Mr. T. Siafakas: On the line with us is Alternate Foreign Minister Mr. Dimitris Droutsas. Good morning, Mr. Minister.
Mr. Droutsas: Good day.
Mr. T. Siafakas: Thank you very much for being patient with us, we know that it is late in the United States. I will be brief, first of all, what is your assessment of Mr. Papandreou’s visit to the White House, your take on Mr. Papandreou’s contacts as a whole in the United States?
Mr. Droutsas: I think we have every reason to be happy and satisfied with our meetings here in Washington: today with President Barack Obama and yesterday with the Secretary of State, Ms. Clinton. I think we received a clear message of support and solidarity on the part of the United States with regard to Greece’s efforts, the efforts of the Greek people to address this difficult economic situation that the country is going through.
But I think that it is very important too that a message was sent to international markets that there is credibility once again. Greece is reliable, Greece has a reliable government that has taken bold steps to address this crisis.
Mr. T. Siafakas: Mr. Droutsas do we know whether Mr. Obama will come to Athens? Is there a response to the Greek invitation?
Mr. Droutsas: As would be expected, the Greek Prime Minister Mr. Papandreou extended an invitation to Mr. Obama in his talks today and, in all honesty, Mr. Obama’s spontaneous reply and reaction was that he always had a big wish to visit our country, and he definitely wants to do that in the course of his mandate.
In fact, he said that he would like to combine his visit to our country with a few more days so that he could also visit one of our beautiful islands, as he said.
Mr. T. Siafakas: Mr. Minister, I would like to ask you about the practical outcome of the Prime Minister’s effort, on this ongoing battle against speculators, what practical outcome these talks, this trip has had with regard to tackling international speculation?
Mr. Droutsas: Particularly with regard to the country’s financial situation and our fight against international speculation, I would like us to see these meetings, these contacts here in Washington in combination with the Prime Minister’s visits to Luxemburg, Berlin and Paris in the past few days. Mr. Papandreou has managed to build a common front within the European Union and, more particularly, in eurozone countries, the most important countries of the European Union – i.e. Germany, France – and the President of the Eurogroup, Luxemburg’s Prime Minister Juncker; a common initiative of all four of them against international speculation.
And he brought this initiative with him to Washington in his talks with the American President, where they said that now the European Union and the United Stated must tackle international speculation, particularly within the framework of the G-20, the world’s 20 most powerful economies. Because Europe is not the only one facing major problems due to the existing speculation.
Mr. T. Siafakas: You mentioned the G-20. I would like to task whether Greece will be invited to the G-20 in order to present this initiative with its own arguments and in order for measures to be taken, let’s say for a better oversight of markets.
Mr. Droutsas: Look, the G-20 is an institution, I don’t think we can talk about an invitation being extended to Greece to take part in it. Of course, I am not ruling it out. I cannot know at the moment, what developments we might have. But the important thing is that Greece is a significant part of this initiative within the framework of the EU, the eurozone.
This initiative was made possible through Greece, and through Mr. Papandreou’s personal moves and it will be put forward at the G-20 in cooperation with the United States, and U.S. President Obama.
Mr. T. Siafakas: Mr. Minister, you spoke about an common initiative of four parties. I want to ask you whether you expect practical action in a given direction, on this common initiative of four.
Mr. Droutsas: I can tell you that as an initial, immediate and common action, a joint letter will be sent by the four parties to the European Commission President, Mr. Barroso, the President of an institution that can launch action. In it we will be asking from the European Commission to examine the necessary practical proposals, the way in which we will be able to address the speculation phenomenon.
This will be an immediate, initial action on the part of us four, which will then end in cooperation with the European Commission on certain other proposals.
Mr. T. Siafakas: Mr. Droutsas, a question about visas. Mr. Papandreou called the visa waiver a vote of confidence in Greece. Does this vote have to do with security issues, financial issues, or with our country’s general image?
Mr. Droutsas: Mr. Papandreou used exactly the same words as President Obama; a vote of confidence in Greece, in the Greek government. Allow me to interpret it as a vote of confidence in the Greek government’s, the Greek people’s overall efforts these past few months with regard to the way it has addressed this economic crisis, the courage the Greek people have shown amidst this crisis.
But also as a vote of confidence in the manner in which the new Greek government assumed the responsibility of governance from the outset, the way it has been trying to conduct a foreign policy of initiatives once again, in order for Greece to regain – and indeed it has – a voice, a presence in international developments, particularly in our immediate neighbourhood, the Balkans, the Middle East. And I dare say that we have already taken the first steps.
I think that the entire international community appreciates that. And I think that it is very important that President Obama made this move that he called a vote of confidence in Greece.
Mr. T. Siafakas: With regard to Afghanistan, could you tell us very briefly if anything changes in our activities in the region?
Mr. Droutsas: I will be categorical on this, so as to avoid any misunderstandings. The U.S. President thanked us and expressed their appreciation of Greece’s contribution so far in Afghanistan, particularly taking into account – as he said – the difficult financial situation that the country is now in.
Mr. T. Siafakas: So there was understanding.
Mr. Droutsas: Not only was there understanding on their part, but as I told you he expressed his full appreciation and warm thanks to Greece. I would simply like to add here that it is a common belief – both in Greece and in the United States – that we are enetering a stage with regard to Afghanistan where the Afghan people have to start taking their future in their own hands. This is why we, Greece will focus on training the Afghans – not only their security forces, but across all levels – to help Afghanistan stand on its own feet once again.
Mr. T. Siafakas: Mr. Droutsas, thank you very much for this interview. Take care.
Mr. Droutsas: Thank you.