Athens
, 13 October 2010
Main points:
[on the Foreign Minister’s upcoming tour of the Middle East]
· From 17 to 20 October, Mr. Droutsas will carry out a tour of Middle Eastern countries. Specifically, he will visit Jordan on 17 October, Israel and the Palestinian Territories on 18 October, Egypt on the 19th and Lebanon on the 20th of the month.
· This tour is taking place at a critical time in the Middle East negotiations. Greece has stated repeatedly its great interest in the developments in the region and its readiness to contribute to the discussions taking place.
· [This visit] is taking place at a critical time for the Middle East issue, but Greece’s bilateral relations are an equally important parameter. Greece traditionally has good relations with the Arab world. We want to deepen these relations.
· Greece and Israel have initiated an intensification of strategic cooperation on the level of Prime Ministers. We have said that we want to broaden the range of cooperation.
[on FYROM]
· The substance of the matter is – with regard to the establishing of diplomatic relations between Syria and FYROM – that the manner in which it happened is not consistent with the Security Council resolutions and it is not consistent with the friendly relations our country has with Syria.
· And once again, I want to stress that the substance of the name issue is elsewhere. It is in the negotiations being carried out under the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Nimetz. That is what the leadership in Skopje needs to focus on. A solution will not come from anywhere else. Nor will they get round decisions that have been adopted unanimously by NATO and the EU. This needs to be absolutely clear.
[on Greek-Turkish relations]
· With regard to the flyovers, the infringements and violations made by Turkey, these are unacceptable. They are illegal, and Turkey is responsible for them. That is why all the actions are being taken on our part – on the operational and diplomatic levels – so that it is clear that these positions are set down and so our partners and allies have a precise picture of Turkey’s conduct, which is a threat to the stability of our region.
[on the Cyprus issue]
· Particularly on the matter of a conference on the Cyprus issue, let me remind you that President Christofias himself has proposed the framework within which such a conference might take place, in order for it to really contribute to progress on the resolution of the Cyprus issue. But for there to be any point in such a conference, it will have to be preceded by substantial progress at the negotiating table. Progress that we have not seen to date, due to the positions taken by Mr. Eroglu; positions that mostly bring to mind times in decades past.
· And if Turkey really wants to see speedy progress on the Cyprus issue, then it can do two things immediately: Withdraw its occupation troops and return the city of Famagusta, as proposed by the President of the Republic of Cyprus.
Full transcript of the briefing (translation):
Mr. Delavekouras: Good morning.
Tomorrow, Thursday, Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas will participate jointly with Defence Minister Venizelos in the NATO Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministerial in Brussels.
Discussions will focus on the new Strategic Concept, which is slated to be adopted at the November NATO Summit Meeting in Portugal.
They will also discuss the Open Door policy, disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation, as well as NATO’s relations with other organizations, including the EU, the UN and the OSCE.
From 17 to 20 October, Mr. Droutsas will carry out a tour of Middle Eastern countries. Specifically, he will visit Jordan on 17 October, Israel and the Palestinian Territories on 18 October, Egypt on the 19th and Lebanon on the 20th of the month.
This tour is taking place at a critical time in the Middle East negotiations. Greece has stated repeatedly its great interest in the developments in the region and its readiness to contribute to the discussions taking place.
This is an effort we are making in coordination with our EU partners and the U.S. We really are at a critical time, and that is why the state of affairs within which the visit is taking place is of even greater importance. We will have important meetings there.
And we hope that we will be able to help so that the negotiations that started with difficulty can achieve progress on the Middle East issue and continue and take us to a result that will essentially stabilize the region and give peace in the Middle East a chance.
On Thursday, 21 October, Mr. Droutsas will meet with the Secretary General of NATO, who will be carrying out a visit to our country within the framework of preparations for the November NATO Summit Meeting. During his stay in Greece, Mr. Rasmussen is also to meet with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence.
The items on the agenda will include – as we said earlier – NATO’s new Strategic Concept, as well as the Organization’s relations with the EU and the UN, and the plan for developing the anti-missile system.
On to Deputy Foreign Minister Kouvelis’s programme. Today at 16:00, Mr. Kouvelis will have a protocol meeting with the Brazilian Ambassador, and tomorrow at 10:30 he will receive the Norwegian Ambassador.
At 14:00 tomorrow, Mr. Kouvelis will participate in a working luncheon with the Governor of the Bank of Greece, Mr. Provopoulos. The discussion will focus on development and investment issues.
At 11:00 on Friday, 15 October, Mr. Kouvelis will have a protocol meeting with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Greece. At 10:00 on Monday, 18 October, he will participate in the Joint Interministerial Committee with Morocco, during which the promotion of bilateral trade and economic agreements will be discussed.
