Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a clear message to Turkey from the border island of Kastellorizo, emphasizing that Greece seeks dialogue and peace, while refusing to accept threats, dictates, or challenges to its sovereign rights. “We threaten no one, but we also don’t accept threats or dictates from anyone. We are ready to defend our national integrity and our sovereign rights,” the prime minister stated, noting that dialogue represents “a choice made from confidence and faith in International Law.”
The prime minister pointed out that the message sent from Megisti extends beyond national borders, since its territory is also European territory. “Kastellorizo is a symbolic place to express our intention for a future of peace, with the door closed to any revisionist ambitions, but the path open to mutual respect and international legality,” he noted.
Mitsotakis said this represents “the national line we have followed since 2019, leading to tangible results that strengthen our country across all fronts: in defense and diplomacy, in the economy, and in social cohesion.”
The 2010 Memorandum and an Image That “Saddened Us”
Speaking from Kastellorizo, Mitsotakis also referenced a very different period for the country, specifically 2010, when the island had served as the backdrop for Greece’s announcement that it would seek support from the bailout mechanism. “The image from 2010 saddened us, with Kastellorizo chosen as the setting for the country’s entry into the memorandums,” he said, arguing that this was a connection “the island didn’t deserve,” and adding that today, both in Kastellorizo and across the rest of Greece, “things are very different.”
Measures Announced for Residents
During his remarks, Mitsotakis announced specific measures for the island’s residents. He placed particular emphasis on strengthening the border community of Megisti and supporting those who live there or choose to relocate there. Among the new measures, he announced a permanent annual salary incentive of €5,000 for public sector employees, security forces, and armed forces personnel serving on the island.
At the same time, a tax-free and non-seizable relocation and residency incentive of €5,000 per year, per household, will be established, with an additional €1,000 for each minor child, contingent on completing at least one full year of residency. For current permanent residents, the first payment is expected in early 2027, while those who relocate to the island afterward will begin receiving payments in 2028.
The prime minister also announced an additional subsidized weekly ferry route on the Piraeus–Rhodes–Kastellorizo line starting early next year, along with a series of infrastructure projects covering the port, airport, road network, and desalination units. The measures also include support for local schools, regular visits from mobile health units for preventive screenings, and the renovation of old homes to provide free housing for doctors, teachers, port authority staff, and other public employees.
“There are no second-class citizens,” Mitsotakis concluded, stating that these measures are not piecemeal actions but part of a unified policy to support Kastellorizo and its residents.
