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The situation in the wider region of Mediterranean and Middle East is at war, explosive, unpredictable.

They have no expiration date. wars and population movements towards Europe movements of refugees and economic migrants.

We also note the ineffectiveness of international organizations and agreements and the weakening of global collective security system embodied by the UN.

The cause is the conflict of the "5" Permanent Members of the .

The NATO and the European Union, For decades, stable pillars of our national identity and national security - in the most general possible sense of the term - are in a prolonged crisis of identity, lack and stability of goals. But mainly, a shock of the sense and perception of the common interest.

In our own Europe, I predict that the European elections of May 2019, under the pretext of refugee-immigrant, will confirm the dominant This is now the position of anti-European revisionist forces in a large number of member states of the European Union, including the Federal Republic of Germany.

2. Cyprus:

It takes no effort to understand the enduring historical, political, and our moral responsibilities towards the Republic of Cyprus. The stigma of the junta's betrayal has left indelible marks. Although they have passed 44 years, we have not yet done our serious self-criticismWe are limited to the permanent attempt to blame and deny responsibility.

Since the 50s, we have been searching and seeking Law, Justice, JustificationMany have tried on this journey to divide us into camps. Here they place the patriots and there the other, the submissives.

3. Turkey:

Turkey is one awkward neighbor. We are forced to coexist. It is a great regional power. At the same time, it considers itself to have a global reach and role.

It claims this role because – despite its critical problems, which are currently dominated bydeep economic crisis- the capabilities, determination and tactics of resorting to war concern the issues that are high on the agenda Agenda of global priorities.

A country with special importance is now also barometer for the viability of Western unity. Mainly NATO.

4. Alliances and National Security:

Apply the power of law or the law of power? We insist on the power of Law. Or Turkey favors the law of force.

In vain in Greece throughout time We seek and yearn for the "machine god". There are no dilemmas: At the end of the civil war NATO was the only option us as a country and as a nation.

However, the Things and interests change. We observe:

- τον strengthened role of the Russian Federation and its return to the Euro-East,

-the rise to the top of the People's Republic of China with the vehicle of "soft power",

– the uncertainty that prevails today in transatlantic relations and

-the constant and permanent threat which Turkey recommends.

If we correctly read the reality that is being formed, the conclusion is that NATO alone can no longer cover the fundamental problem of National Security of Greece.

5. The Prespa Agreement:

On June 17th we signed with celebrations of the Prespa Agreement with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, emphasizing that our constant pursuit was that there should be no winner and no loser.

But why didn't we take care? to apply simultaneously in Greece? In other words, let's not divide citizens today and politicians into winners and losers. To nationalists and progressives. To phobics and cowards on one hand and courageous on the other.

6. Prudence, consultation and consensus:

The correct approach would be to let's enter into negotiations with Skopje having secured as much political support and cohesion as possible. The government chose the opposite. It systematically tried through the Macedonian to harm and discredit the official opposition mainly but not only. With this tactic, she mainly undermined her own choices, her own Agreement. She now seems surprised by the public opinion reaction which she herself caused.

If it had launched a framework of real The situation today is undoubtedly a matter of consensus. would now be favorable.

Without political agreement we cannot find sustainable solutions to national issuesFurthermore, solutions found without the support of society do not stand the test of time.

7. Greece and Albania:

Greece and Albania, let's find a solution to the real problems and to come to an understanding on the basis of mutual interest with a package agreement. A basic prerequisite is political agreement in Athens.

The Greek National Minority in Albania, especially in Himare It is the only solid Greek Minority outside our borders.

Tirana's efforts to destroy properties through selective demolitions are no coincidence. of the Greek Minority in Himara.

8.National Interest – Russian Federation:

Thanks to our worthy political leaders, we have done our right things. options in NATO and the European Union. We have the ability to move within a framework of improved, but far from absolute, policy, defense and economic security.

I wish and hope that our national interests dictated the our recent moves towards Russia.

The interference in our internal affairs any country, including Russia, it is not tolerated.

Under one condition. This position must apply to everyone.

The time has come for Athens and Moscow to put an end to this unpleasant parenthesis.Let us ensure that we restore functional relations. For the first time since 1974, any possibility of our appeal to the UN Security Council is cancelled, having previously secured the negative disposition of a Permanent Member.

9. Greece and the USA-Souda and Bilateral Security Exchanges:

The situation in US-Turkish relations and the explosive liquidity in the wider Euro-East region They make the Greek geopolitical and defense space irreplaceable.

The Alliance's lack of will to guarantee the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our Greece requires us to seek a security guarantee at a bilateral level, primarily from the US. Today it is within the realm of possibility through a five-year or ten-year Agreement for Souda.

10. National Security Council

We often hear that we miss him/her. efficiency. I insist that what is mainly missing is continuity. As long as the National Security Policy is not governed by the strict institutional framework that determines how, when, who and why, personal choices and "opinion", with the striking absence of "measure" in our events, will substitute for effective action. The establishment of a National Security Council under the PMinister of Health is useful and necessary.

I have served under 15 Foreign Ministers and 11 different governments.My belief is that

political consensus, continuity, long-term planning, knowledge and utilization of excellence are the cornerstone to face the challenges.

source:https://www.himara.gr/epikairotita/7782-alexandros-mallias-o-dekalogos-enos-diplomati 

*Alexander P. Mallias, honorary ambassador