Athens, 7 October 2010

At 13:00 today, Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas will receive the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Greece, Mr. Joseph Joseph.

At 18:30 this evening, Mr. Droutsas will receive – at the Foreign Ministry – the Vice President of Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), Mr. Ömer Çelik, who is competent for international issues, and Mr. Ibrahim Kalin, Advisor to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Tomorrow, Friday, 8 October 2010, Mr. Droutsas will receive – in protocol meetings – the new Ambassadors of Japan (15:30), the U.S. (16:00), and Germany (17:00).

At 15:45 on Monday, 11 October, Mr. Droutsas will meet at the Foreign Ministry with UN Special Rapporteur on torture issues Manfred Nowak, who will be visiting our country.

On Tuesday, 12 October – within the framework of European Day against Human Trafficking – the Foreign Ministry is hosting the first of six events, in collaboration with co-competent Ministries, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the International Organization for Migration. The Foreign Minister will deliver the opening address at 09:00.

At Tuesday’s opening event, we will present our country’s Action Plan and the political and legal framework for building the EU’s coordinated action for combating human trafficking. On the previous day, 11 October, at 20:00, Mr. Droutsas will inaugurate the “Southeast European Centre for Missing and Exploited Children”, which is being founded by The Smile of a Child, in collaboration with the International Center for Missing & Exploited Children. That’s at the Municipality of Maroussi (1 Spiro Loui Str.)

At all of the upcoming events, relevant television/cinematic productions will be show to inform the public and raise awareness. The discussions will be coordinated by high-profile personalities who want to link their names with combating modern forms of slavery.

Specifically, we will present the awareness campaigns of music TV stations. We will raise the voice of pupils from various junior high and high school who are raising awareness among their fellow pupils and friends on the critical issue of “demand”.

We will present the role of the private sector and enterprises being called upon to protect their employees from exploitation and labor trafficking within the framework of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Also to be presented are the initiatives of our NGO partners within the framework of the protection of minors forced to beg and engage in prostitution.

On Thursday, 14 October, Mr. Droutsas will travel to Brussels to participate in the NATO Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministerial Meetings.

The Foreign Ministers’ meeting will focus on NATO’s promotion of international security through its new Strategic Concept, including partnership relations, the open door policy, disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation. NATO-Russia and NATO-EU relations are also to be discussed.

During the joint meeting of Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers, there will be a discussion of aspects of the Strategic Concept that are of common interest, including prevention and management, nuclear policy and new threats and challenges. Anti-missile defence will also be discussed.

At 12:00 today, Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis will meet at the Foreign Ministry with the President of the Union of Greek Shipowners, Mr. Theodoros Veniamis, with whom he will discuss investment issues concerning the shipping sector.

At 19:00 today, Mr. Kouvelis will attend an open debate on the principle trends in Geopolitical Dynamics in the 21st century. Also participating will be Italian former prime minister and president of the European Commission (1999-2005) Romano Prodi and journalist Jean-Marie Colombani. That will take place at the Athens Concert Hall.

At 10:30 on Saturday, 9 October, Mr. Kouvelis will open the proceedings of a conference being hosted by the Athens daily Express, on “Investments in Western Greece” (Astir Patras Hotel).

At 13:30 on Tuesday, 12 October, Mr. Kouvelis will participate in a discussion of “Biodiversity and the Mediterranean”. That will take place at the French Embassy.

And at 14:00 on Thursday, 14 October, Mr. Kouvelis will participate in a Bank of Greece working luncheon with Bank of Greece Governor Giorios Provopoulos. Development and investment issues will be discussed.

On 10 and 11 October, Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Dollis will be in Israel, with Minister of State for Investments Pampoukis, in a follow-up to the Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to Athens this past August, with the aim of strengthening bilateral relations.

Mr. Stavroulakis: We are expecting Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan in Athens again. I don’t know – will Mr. Bagis come with him or before him? Are we expecting something from these visits and the meetings with the Minister’s advisors that you announced?

Mr. Delavekouras: According to the programme we have, on 22 October we are expecting Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan to participate in an International Conference to be held in Athens, on climate change for Mediterranean countries. That will take place ahead of the Cancun Climate Change Conference.

As for Mr. Davutoglu’s visit, it was agreed in New York that it will take place in October, but we haven’t yet talked about specific dates.

Mr. Stavroulakis: (off microphone)

Mr. Delavekouras: I don’t have anything like that on the programme, no. Neither do I have any information regarding Mr. Bagis’s accompanying the Turkish Prime Minister. The programme for Mr. Davutoglu’s visit to Greece will be announced, but we haven’t yet settled on dates, so I don’t know if it will be before or after.

Mr. Fourlis: Can you give us an appraisal – given that we are expecting Mr. Erdogan – of the Turkish presence in New York? What you thought of President Gul’s speech.