At 11:00 on Wednesday, 20 October, Mr. Kouvelis will receive the BoD of the Union of Greek Entrepreneurs. They will discuss issues pertaining to the promotion of economic and trade cooperation with third countries. On the same day, at 13:40, Mr. Kouvelis will deliver an address at the Economist Conference entitled “Second Sustainability Summit: The green agenda after Copenhagen.”
Your questions, please.
Journalist: We didn’t hear anything about Mr. Bagis. Is there anything this week? Will he be coming, after all?
Mr. Delavekouras: We don’t have a meeting scheduled at this time, no.
Journalist: Regarding Mr. Droutsas’s tour of the Middle East, you stressed that this is a critical time. It really is for the Middle East, and not just as regards the resolution of the Palestinian issue.
Apart from a practical expression of our interest in helping the negotiations on the Palestinian issue, is there some other goal? And I also want to ask why Syria wasn’t included in the tour.
Mr. Delavekouras: Let me start with the tour itself.
As we said earlier, it is taking place at a critical time for the Middle East issue, but Greece’s bilateral relations are an equally important parameter. Greece traditionally has good relations with the Arab world. We want to deepen these relations. Already, as you know, there have been very many meetings on the level of Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on the bilateral level. We really have managed to make Greece’s presence felt, and to develop the range of bilateral relations with these countries across a broad range of cooperation in sectors including economy, investments, political cooperation with consultations on the official and political level, so that we can discuss the major issues our region is facing.
It is significant in this regard that 22 October will see the climate change conference in Athens, ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico. We have invited important leaders in the region so that the countries of the Mediterranean can coordinate their voices and actions, and present common positions, to the extent possible, ahead of the Cancun Conference. Our region has need of this coordination because it will be one of the first to be hit by the repercussions of climate change.
So we want to discuss this whole range of issues and promote them. And don’t forget that Greece and Israel have initiated an intensification of strategic cooperation on the level of Prime Ministers. We have said that we want to broaden the range of cooperation. Minister of State Pampoukis, Deputy Foreign Minister Dollis and Foreign Ministry Secretary General Zeppos have just completed a visit to Israel, where they have very important meetings.
And the Foreign Minister’s visit will provide the opportunity for political consultations so that we can continue and deepen this cooperation.
Moving on to the Middle East issue, the Middle East issue is perhaps one of the top international relations issues in the world. It is so vital that it be resolved that it can impact many other regions of the planet and determine the security environment for years to come.
It is for precisely this reason that we are investing in the negotiation process, which is often targeted by sides that don’t want to see progress. It is not an easy issue. Quite the contrary. It is a very complex issue. And that is why it is so difficult to make progress.
But we have managed to lay a foundation at this point. A negotiation process has begun, and everyone needs to help keep it alive, help it move ahead, because sustainable peace in the Middle East can come only from these negotiations.
That is why – and this will be our message – we are going to the Middle East. We want to have meetings with all of our partners in the region to see exactly where things stand and try with all our power to support this process at every point deemed advisable and beneficial.
Journalist: You didn’t answer on Syria.
Mr. Delavekouras: For practical reasons, it wasn’t deemed advisable for Syria to be included at this time.
Journalist: Mr. Spokesman, I want to stay on the Arab issue a little. You said that there has been an improvement and efforts are being made towards improvement. What we have seen is that Syria, a traditional ally of Greece for decades – recently recognized FYROM. Looking at it from the outside, and without any other information, I say that Syria, Iran next door, etc., sent a very specific, clear signal to Athens. If you are going to allow the Israeli air force to fly in your airspace to practice bombing Iran, you will have consequences from us. Can you give me a reason why my interpretation is incorrect – that is, how do you interpret the recognition? And a detail. Was Athens notified that Syria was going to move ahead to the recognition of FYROM?
Mr. Delavekouras: I won’t proffer an opinion of your analysis. But I will say that we have to focus on the substance of the matter. The substance of the matter is – with regard to the establishing of diplomatic relations between Syria and FYROM – that the manner in which it happened is not consistent with the Security Council resolutions and it is not consistent with the friendly relations our country has with Syria: traditional relations, with our country having consistently supported Syria at difficult times when it was facing difficult foreign policy issues.
Beyond that, this matter is not closed. We think that Syria should take a clear position that will bear in mind and respect the resolutions of the UN Security Council.
Through these actions, Syria is essentially undermining the negotiation process within the UN framework. And this is coming from Syria, a country that says it gives precedence to the UN.
We will continue our meetings and consultations. Last week, a new demarche was made by the Foreign Ministry’s Secretary General to the Syrian Ambassador. Our meetings are ongoing and we expect to see a clear stance from Syria in this direction.
