Athens, 18 March 2010
Mr. Delavekouras: Good morning. I’ll start with the Ministers' programmes.
At 10:15 tomorrow, Friday, 19 March 2010, Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas will participate in the Prime Minister’s meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Christofias, at the Maximos mansion.
At 12:00 on Saturday, 20 March, Mr. Droutsas will attend the official opening of the new building of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus.
Mr. Droutsas will participate on Monday, 22 March, in the proceedings of the EU General Affairs and Foreign Affairs Councils (GAC and FAC) in Brussels.
The General Affairs Council, within the framework of preparations for the European Council on 25 and 26 March, in Brussels, will discuss the EU 2020 Strategy and the issue of climate change.
The Foreign Affairs Council will look at the situation in Haiti and the reconstruction efforts, ahead of the Donors Conference to be held on 31 March, in New York, the situation in Chile and the Middle East, with a briefing on the Middle East from Middle East peace envoy, Mr. Blair, and also Afghanistan.
At 13:00 on Wednesday, 24 March 2010, Mr. Droutsas will host a luncheon in honour of the members of the Greek-Turkish Forum.
On to Deputy Foreign Minister Kouvelis’ programme. At 17:30 today, Mr. Kouvelis will participate in and address the welcome speech at the “ECOWEEK 2010” international conference. At 13:00 tomorrow, Mr. Kouvelis will meet with the President of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO.
The Deputy Foreign Minister will travel to Rome on Wednesday, 24 March, to participate in a working breakfast on the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII). This breakfast is being hosted by the Italian presidency of the AII. On 30 March, Mr. Kouvelis will be in Istanbul for the meeting of SEECP Trade Ministers, which is being organized by the Turkish Chairmanship of the SEECP.
That’s it for announcements. Your questions, please.
Mr. G. Valinakis: Mr. Vlavianos: Mr. Spokesman, I would like to ask about how the Alternate Foreign Minister’s interview was received in Skopje.
Mr. Delavekouras: With regard to this, I would like to say that Greece follows a firm, positive policy on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
The message we are sending to our neighbouring people is a positive message, a message of friendship and support, particularly in the context of our neighbouring country’s European course. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen the other side respond to date.
We would like to believe that Mr. Gruevski’s government will come to the negotiations in a positive and constructive manner. We would like to believe that we will reach a solution quickly and we believe that we can reach a solution directly if there is political will to such an end. The two peoples can cooperate, as neighbours. They can become the best of friends, and Greece will help its neighbouring country on its course.
I would like to believe that we will see a change, but I must stress that up until this time, we have not seen such a change. In contrast, we have seen a cautiousness that I am afraid will not provide for the necessary momentum and progress in the negotiations.
For our part, we will continue this policy of positive dialogue, of positive initiatives that we hope will create a more positive climate in the relations of the two countries and impart momentum to the negotiation process within the framework of the UN.
Ms. RISTOVSKA: Is there a chance of Prime Ministers Papandreou and Gruevski meeting in Brussels on 25 or 26 March? And whether you have any information regarding a new meeting with Mr. Nimetz.
Mr. Delavekouras: Regarding your first question, let me say that from the very first moment the Greek Prime Minister took up his duties, he immediately took initiatives.
He pursued a meeting with – and met with – the Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. He met with him directly, precisely in order to create this better climate that is needed in the relations between the two countries.
He had meetings with him in order to get to know him, to hear his positions, and so that they could have a sincere dialogue. They have already had two meetings on the level of Prime Ministers, and there have been meetings of the level of Foreign Minister, with Alternate Foreign Minister Droutsas, and I am certain that there is a positive inclination from our side.
I don’t know the details of the Prime Minister’s schedule, but I believe that if his programme allows for it and there is an opportunity, we will take an initiative for such a meeting to take place.
Regarding your second question, we have no information regarding an imminent meeting of Mr. Nimetz with the representatives of the two countries.
Mr. Kapoutsis: Will there be a meeting with Mr. Christofias?
Mr. Delavekouras: President Christofias is coming to Athens. He will follow a programme and will of course meet with the Greek Prime Minister. He will also have some activities in Chania and Patra, as far as I know.
He will have the opportunity for a very useful exchange of views at a very critical time for Cyprus, because, as you know, the talks are continuing. There was a meeting the day before yesterday, and there will be another one between President Christofias and Mr. Talat. The talks are moving ahead, and we want to have an accurate picture of how things are developing.
The Greek government’s support for President Christofias’s efforts is a given, it is ongoing, and it is concrete. We hope to see progress, and we are waiting to see how things will develop at this critical stage.
Mr. Kapoutsis: Would you like to comment on the ECHR decision that instructs Greek Cypriots to appeal to the “authorities” of the Turkish Cypriot pseudo-state in order to pursue their property claims?
