Athens , 24 May 2011

Journalist: Mr. Minister, what issues are you going to discuss with your Italian counterpart?

Mr. Droutsas: Greece and Italy have vital and converging interests in the Mediterranean. You need only look at the repercussions of the major uprisings in North Africa and developments in the Balkans. Our economies need further strengthening, particularly in the energy sector.

Journalist: Europe is still divided on foreign policy: To what extent does this affect relations with other major global powers?

Mr. Droutsas: The Lisbon Treaty was a major step towards the creation of a common representation for the EU in the world. But it was only the beginning. Lady Ashton is doing an excellent job and the results are visible. The only thing missing is the soul of a united Europe: a true community of interests. Only then will the EU show its real weight in the global geopolitical balance of power.

Journalist: Let’s talk about Libya. What has Greece’s role been during this crisis?

Mr. Droutsas: Greece has contributed substantially to confronting the crisis. It has provided military bases for the NATO operations, it has provided humanitarian aid, and we are continuing to work in the direction of a political – rather than just military – resolution to the conflict. Greece played an important role in the evacuation of refugees and migrants. Over 20,000 people were accommodated in Crete during the crisis.

Journalist: Migration flows will be increasing in the coming months.

Mr. Droutsas: Some European partners seem to think that Italy and Greece can function as a dam against the flow of migrants. But the absence of a common European policy on migration is indicative of what is lacking in the EU. I believe that the time has come for collective decisions.

Journalist: Greece, Italy and Spain are at risk of missing the European train, which is once again being driven by Germany. How should they react?

Mr. Droutsas: The European dimension of the problem needs to be made clear. The crisis is not the exclusive problem of the countries of the Mediterranean. It would be a huge mistake in the present circumstances to become entrenched in national self-interest, which in any case runs counter to the basic principles and the core values of the European Vision.

Journalist: Greece is once again going through one of the most difficult moments in its recent history. How does the government plan to confront this?

Mr. Droutsas: We are continuing our great effort to emerge from the crisis. After the first year and a half, we have the first significant results. These results have come at the cost of great sacrifices, and it would be wrong to play down those sacrifices. So, what Greece needs to do right now is to regain the certainty that it is not walking down this difficult path alone.

Journalist: Will the arrest and resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn from the IMF impact Greece’s bailout plan?

Mr. Droutsas: Our collaboration with the IMF is institutional and is not impacted by individuals. It is determined by political choices. The key to success is conscientious implementation of our programme. That is what we are doing and we are sure that our success will be a victory for Europe over those investing in the failure of the eurozone and the euro.

Journalist: But the situation remains critical. Is the €50-billion privatization scheme, along with the financial and structural reforms, enough to reduce your debt?

Mr. Droutsas: Capitalization on public assets is one of the basic components of our programme, because it will contribute decisively to reducing the public debt. We are preparing very carefully. I can assure foreign investors that whoever invests in our country will profit in the end. After the crisis, Greece will be a competitive partner in a dynamic economy.