Athens , 29 January 2010

Ms. Kosioni: While all of this is going on inside the country, beyond our borders, in London, Alternate Foreign Minister Droutsas has had two important meetings with his Turkish and FYROM counterparts, on the margins of the International Conference on Afghanistan. Mr. Droutsas, the Alternate Foreign Minister, is with us. Good morning, Mr. Minister.

Mr. Droutsas: Good morning, Ms. Kosioni.

Ms. Kosioni: Let’s start with the last meeting you had – with the Turkish Foreign Minister – given all the activity there is with the letters and potential meetings in the coming period. I think it would be interesting for you to tell us what you discussed.

Mr. Droutsas: Of course, Ms. Kosioni. This was a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglou in something of a natural follow-up to the letter the Greek Prime Minister sent to his Turkish counterpart recently, and in the spirit of the desire we expressed in this letter for rapprochement and cooperation with Turkey.

The meeting took place in a very friendly and constructive climate, and we looked first of all at the next steps – the first steps – for developing this cooperation that both sides want.

Ms. Kosioni: Mr. Erdogan, however, has expressed a desire for a dialogue on all issues, while the Greek side does not share this desire, Mr. Droutsas. Did you discuss this? That is, the agenda for the upcoming meeting between the two Prime Ministers?

Mr. Droutsas: Of course, we looked at various sectors of common interest where we can cooperate. On the international level, issues like the repercussions of climate change for the Mediterranean region, which is one issue we ascertained as having potential for cooperation between our two countries. There will be common interests in this area.

On the regional level, for example, we could work together on the Middle East issue. Greece and Turkey have developed activities on this issue and we enjoy a certain status, I would say, with collocutors in this region. We said that we can look at the potential for cooperation in this area.

And, of course, on a bilateral level, where we can look at additional sectors of common interest, like cooperation on our tourism, cooperation on economic issues, cultural issues, along the lines, I would say, of the effort that we initiated with George Papandreou as the Foreign Minister of Greece, in 1999.

Within this framework, we want to pursue cooperation. And I would like to say the following, Ms. Kosioni – because we often hear slogans, I would say, like “dialogue on all the issues” or “secret diplomacy” – allow me to say that all of these slogans are void of real content and of course are unfounded. We aren’t saying that we will discuss whatever Turkey thinks it wants to bring to the table.

Ms. Kosioni: I mean the bilateral issues – and the microscope focuses on the Aegean, which is the burning issue.

Mr. Droutsas: Of course, I will come to that. This is a process that we initiated some years ago: the “exploratory contacts”, in which our aim is the delimitation of the Aegean continental shelf. We said that we want to intensify this process to see if we can get a result. And Greece’s position is well known: that if we can’t reach an understanding within a reasonable amount time, then we say that we must have joint recourse to the International Court in The Hague on this issue.

We want cooperation on very specific conditions, with very good preparation on our part, step by step.

Ms. Kosioni: Did you refer to the issue of cooperation between the two countries on the issue of illegal migration, or is an agenda for discussion between the two Prime Ministers being prepared?

Mr. Droutsas: This is another issue that Greece is raising. It affects Greece very seriously. We have come up against this issue, and Turkey plays a special role in this area. And that is why we will look at the potential for cooperation.

But first of all, we are raising the issue of Turkey’s obligation to implement the bilateral Protocol on Readmission that has been signed by the two countries. Effective implementation of this agreement. And for the EU to negotiate a similar protocol; a similar readmission agreement.

All of these issues are being raised by the Greek side, and we will discuss them.

Ms. Kosioni: And I assume they will be discussed during a possible visit by you to Ankara in the immediate future –  we have learned that you received an invitation to visit our neighbouring country – and during the Greek Prime Minister’s visit to Turkey, set to take place by the summer.

Mr. Droutsas: It is a fact that Mr. Davutoglou extended an invitation for me to visit Ankara, and I accepted, of course. We will see when exactly I can carry out this visit. There will be very serious preparation, and this visit of mine to Ankara will be a visit in preparation for a possible visit by Mr. Erdogan to Athens.

As you know, the Greek Prime Minister has invited Mr. Erdogan to visit Athens, and we are determining the time for this visit as some time around summer. That is more or less an initial timeframe, which we will look at to see whether and how we can carry it through.

Ms. Kosioni: Right. In closing, Mr. Droutsas, we would like you to tell us something about the meeting you had with FYROM Foreign Minister Milososki. What exactly did you discuss regarding the familiar issue?

Mr. Droutsas: Mr. Milososki asked to meet with me on the opportunity of our both being present at the International Conference. Such Conferences are a good opportunity for bilateral contacts.

Ms. Kosioni: Right.

Mr. Droutsas: As I have been saying repeatedly for some time now, our side is open to bilateral contacts with the political leadership of FYROM. And as you know, the Greek Prime Minister himself took the initiative to invite his FYROM counterpart to meetings.

We believe that these bilateral meetings, the direct contacts, can only help and support the process for finding a name – a process that I stress is being carried out under the auspices of the UN.

Ms. Kosioni: But there was a proposal from FYROM to upgrade the diplomatic missions in Athens and Skopje, and there is an issue here: that this move does not seem compatible with – doesn’t seem to bear any relation to – the rhetoric Skopje is cultivating against our country, Mr. Droutsas.

Mr. Droutsas: Mr. Milososki did in fact reiterate this proposal from FYROM for something of an upgrading of our bilateral diplomatic missions.

I replied that we are clearly pursuing the substantial improvement of our relations, but I said that at this time, at the level where these relations currently are, I don’t see the reason for such an upgrading.

I stressed that first of all our relations should improve substantially. I made a particular call for the FYROM leadership not to contribute to the presentation to FYROM public opinion of a negative image of Greece or of Greece as the enemy.

We say clearly that Greece is a friend. But Skopje also needs to come to the negotiating table at the UN in a constructive manner so that we can resolve the name issue.

Ms. Kosioni: Precisely, and when they have cultivated a friendly climate rather than heated nationalism. Mr. Droutsas, I want to thank you very much. Have a good trip back, and good day.

Mr. Droutsas: Thank you, too. Goodbye.