Mr. Delavekouras: First of all, we should be aware of the basis on which we are talking. The Cyprus issue remains an issue of invasion and occupation. The consequences and responsibility weigh on Turkey. That is clear.
The European Court made a decision that will of course be studied very carefully. It is a decision that recognises Turkey’s responsibility, and we need to stand on that. And of course it does not cancel out or refute the reality that exists on the island; the reality of occupation.
The Cyprus issue needs to be resolved, and this matter will be resolved with it. But the critical thing is for Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side to come to the negotiations with the aim of finding a solution, because this state of affairs cannot continue.
The Republic of Cyprus is a member state of the European Union. It has to function within the framework of the European Union, based on the principles and values of the European Union. And that is why the Cyprus issue must be resolved.
Ms. Kourbela: I wanted to ask about the European Council, and specifically regarding the issue of the new strategy – EU 2020 – that will replace the Lisbon Strategy. Have we prepared the Greek positions? Have we promoted them? Because there is a danger of the cohesion policy being downgraded.
Mr. Delavekouras: The European Union 2020 Strategy carries on from the previous agenda, the Lisbon Strategy, which did not produce the results we expected.
We want the EU 2020 Strategy to really bring these results; to bring the development dimension and the employment dimension – to incorporate all these changes that are taking place in the manner in which the European Union and the Greek economy are developing. The green development dimension, the sustainable development dimension; the dimension of development with emphasis on quality, which will reflect the added value of the European Union and its particular characteristics.
All of these discussions are under way right now, and Greece is naturally bringing proposals that are being compiled through cooperation between many Ministries. There will be a discussion of this at the General Affairs Council – in preparation for the European Council – and there will naturally be a very interesting discussion on the level of the European Council on 25 and 26 March, so we will be able to discuss it.
Mr. Gogas: I would like you to tell us the Foreign Ministry’s position regarding the possible issuing of a joint communiqué by Christofias and Talat at the end of this phase of the negotiations. It is something that Turkey is discussing. The UN Secretary General came out in favour of this? What is the Foreign Ministry’s opinion?
Mr. Delavekouras: This is something that has been discussed, first of all, by President Christofias and Mr. Talat. This is something that is under discussion and that depends directly on the course of the talks. This isn’t happening in a void. So we will have to let these talks continue and see, depending on how they evolve, whether it is advisable for there to be a joint communiqué. This is something that President Christofias is discussing right now.
Mr. Papathanasiou: What is the Greek Foreign Ministry’s assessment of Turkish activity in the Aegean recently, ahead of the Alternate Foreign Minister’s upcoming visit to Ankara?
Mr. Delavekouras: The activity we have seen recently – particularly on the sea – is certainly cause for concern. There have been statements from the Minister of Defense and the Alternate Minister of Defense. And I am moving within the same framework when I talk to you. We will have to get past the formalities of the Convention on the Law of the Sea and look a little at its substance.
At this moment, I am not considering whether or not this is a matter of innocent passage. I am focussing on the message that Turkey is sending right now, at a critical phase in which Greece wants to make an effort to improve relations, and such activities are certainly cause for concern.
This is something that we will discuss with the Turkish Foreign Minister. We will raise this with the Turkish Foreign Minister. And I would like to emphasize once more the precise period during which this conduct is taking place.
Just a few days ago, we had the meeting of the Steering Committee on the level of Political Directors. It was a very good meeting.
The picture we have is that there was, from the Turkish side as well, a willingness to talk; a desire to find fields of cooperation. A broad range of issues was discussion, including trade and economy, tourism, transport, energy and the environment, agriculture, culture, the visa issue, confronting natural disasters.
So there was a discussion not just of problematic issues, where there is difficulty. There was talk of how we can take this discussion further forward. To create new fields of cooperation and to move it ahead. That is our approach. That is the spirit in which the Alternate Foreign Minister will visit Ankara, probably some time in March. And that is what we are waiting to see from the Turkish side as well.
Mr. Hadoulis: I wanted to ask, ahead of the European Council, and on the matter of the economy – it isn’t exactly your area, but the Foreign Ministry is involved as well. I wanted to ask whether Greece thinks that the positions expressed by Germany this week are agreed with more broadly in the European Union with regard to potential assistance.
And whether Greece will attempt to approach certain countries at the Council so that we can get a positive result, because from what you would have us understand, if we don’t get a positive result, then the IMF is the only solution. Thank you very much.
Mr. Delavekouras: I won’t go into a discussion of financial issues, but I do want to say something about the manner in which the European Union functions. The European Union is based on solidarity and consensus. On the issues you raised, there has already been a decision at the highest level of the European Union.