Mr. Delavekouras: To be precise, I think you mean our ‘reading’ of the text, because there was no reference in it to anything new vis-a-vis Greek-Turkish relations.

I’ll tell you where we stand with Greek-Turkish relations. We have as a given that it is the Greek government’s express will to strengthen and deepen Greek-Turkish relations. The Turkish side expresses a corresponding will at every opportunity, on every level of its leadership.

This strengthening of bilateral relations cannot stay at the level of rhetoric. It has to be accompanied by actions. It has to be manifested in applied policy. And, unfortunately, there continue to be phenomena, practices, actions that provoke; that are counter to the rules of international law and the code of conduct within the framework of good neighbourly relations.

And that is why we believe that the Turkish rhetoric must be accompanied by corresponding actions. We really want to see progress, and we expect – from these visits, too, that will be carried out in the coming time – to see some specific steps.

Don’t forget that the two countries created the High-level Cooperation Council. They had their first meeting last May, in Athens, with the signing of a number of important agreements. Mr. Davutoglu’s visit will take place precisely within this framework, so that we can ascertain the progress that has been achieved, and so that we can take the next steps within the framework of this bilateral cooperation, while at the same time continuing the exploratory contacts within the framework that exists.

And let me inform you at this point that the 47th Round of Greek-Turkish Exploratory Contacts will be taking place tomorrow, in Bodrum.

Ms. Ristovska: I have two questions. The first is whether Greece might accepts “Macedonia’s” joining NATO and starting negotiations with the EU as FYROM.

And the second concerns the questions sent by five SYRIZA MPs to the Foreign and Interior Ministries regarding the refugees who did not return under the 1982 law, who are not of Greek descent. Your comment on that.

Mr. Delavekouras: Regarding the first question, on this issue there are clear decisions, unanimous decisions, from the two organizations – NATO and the EU – that clarify that for FYROM’s Euroatlantic perspective to move forward, there needs to be a solution on the name issue first.

I think that this is a message they are sending clearly and consistently – all of our international partners and the international partners of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – and it is very important for us to be sincere when we talk about the name issue, because it is a serious problem that impacts regional security and needs to be resolved. Greece wants it to be resolved.

The effort to create the impression that there is some alternative route – that there is a shortcut on FYROM’s course towards Euroatlantic institutions – is inaccurate: it can’t happen.

There are unanimous decisions from the organizations that state expressly that the name issue will have to be resolved. This is to the benefit of regional stability and good neighbourly relations between the two countries.

Regarding your second question, it will be answered in Parliament.

Ms. Ristovska: (off microphone)

Mr. Delavekouras: We are scheduling a visit from the NATO Secretary General. At this time, the programme says 21 October, and of course it will be announced as soon as it is finalized.

Ms. Ristovska: (off microphone)

Mr. Delavekouras: No, Mr. Rasmussen is coming within the framework of his visits to the capitals of NATO member states ahead of the NATO Summit slated for 19 and 20 December in Portugal.

Ms. Antoniou: Two questions: The first regards the Climate Conference in Athens and Cypriot President Christofias. Whether there might be a trilateral meeting, Greece-Turkey-Cyprus.

And the second is whether in the negotiations on the name there is provision, planning for a change of negotiator, because there are rumours to that effect, coming mainly from Skopje. But whether there is any basis to that.

Mr. Delavekouras: Regarding you first question, let me say that there is no such plan. Regarding your second question, that is not being considered, and I want to be very clear on this. And I think it is diplomatic bad form for such statements to come out, implying something or fishing for a denial. It is not consistent with diplomatic practice, and those making such statements would do better to focus on the negotiation process.

There is a negotiation process, and if we are to see progress, we need a constructive stance from all sides. Greece has this constructive stance and has shown it in word and deed. Greece wants to reach a solution: a solution with a geographical qualifier, for use in relation to everyone. A solution that will free up FYROM’s Euroatlantic perspective.

We want to help the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia become a partner and an ally. But FYROM also has to help itself. That is why there is no point in making things up and creating impressions. What we need to do is focus on the process that exists. And that process is the process under the United Nations.

Mr. Pollatos: Mr. Spokesman, ahead of the EU progress report on Turkey, will the Greek side try to include in the text Turkey’s recent attempts, this summer, to carry out exploration on a section of the Greek continental shelf? You mentioned phenomena and actions that provoke. Does it need to be set down clearly in the text that Turkey tried to carry out research in sections of the Greek continental shelf?

And a second question, ahead of the 47th round of exploratory contacts. Whether you can confirm the news items to the effect that agreement has been reached on all the issues, and tell us, if you can, what other issues are being discussed, apart from the delimitation of the continental shelf. Thank you.

Mr. Delavekouras: Regarding your first question, let me say that the Commission is currently in the process of drawing up the progress reports, which are to be made public on 10 November. This is a text being prepared by the Commission and that expresses the views of the Commission on the progress of candidates.

