Athens , 9 March 2010

Journalist: Let’s welcome Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas, who is with the Prime Minister in Washington on this important trip.

Journalist: Good evening, Mr. Minister. Also on the line is our political correspondent, Christos Koutras, who is also accompanying the Prime Minister on this trip. Let’s welcome Christos and have him give us the initial report.

Mr. Koutras: Good evening. At 11:00, we will have the meeting between George Papandreou and the Speaker of the House, Ms. Nancy Pelosi. At 14:00, there will be a meeting with the President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama.

The meeting is scheduled to last half an hour, and statement have not been scheduled. But at 15:15, there is another very important meeting. It is a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Geithner, and this evening George Papandreou will see Bill Clinton.

The Greek side is satisfied at yesterday’s meeting with Ms. Clinton, because once again the Greek government garnered positive statements regarding its programme.

Journalist: What does that mean? Let’s ask the Minister about that, of course. We read it in the Greek press, we saw the reportage regarding the support we have on our economic issues, Mr. Droutsas. What does this mean in practical terms? Is it another signal to the markets? What else can it mean?

Mr. Droutsas: Good evening. First of all, let me stress, as well, that Ms. Clinton did really and publicly acknowledge the serious effort being made by Greece, the Greek government, the Greek people, to deal with the economic crisis, and she expressed the appreciation and solidarity and support of the U.S. for Greece.

It is an important message to the international markets that there is a trustworthy government in Greece, there is a credible stability programme. And this is precisely the message Greece needed the international markets to hear.

Journalist: Does the U.S. government back the raising of this issue – international economic relations in the functioning of markets – at the G-20 meeting?

Mr. Droutsas: We discussed this matter with Ms. Clinton. It is an issue that the Prime Minister will also have the opportunity to discuss today with U.S. President Obama.

And it is within the framework of the initiative being taken by the Greek Prime Minster, together with Ms. Merkel and Mr. Sarkozy – the fight against speculation, which is also a major foe in Greece’s efforts to wrest itself from this economic crisis.

Journalist: Mr. Minister, there are many who are wondering to what extent the interests of the EU, the eurozone, coincide with those of the U.S., given that the concerns that have been heard recently have to do with a pressure, mainly in the American markets towards the EU, for shaping a different relationship between the euro and the dollar.

Are the two sides – the EU and the U.S. – going in the same direction at this time?

Mr. Droutsas: I think they are. I think that the international economic crisis still exists. The U.S. has passed through the storm. And the EU – some countries more than others in the EU – is going through this crisis. We have common interests and common goals. And that is why I think that this initiative that began from Greece, with Germany and France, and now the U.S., within the framework of the G-20, is so important.

Journalist: Now, regarding the other issues you discussed. Afghanistan, which from what I understand is high on the U.S. agenda, Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus issue, the fYROM name issue, etc. Has there been any progress? First of all, on Afghanistan. Were we asked to provide more troops for the region?

Mr. Droutsas: I want to say clearly and categorically that nothing more has been asked of Greece. In fact, Ms. Clinton expressed the appreciation and thanks of the U.S. government for Greece’s contribution in Afghanistan to date, particularly in the critical moments of the economic crisis our country is going through.

Journalist: So the current force will remain. It won’t be reduced.

Mr. Droutsas: It will remain. The Government Foreign and Defence Affairs Council’s decision – taken a few weeks after the new government took office – stands. There will be no increase in our forces there. Our forces in Afghanistan will remain unchanged.

Journalist: And regarding the role they have played to date?

Mr. Droutsas: That is an issue that we are in a position to discuss at this time. The Defense Ministry is also looking at how this force might contribute further. As you know, the goal is now for Afghanistan itself to take its future into its own hands. We are talking about the necessary training of the Afghan forces. And the Greek forces can play a significant role in this area.

Journalist: Did Ms. Clinton propose anything to us with regard to how she would like the Greek force in Afghanistan to help? Is there any proposal from Washington?

Mr. Droutsas: No. As I said, this is in our hands and these are our thoughts on the issue.

Journalist: Regarding our other foreign policy issues – Skopje, for example – were there any new thoughts, strengthening of initiatives?

Mr. Droutsas: There were no new thoughts. This is a good opportunity – yesterday’s meeting with Ms. Clinton, and today’s meeting with Barack Obama – to discuss issues of particular interest to Greece: developments in the Cyprus issue, Greek-Turkish relations, and of course the matter of the name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. But Greece’s positions on all of these issues are clear and well known, and it is precisely within this context that the discussions are moving.

Journalist: Do we have anything new on the visa waiver issue, Mr. Minister?

Mr. Droutsas: This issue wasn’t raised yesterday, and we will see how things develop in the coming time.

Journalist: What is keeping this from moving ahead right now, Mr. Droutsas?

Mr. Droutsas: As we all know, Greece – and this has been acknowledged by the U.S. side – has met all of the obligations and prerequisites. It’s a matter of internal U.S. procedures. We are awaiting further developments.

Journalist: Great. Thank you very much, Mr. Minister, and on your return to Greece – because there are so many important issues that concern our country’s foreign policy – it would be good for you to come by the studio so we can talk in person.

Mr. Droutsas: Of course. It would be my pleasure.