Athens , 27 January 2010

Ms. R. Bizogli: On the line with us is Alternate Foreign Minister Mr. Dimitris Droutsas, who is in London at the moment. Good afternoon, Mr. Droutsas.

Mr. Droutsas: Good afternoon.

Ms. R. Bizogli: Tomorrow – shortly after the reply sent by the Prime Minister to Mr. Erdogan – you’ll have a meeting in London, a dinner with Mr. Davutoglou. Will you just be going over the letter or should we expect something new?

Mr. Droutsas: As you said, the Prime Minister sent a reply to his Turkish counterpart, Mr. Erdogan, in which he clearly presents Greece’s positions and also proposes certain steps, certain opportunities for cooperation.

My meeting with Mr. Davutoglou tomorrow gives us the chance to see how we can move forward with this cooperation. to look into more practical steps and with our meeting, confirm precisely this climate that is being created again between the two countries and the two governments: a positive climate aimed at closer cooperation.

Mr. Koutras: You’re heading to the U.S. after London to have a meeting with Ms. Clinton, isn’t that right?

Mr. Droutsas: A visit is being scheduled.

Mr. Kottakis: Do we have any news on the visa issue? This is to make the question more specific, apart from what you'll tell us about the meeting with Ms. Clinton.

Mr. Droutsas: As we said, I will be in Washington on 2 February to have contacts with the U.S. State Department, with Ms. Clinton.With regard to the visa issue that you mentioned, we have been briefed by the U.S. side that the matter is moving ahead with the right pace and in the right direction.

Mr. Koutras: Do we have anything more specific? Because I remember that before you took office at the Foreign Ministry together with the Prime Minister, this issue was supposed to be drawing to a close; the process was to be completed but it took another 2-3 years and there's still no movement – from what I understand. Do we have anything new on this issue, Mr. Droutsas, considering that it concerns a lot of our fellow citizens who want to travel to the U.S?

Mr. Droutsas: This issue is of great important to us too, of course, and the Greek side has made all the necessary preparations. It has been pointed out to us from the part of the U.S. that preparations are being completed and I want to believe that very soon, we will also be able to finalise this issue officially as well.

Ms. R. Bizogli: What issues will be on the table at your meeting with Ms. Clinton and Mr. Steinberg? Will there be a discussion on upgrading Greek-U.S. relations, on Greek-Turkish issues, on the Skopje issue? What should we expect?

Mr. Droutsas: At such meetings, you always discuss issues that are of interest to both countries - so-called bilateral issues – and, most importantly,  international developments. To us, this will definitely be a good opportunity to present our own thoughts and approaches also on issues that are of particular concern to us: our relations with Turkey, developments on the Cyprus issue and, of course, the Skopje issue; but here I want to point out that in these contacts, in all our contacts, the government does not focus its attention only on these issues.

We present the image of the country we want, a Greek state that is playing an active role in all major international events. We also have a lot to offer, a lot to contribute. And Greece plays an important role in its immediate neighbourhood, the Balkans and the Middle East. And these are, of course, issues that we intend to raise.

Ms. R. Bizogli: Has the date of the Prime Minister’s visit to the U.S. also been set?

Mr. Droutsas: As you know, the process is under way. As you know, a personal invitation was extended to Mr. Papandreou by President Obama during his recent, short visit to Copenhagen within the framework of the UN Conference. Both sides are following diplomatic procedures in order to set the final date for the Greek Prime Minister’s visit to Washington.

Mr. Koutras: Mr. Minister, Greek diplomacy has many pending issues, but I would like to touch upon a point that has been included in the agenda for the first time: A while ago, we were informed that the Constitutional Court of Tirana held the delimitation of maritime zones agreed upon by Greece and Albania to be unconstitutional. Is there a comment on the part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

Mr. Droutsas: Look, we were informed about these developments today as well. It is of course a negative development that we are not happy about. But I want to stress that this is a matter of domestic judicial process in Albania, which we cannot but respect. First of all, we are waiting for an official announcement on the part of Albania and, of course, the Albanian government's proposals on how it intends to handle the matter further.

But allow me to stress – since you mentioned this issue – that in my recent visit to Tirana, all my collocutors from the Albanian side confirmed – in all tones possible – the importance and priority given by Albania to this agreement precisely. And this afternoon, within the framework of the International Conference on Afghanistan, I will have the opportunity to discuss this issue with the Albanian Foreign Minister, Mr. Meta, and hear his first reactions.

Ms. R. Bizogli: LFirst London, then Washington, are you also preparing to meet with Mr. Ban Ki-moon in New York? Given the meetings he is going to have with Mr. Talat and Mr. Christofias.

Mr. Droutsas: Yes, I have been informed that my meeting in New York with the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, has been finalised. This is indeed a very good opportunity for us to discuss developments on the Cyprus issue, now that they have entered a more intensive stage;

And, of course, also discuss the name issue of FYROM. As you know very well, there is an ongoing negotiation process under the auspices of the UN. And it is a process that we support fully. A few days ago, I had a telephone conversation with the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Greece-FYROM talks, Mr. Nimetz. I invited him to Athens for his first official contacts with the new Greek government in order for us to brief him on our own approach and see how this issue can move forward

Mr. Koutras: And to round up the set of issues under your competence, Mr. Droutsas, I wanted to ask you the following: does the Greek economy’s position, the financial problem, render your contacts around the world more difficult?

Mr. Droutsas: I think any logical-minded person would know and understand that when someone faces a financial challenge, then their life is not made easier. But I want to stress that the new government has entered the international scene very reliably – particularly with regard to the conduct of its foreign policy.

But we, as a government, made sure that we took initiatives from the outset, we wanted to show that Greece really has something to offer. It is a factor of stability in the region.

I am particularly referring to our initiative for the European perspective of the Balkans, the so-called “Agenda 2014”. I am referring to the meeting that the Greek Prime Minister had with Mr. Erdogan in October. I am referring to the initiatives that we immediately took, also on the FYROM name issue. Here, Greece – the Greek government – have shown that they really know how to handle matters of foreign policy. And despite the fact that we are going through challenging times, I think that with regard to foreign policy issues, the international community realised from the outset and acknowledged that Greece really has something to offer.

Ms. R. Bizogli: A while ago, when we announced our interview with you on our station’s evening news, Babis Kourtas accidentally said “later, Foreign Minister Mr. Droutsas will be on the phone with us.” Do you think a slip of the tongue can sometimes tell the truth? Are you going to be appointed Foreign Minister?

Mr. Droutsas: I am the Alternate Foreign Minister of Greece, I have no further comment.

Ms. R. Bizogli: Thank you very much. Good afternoon.

Mr. Droutsas: Thank you.