We think that if it is to be objective, it needs to set down the whole range – every aspect of the conduct and practices of candidate countries. As such, it should set down in a clear manner all of these issues that concern good neighbourly relations, which is a basic criterion in Turkey’s accession process.

As for your second question and the 47th round of exploratory contacts, let me say that these talks are governed by the rule of confidentiality, so I will not go into their content. But it needs to be clear that the subject of these talks is the delimitation of the continental shelf between the two countries, as you know.

Mr. Pollatos: Do you want to tell us – because there have been reports. Do you deny them, because there are many reports that an agreement has been reached…

Mr. Delavekouras: I am not going to comment on that. But given that the process is governed by the rule of confidentiality, I do not know where these reports get their information from.

It is a fact that the process is ongoing and that the representatives of both countries have received a clear political mandate to intensify their contacts in order for us to see progress. It is within this framework that the exploratory contacts have been continuing. When we have an outcome, if we have an outcome, it is obvious that it will be announced to you.

Mr. Pollatos: Moving on to another issue, Syria, do you have a comment on whether Syria recognises fYROM as the “Republic of Macedonia”?

Mr. Delavekouras: The establishment of diplomatic relations between Syria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in the manner it was done does not abide by UN Security Council resolutions or Greece’s traditionally friendly and good relations with Syria, within the framework of which Greece has supported Syria many times in the past.

Let me say that the Secretary General called the Ambassador of Syria again today in order to get a clear position on that country’s behalf regarding the issue that has arisen.

We will continue our consultations until we have a position on behalf of Syria that abides by the framework defined by UN Security Council resolutions.

But here I want to stress something else, too. We must not allow any such actions put forward by the FYROM leadership to become red herrings. The substance of the matter is that we want to achieve the resolution of the name issue. This is what we must concentrate our efforts on.

And I come back to what I said before: The effort to take the discussion in a different direction, the effort to create the impression that there is an alternative course, simply delays and aggravates the process.

The leadership of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia must come to the negotiating table of with a constructive stance, something it has not done these many years. If this does not happen, the name issue will not be resolved.

Consequently, there is not going to be any progress on the accession course of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia towards Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Ms. Galonaki: I have a question regarding Mr. Christofias. When he came out and spoke about the junta, he said that the junta and the Turkish invaders were the same in 1974, the Greek government did not respond following the statements by Mr. Christofias.

So I wanted to ask you when the Turkish matter is over in Cyprus, are we certain they are our allies, and what kind of relationship do we have with the Cypriots at the moment?

Mr. Delavekouras: Our relations with the Republic of Cyprus are excellent, they are brotherly relations based on continuous cooperation and coordination, which are on an excellent level. I have nothing further to add to that.

Mr. Kapoutsis: When will Greece have to recognize Kosovo's independence?

Mr. Delavekouras: Our country’s position on the Kosovo issue is well-known and firm. We believe that the Kosovo issue must reach a definitive settlement based on consensus and diplomacy.

We want to believe that the process starting now, following the ICJ opinion and the UN General Assembly decision, will form the right basis for a political procedure that will lead to a consensual solution.

This is something we worked for and spoke about immediately following the ICJ opinion. Greece was the first country to visit the region. We are in constant contact with the parties and we hope that we will be able to reach a definite resolution.

Mr. Fourlis: Do you feel, does the Foreign Ministry consider that the effort to open up new channels of communication with Skopje, undertaken by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, has been completed and has failed?

Mr. Delavekouras: Absolutely not. We will continue this positive, constructive stance. This stance is, first of all, the one that shows Skopje – that shows the society of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – that Greece is a country that wants to be an ally and partner that will stand by their side and help them take the first steps towards Europe and help them fulfill their European destiny. This is their destiny and they deserve it.

The problem is that the FYROM leadership’s choices are keeping its people away from their European future, and this is something we must overcome. And we will overcome it with a firm, positive policy on behalf of Greece.

We will continue with the openings we have been making, we will keep up the contacts at every given opportunity. The UN General Assembly was a very good opportunity to hold another meeting between the two Prime Ministers, meetings that we have established, we have sought, and we believe that these meetings have helped to create a different climate in the two countries' relations: a climate that is appropriate for finding a solution.

Mr. Gruevski chose not to attend the UN General Assembly, the most important annual event on a diplomatic level. This was his choice, and it is to be judged by the people of FYROM. But everyone must know that we will continue to be present and we will continue to have the same constructive stance that we have had so far.

Mr. Kapoutsis: I want to come back to my colleague’s question and say that Mr. Christofias made a statement about a parallel invasion in Cyprus. Does the Greek government, the Greek Foreign Ministry, consider this statement as unfortunate, as historically justified? Was it misinterpreted? What happened exactly?

Mr. Delavekouras: The Minister of Defense has taken a clear position following his meeting with President Christofias in Cyprus. I have nothing further to add to that.

Thank you very much.