There is a decision of the heads of state and government of the European Union. This decision is based on consensus and is very clear. We are waiting for the particularization of this decision, but the will has to be considered a given.
Ms. Kourbela: Mr. Spokesman, I want to ask you about the issue of the Evros River. The issue appears to be pending, still. And I heard that an early warning system is to be promoted. Are we cooperating with the Bulgarian side? Because if it rains again, we will have losses again, etc.
Mr. Delavekouras: The Greek side is pursuing this cooperation, and though there are committees that are already functioning, we have to find a way to be more flexible so that we can confront the disastrous consequences of these natural phenomena.
We are in communication with the Bulgarian side, and we are looking at how we can create means for earlier warning of the Greek side and for confronting situations. This naturally includes a modern early warning system that the Bulgarian authorities are talking about installing. But faster notification of the Greek side is needed so that we can have data in time; indications that there is a danger of flooding, so that we can confront the situation.
Ms. Kourbela: So this is in progress.
Mr. Delavekouras: Yes, the discussions with the Bulgarian side are ongoing.
Ms. Fryssa: Your comment on the item in today’s Eleftherotypia regarding Foreign Ministry employees.
Mr. Delavekouras: I would like to clarify something on this issue. In recent months, we have called on three Foreign Ministry employees to take up duties at the Central Service. The system we have at the Foreign Ministry requires that they go before a posting committee in order to be posted, via transfer, to the Central Service.
A posting committee wasn’t held at that time. One was held about two weeks ago, so all of the personnel went before the posting committee.
Beyond that, in order for them to be able to perform their duties at the Central Service, they needed to come here via re-posting. With the Ministry’s mechanism, this means that they continued to be paid the salary and remuneration of their posts abroad.
Obviously, these personnel will not keep the difference. They will return it to the Foreign Ministry. This was obvious.
And I would like to say here that such things create false impressions. The Foreign Ministry is making a major effort to curb expenditure, to rationalise procedures so that order can be imposed on the manner in which the Foreign Ministry operates, and so that money can be saved.
There is an effort to use the money spent in a way that will maximise the benefits for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is what we lay emphasis on. This is what all the effort is aimed at.
Ms. Melissova: Could you please comment on Ms. Merkel’s positions before the European Parliament, implicitly showing us the way out of the eurozone;
Mr. Delavekouras: There is no question of that. No such issues are raised. Greece is part of the European Union’s core, it is a member of the eurozone, a member of the single currency. Now it is Europe’s turn to show solidarity.
Mr. Kapoutsis: There is an article by Yannis Kapsis in magazine “Epikera”, out today, which uses very strong terms about Alternate Foreign Minister Droutsas and raises certain questions for Mr. Droutsas to answer. Does Mr. Droutsas intend to answer?
Mr. Delavekouras: I haven’t seen the article you are referring to.
Mr. Caka: Do asylum applications by Skopje and Serbian citizens following the visa liberalistion here pose a threat for other countries that also wait for their visa regime to be liberalised? That is, is it possible that the European Union might not be able to make any decisions?
Mr. Delavekouras: The European Union makes decisions provided certain procedural criteria – very strict criteria – are met. The inclusion in the visa liberalisation programme presupposes reforms, substantial domestic reforms by the candidate countries.
The evaluation of Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina is still ongoing. They must fulfill all the necessary criteria in order to be included in the programme. Greece has supported this process, we believe that the contact of the peoples of the Balkans with the European reality is very important and it can have a positive, beneficial influence on these countries’ domestic scene.
But we cannot make concessions on our criteria, this is out of the question.
Mr. Caka: So what is causing the delay in Albania’s case, given that it had been said that the decision would have been made in the first half of this year?
Mr. Delavekouras: Albania will be evaluated based on its actions, based on the European Commission’s recommendation. The European Commission’s evaluation has not been completed yet. You will be informed when it is, and then it will be discussed at the Council. We have not reached this point.
Mr. Caka: A few days ago, the Albanian Foreign Minister visited Serbia. We could say this is the first official visit at such a level. How is this cooperation between the two countries seen here in Greece?
Mr. Delavekouras: Greece’s aim, the firm objective of Greece’s foreign policy, is for the Balkans to become an area of stability, peace, and growth. This is what we are seeking. Anything that goes in this direction is welcome to us. It is important for Serbia to be able to talk with Albania. It is important for the two countries’ relations to be developed and this is why we welcome such meetings, such initiatives.
What we are interested in is the substance, i.e., that relations between Balkan countries move forward, that we leave enmities behind us and use dialogue and diplomacy in order to resolve any pending problems, so that the Balkan peninsula can really become part of the European Union, a neighbourhood of peace, stability, and growth.
Thank you very much.