And once again, I want to stress that the substance of the name issue is elsewhere. It is in the negotiations being carried out under the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Nimetz. That is what the leadership in Skopje needs to focus on. A solution will not come from anywhere else. Nor will they get round decisions that have been adopted unanimously by NATO and the EU. This needs to be absolutely clear. We think that all of our partners in the EU, the U.S., our allies, have a clear sense of the reality of the situation and a clear sense of the fact that the FYROM leadership is essentially delaying things at this time. They don’t want a solution. At least that is what is apparent from their actions.
And it is significant that Mr. Gruevski was not in attendance at the UN General Assembly. He wasn’t there to take the opportunity of a meeting – again, on Greece’s initiative – of the two Prime Ministers; meetings that we pursue regularly and that we believe create the conditions for a different climate in the relations between the two countries – a climate that will facilitate a solution within the UN framework.
This is the reality of the situation. Greece will continue to consistently send this positive message – to be received not only by the FYROM leadership, but also by the people – and we hope that at some point, soon, we will get a response.
But it needs to be clear and a given that without a solution, there can be no progress in FYROM’s Euroatlantic perspective.
Mr. Konstantakopoulos: And you didn’t say: Had they notified us beforehand?
Mr. Delavekouras: We meet regularly with all our partners – systematically – and this action on the part of Syria was contrary to assurances made to us until recently.
Mr. Fourlis: Mr. Spokesman, your whole spiel and interpretation referred to relations between Greece and FYROM. Don’t you have anything to tell us about Greece’s relations with the Arab world as regards this issue? For you, in other words, does Syria’s move bear only on Greek-FYROM relations? Doesn’t it have to do with the policy you are exercising in the Middle East?
Mr. Delavekouras: First of all, let me repeat that we don’t see this matter as being over and done with.
Mr. Meletis: When do you think it will be finished?
Mr. Delavekouras: When there is a clear stance on the part of Syria; a stance consistent with the UN Security Council resolutions. It is clear that that is the framework.
Mr. Meletis: Does the same hold for the U.S., Russia and China, where these issues are pending?
Mr. Delavekouras: These countries have stated clearly that they will implement the solution that is found in the UN negotiations.
Mr. Meletis: So you are asking Syria to state that they recognize, but with a caveat. What you are saying obviously holds for all of the countries pending until they comply with the Security Council resolution. I don’t understand exactly what you are expecting from Syria.
Mr. Delavekouras: A number of demarches have been made to Syria so that it will state clearly what its position is on this issue. The opening of diplomatic relations – as has occurred at this time, according to the information we have – is not consistent with the UN Security Council resolutions. So we are waiting for Syria to tell us exactly – given that it is a country that gives special weight to international legality and the resolutions of the UN – and in a clear manner that the policy it is exercising is in accordance with these resolutions.
Mr. Meletis: And I ask again: Does this call hold for all of the major powers?
Mr. Delavekouras: It is not a call.
Mr. Meletis: Yes, does this statement hold for all of the major powers? That is, are you calling on the U.S. to state clearly that it complies …
Mr. Delavekouras: We think that all of these countries must respect the resolutions of the UN Security Council. That is obvious. And we think that the Bush government’s decision to recognize FYROM under its so-called constitutional name was wrong and created very serious obstacles in the negotiation process. Obstacles that we are having trouble getting past even today.
These are very serious issues, and precisely for that reason we are waiting for Syria to take a clear stance that is in accordance with, consistent with, the UN resolutions.
Mr. Fourlis: You have no interpretation with regard to the Arab world? Do you think that this development with Syria has to do exclusively with Greek-FYROM relations? Don’t you see any issue concerning your policy in the Arab world?
Mr. Delavekouras: What we have at this time is that Syria decided to establish diplomatic relations with FYROM in a manner that is not consistent with the resolutions of the Security Council. This is the reality of the situation. Your analysis, which generalizes it and puts the whole Arab world in the same basket …
Mr. Fourlis: I just asked a question: Is that the only way you interpret it, exclusively?
Mr. Delavekouras: We are in ongoing contact with all the countries, with all our partners in the Arab world. We have good cooperation, and we will continue to have this cooperation. Greece is an important player in this region, with a voice – a strong voice – and with very great sensitivity on issues that concern our region.
Greece has an obligation to play this role. And it will play it. It will take all the necessary actions and follow a policy that can support its bilateral contacts in this region and the Middle East peace process. We will continue this. Beyond that, we have a development, an unfortunate development, with Syria, and we are awaiting a clear stance from that country.
Mr. Meletis: Do you mean that you are waiting for Syria to reverse the decision it has taken …
Mr. Delavekouras: For the time being, we are waiting for a clear position from Syria. We don’t have that yet.
Mr. Fourlis: Given that yesterday we had another flyover at Agathonisi, I would like to ask you whether you think – with the flyovers we are seeing, even ahead of the Turkish Prime Minister’s visit to Athens – that the Turkish side is essentially trying to raise issues in the exploratory contacts via flyovers.
