the credibility of the United Nations and the implementation of its own resolutions. He is expected to express Greece’s support for the UN secretary-general’s efforts to resume substantive negotiations aimed at reunifying Cyprus.

Mitsotakis is also expected to highlight Greece’s role as a pillar of stability and a bridge between Europe, the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, with emphasis on maritime security, energy and new connectivity infrastructure. Additionally, he is expected to address developments in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Ukraine and Sudan.

On the domestic front, the prime minister is expected to present Greece’s economic performance and reform program as an example of how economic resilience can strengthen a country’s international position.

A substantial part of the expected speech will also focus on artificial intelligence. Mitsotakis is expected to warn that the pace of AI development is creating risks that cannot be addressed through voluntary self-regulation by technology companies alone, arguing for a strong regulatory framework.

Finally, he is expected to specifically call on the United States, where “the leading AI models are being developed,” to assume the responsibility that comes with its technological leadership, while stressing that international cooperation, including with China, is necessary to address a challenge affecting humanity as a whole.