Athens, 11 March 2011

Journalist: European leaders will be holding an emergency session on Libya today, when they meet in Brussels, they will be trying to agree what lengths they are prepared to go to, to stop General Gaddafi.  His forces have been regaining ground from antigovernment rebels and the bombardment of rebel held areas appears to be getting worse. France has become the first country to recognize the Benghazi based rebels as the sole representatives of the Libyan people.  There is even talk that President Sarkozy could go so far as to suggest direct airstrikes on Libya. Well, what would it take to make Gaddafi go?  The Greek government has been in contact with elements of his regime, and we are joined by its Foreign Minister, Dimitrios Droutsas. Good morning to you.

Mr. Droutsas: Good morning from Brussels.

Journalist: Can you tell us about the contacts and the conversations that the Greek government has had with the Libyan regime? 

Mr. Droutsas: Well, first of all we had, yesterday, the visit of an envoy of Libya to Athens.  We received this envoy after consultation and coordination with the European Union and the High Representative, Catherine Aston, and the purpose was for us, first of all, to have a clear picture of what is going on there, what they are demanding, but also to send, from our side, the very clear message that violence must end immediately, that the United Nations Security Council Resolution must be immediately respected and this was all about. But I can say we didn’t have any great news, I can say that more or less we heard the same things that we are hearing from General Gaddafi in his official statements and the numerous interviews he is giving to the international media.

Journalist: It was on the initiative of the Libyan government that this envoy came to Greece. I wonder if it has occurred to you or if you still think that the Libyan regime may be prepared to negotiate an exit for the Gaddafi family and the regime.

Mr. Droutsas: Well, first let me emphasize that this envoy did not come only to Athens, he visited also other capitals of the European Union in the Mediterranean, so it was not only a visit to Athens, but certainly, as I said, we accepted the envoy to come in order to hear what they have on their minds but also to pass on our messages. I guess it is… I think we can say that we can see some sort of willingness by the regime to talk with the other side, but here we have, also as European Union and International Community, to take all necessary measures and steps in order to make everybody understand, and the Gaddafi regime to understand that violence must end immediately. 

Journalist: But I wonder, you said there is a willingness to talk, but given from the sounds of what they are saying, one might come to the conclusion that the only way Gaddafi is going to go is if he is forced out. Do you think that that is the case?

Mr. Droutsas: Well, we have… in Foreign Policy and International Relations, we have to be always also realistic. I think that at this moment, as some more convincing measures are necessary by the International Community to make Gaddafi and his regime understand that yes, their time has passed, that they have to relinquish power.

Journalist: So, perhaps the move by the French, to recognize the Benghazi-based opposition, is the kind of move that is required by other countries, do you think?

Mr. Droutsas: Well, I think it is a bit too early to proceed with such kind of steps.  We first have to see who are those people, who is the opposition, we have to get in contact with them, immediately, also as the European Union, to get into a dialogue with them, to get to know them better and then proceed to the necessary steps. This is one of the proposals I think that will be discussed today at the European Council, as you know, today the European Council, the European Summit is going to talk about the developments in Libya, is to have direct contacts with all those people, to see what is going on. 

Journalist: Right.  Dimitris Droutsas, thank you very much.

Mr. Droutsas: Thank you very much.