Athens, 3 March 2008

A warm welcome to our friend the Secretary General of ΝΑΤΟ Mr. Scheffer is visiting our country in the final stage of preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit Meeting.

This meeting is going to take place here, in our region: in Bucharest. In the historic capital of a friend, ally, partner and neighbouring country.

The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to NATO and the European Union is the best proof that our region can meet the challenge of a better tomorrow that will benefit everyone.

It reaffirms Greece’s good judgment when making the strategic choice to support the European and Euro-Atlantic perspectives of its neighbouring countries.

This is a choice in support of the stability, security and development of our region.

I must underline, however, that unswerving adherence to the principles, values and rules that govern the work and cohesion of any alliance is a condition sine quo non for enlargement of an alliance and the building of allied relations of solidarity.

It is a prerequisite that there be no outstanding issues between a candidate country and a member state; issues that have a negative impact on their relations.

Greece believes that such issues should not be perpetuated. We believe that they must be resolved in a mutually acceptable manner; a manner that is final and practical, and that can be implemented directly.

The absence of such solutions on serious issues of good neighbourly relations does not allow for the creation of allied relations.

This is the belief of Greece, a strong ally of NATO for 55 years.

This is the belief of the oldest member of the Alliance in this fragile corner of Europe.

It is a clear position of principle.

Based on this, we have mapped out our policy. Based on this, we have made our decisions.

I briefed Mr. Scheffer on these thoughts of ours concerning the future enlargement of the Alliance.

I also briefed him on the course of the negotiations taking place within the framework of the UN, aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution on the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

And I set out in full the arguments and basic parameters of the constructive stance we maintained in this process, which, unfortunately, has gone on for 17 years without producing a result. I also expressed our concern over the possible destabilization of the region if such problems of nationalistic and irredentist thinking and policy go unresolved. 

A manner of thinking that has no place in today’s Europe.

A manner of thinking that – should it prevail – will keep the Western Balkans far from Europe.

And nobody wants that. Greece certainly doesn’t want that.

Finally, I stressed Greece’s conviction that the time for a solution – a mutually acceptable solution – is now.

Beyond the enlargement issue, the Secretary General and I discussed two other issues that will be addressed at the Summit Meeting: Developments and NATO’s presence in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

These are two very important missions that have been undertaken by the Alliance to bolster stability and combat international terrorism, respectively.

Greece is participating actively in both of these missions. In 2007, we contributed some 2,000 personnel to these missions.

This is further tangible proof of the 55 years of allied solidarity Greece has contributed to the Alliance’s efforts.

Our sharing of the NATO burden through defense expenditures of almost 3% of our GNP is yet another important contribution to the Alliance.

I believe – and I’ll close with this – that the fundamental principle of an alliance – every alliance – is that when member states make their solidarity tangible, it is quite reasonable that they should expect the same from their partners and allies in their relations with third countries.

With these thoughts I would like to welcome you once again to Greece.