Mr. Delavekouras: You can’t link these two issues like that, first of all because the subject of the exploratory contacts is the delimitation of the continental shelf. That is clear and well known. With regard to the flyovers, the infringements and violations made by Turkey, these are unacceptable. They are illegal, and Turkey is responsible for them. That is why all the actions are being taken on our part – on the operational and diplomatic levels – so that it is clear that these positions are set down and so our partners and allies have a precise picture of Turkey’s conduct, which is a threat to the stability of our region.
This conduct obviously cannot continue. If Turkey really wants to improve relations with Greece, it can’t be done through its current practices. Turkey will have to change its conduct if it really wants to have normalization of relations with Greece. And, naturally, we will have to bear in mind that this conduct runs contrary to the rules of good neighbourliness. The rules of good neighbourly relations are a criterion on Turkey’s accession course.
Ms. Voudouri: On the subject of Turkey’s accession course, in Paris yesterday, Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu re-tabled the proposal for an international conference – within a month or two, even – for a thorough solution to the Cyprus issue, so that Turkey can move ahead unhindered on it accession course.
What is Athens’ assessment of this proposal for a conference, which will probably be along the lines of the one in 2004?
Mr. Delavekouras: First of all, let me say that we hear various statements from Turkey from time to time, and these statements have a positive tone for progress in our relations, for improvement in our relations, for cooperation. All these statements are, of course, very positive, but for them to have any point they must be accompanied by actions. Particularly on the matter of a conference on the Cyprus issue, let me remind you that President Christofias himself has proposed the framework within which such a conference might take place, in order for it to really contribute to progress on the resolution of the Cyprus issue.
But for there to be any point in such a conference, it will have to be preceded by substantial progress at the negotiating table. Progress that we have not seen to date, due to the positions taken by Mr. Eroglu; positions that mostly bring to mind times in decades past. If Turkey really wants a fast solution on the Cyprus issue, as it says from time to time – and we are the first to support this; it would be great if we could resolve the Cyprus issue tomorrow – it will have to use its influence, which stems from the fact that it has 40,000 occupation troops, so that Mr. Eroglu comes to the negotiations with different positions: constructive positions.
And if Turkey really wants to see speedy progress on the Cyprus issue, then it can do two things immediately: Withdraw its occupation troops and return the city of Famagusta, as proposed by the President of the Republic of Cyprus.
Mr. Meletis: I wanted to ask this: You said that if Turkey wants normalization of relations, it has to stop these activities, the flyovers and violations. So I want to ask you this: How has this continuing conduct on the part of Turkey – conduct that has intensified in recent years – impacted the improvement, the dramatic improvement in Greek-Turkish relations that the two Prime Ministers celebrated in Athens this past May? And I imagine they will do the same now, when they are stating that there is a great improvement in bilateral relations. How has Turkey’s negative conduct in the Aegean impacted things?
And something else: How do these violations impact Turkey’s European course?
Mr. Delavekouras: From 1999 on, a rapprochement process has begun between the two countries. Two countries traditionally considered enemies. The traditional thinking was that these two countries would always clash. The effort, the thinking, is for us to be able to find areas of cooperation that will create a different climate in our bilateral relations while we gradually manage to resolve serious issues concerning security.
The issue of Turkey’s conduct – violations – the issue of claims and questioning sovereignty is something we are confronting in a very clear manner. I say again: on the operational and diplomatic levels. It is a situation that needs to change, that cannot go on. And as long as it does go on, there cannot be normalization of the two countries’ relations.
We want to have a good relationship with Turkey, but a relationship supported on clear foundations. This cannot be achieved as long as Turkey continues to raise insupportable issues that run contrary to international law. This is clear.
And precisely because there is international law, we think that it is the best basis for determining our relations.
Journalist: (off microphone) (question concerning Greek-Turkish relations)
Mr. Delavekouras: We are two neighbours who can cooperate on a broad range of issues. I remind you of the High-level Cooperation Council, which was the most recent and one of the most important steps that have been taken in the rapprochement effort between the two countries. We developed cooperation in very many sectors, and we cannot ignore that there is much that we can gain from cooperation with Turkey: in the economic sector, the tourism sector, and cooperation on various other issues and sectors.
And it is precisely on this that we can work and bring benefits to Greece; benefits that serve the interests of our country and that create a better climate in our relations. But it must be clear that there can be no normalization of Greek-Turkish relations without a halt to these tactics on the part of Turkey.
Mr. Pallas: The Russian President was in Cyprus recently, on a really successful visit for Russia and Cyprus. Is he scheduled to come to Greece?
Mr. Delavekouras: I am not aware of anything on the programme right now.
Thank you.