Karamanlis’ comments on Greek-Turkish relations

In his first public remarks after leaving active politics, during a book presentation, former conservative premier Costas Karamanlis spoke about Greek-Turkish relations. His comments were nothing more than a summary (with the weight of a former prime minister who is also a member of the ruling party) of the framework of the real difficulties created by Turkey's foreign policy, which remains at its core aggressive and expansionist, in contrast to that of Greece, which focuses on the application of aspects of international law.

Those inside Greece who sincerely desire a rapprochement with Turkey and are willing to take difficult steps and make sensitive compromises have not yet seen any inclinations from the other side that it is willing to retreat from its maximalist positions.

Karamanlis' remarks, with which a well-intentioned observer inside or outside Greece can...