Ex-PM Samaras tells Kathimerini deterrence is key to dealing with Turkey

"You do not appease the expansionist. That way he becomes even more ruthless," Antonis Samaras told Kathimerini, noting exploratory contacts with Ankara, which started yesterday in Istanbul, cancel possible sanctions on Turkey. The former prime minister (2012-15) even says he is opposed to a possible appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, since, as he says, "it is an ab initio renunciation of all international law privileges for us."

Regarding the Prespes agreement, Samaras notes: "We did not 'solve' any problem. The problem we had shifted into another - more dangerous - one," as "Turkey's infiltration in the region was not halted after the Prespes agreement - on the contrary, it escalated." In this context, he keeps the option of voting against the memoranda of cooperation with North Macedonia, when they come to Parliament, open.

Finally,...