Athens , 3 September 2009

Ms. Bakoyannis: I welcome my friend the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Markos Kyprianou, to Athens. Markos and I had a very useful and substantial discussion within the framework or our systematic and close contacts and the ongoing cooperation between our Ministries.

First of all, I had the opportunity to thank the Cypriot government for the generous assistance Cyprus provided in the recent firefighting efforts in Attica. And no one can forget the contribution made by Cyprus during the 2007 wildfires and the reconstruction of the village of Artemida in the Prefecture of Ilia.

Today, we exchanged views on the course of the negotiations. For Greece, the Cyprus issue is a vital priority. Greece is present and active, standing by the Cypriot leadership in this critical phase of the negotiations. We are striving jointly to raise awareness among our partners in the EU and other agencies in the international system that play a role and have an interest in the Cyprus issue. And naturally, the two Ministries are in constant contact and cooperation.

We support in a substantial manner the ongoing negotiation process and the efforts being made by President Christofias to achieve a “Cypriot” solution, without mediation or interference from third parties, without artificial timeframes or any manner of “deadlines”, within the framework of the resolutions of the UN Security Council and the principles and values of the EU.

The mutually agreed basis for the negotiations is a bicommunal, bizonal federation, with political equality – as expressly stated in the relevant UN resolutions – with a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship.

In addition to actively supporting the process, Greece systematically stresses to all foreign collocutors the need for Turkey to allow the Turkish Cypriots to negotiate creatively towards an agreed solution that will be viable and functional. The incident at the Limnitis checkpoint is disappointing – aggravating the climate just when the new phase of negotiations is starting.

It is obvious that the solution must be in line with the European acquis and must allow the federal government to represent Cyprus effectively in the EU. It is obvious that partitioning is not a solution. A unified Cyprus in the EU – a Cyprus whose citizens are all European citizens – is the best investment in a future of progress and development.

On the matter of guarantees, we agreed that it is an outdated and anachronistic system. The EU is the best guarantee of the security of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

We discussed in detail the matter of the upcoming evaluation of Turkey’s fulfillment of its obligations to the EU. We discussed the progress in the individual chapters in the accession process. We have already begun briefing our partners and Commission officials on our positions, so that the October report can objectively set down the state of affairs ahead of the December evaluation.

There is still time for Turkey to comply. It is just a matter of Turkey’s realizing in time that there will be no special handling or shortcuts. Turkey has to see that the Union doesn’t work that way. We will determine our stance depending on Turkey’s response and based on our national interests and the interests of the EU; that is, the protection of European principles, European values and the European acquis.

Finally, I briefed the Minister on the talks I had with the Secretary General of NATO during his recent visit to Athens.

Markos, I thank you for your visit to Athens and the good cooperation we have. We – Greece and Cyprus – have major challenges to face, and I believe that together we will achieve the best possible result.

Mr. Kyprianou: I, too, would like to start by expressing my thanks for today’s meeting. It is a real pleasure to be here in Athens today. As you know, my friend Dora Bakoyannis and I are in close and regular contact, not only on issues that directly concern Cyprus, but also on the other European and regional issues.

As I said, we are in regular contact on a bilateral level and within the framework of the European Councils, but we are now entering an important phase for Cyprus. We are about to begin the second round of negotiations on the resolution of the Cyprus problem. As you known, in the first round there was progress, but not to the degree – or on the difficult issues – that we would have hoped to see. And at the same time we are moving towards Turkey’s evaluation in December.

We had the opportunity for an exchange of views, for an assessment of the state of play and for me to give a briefing on the progress of the talks. We also had the opportunity to look at further moves in addressing the matter of Turkey’s evaluation in December.

Our position is that Turkey has a responsibility, first of all, regarding the resolution of the Cyprus problem. While the agreed process is between the two sides, the Cyprus problem does not cease to be an international problem of invasion and occupation. It was created by Turkey and Turkey cannot be a mere spectator, but must be constructive and proactive in its resolution, particularly in allowing the Turkish Cypriots to negotiate freely, and also sending the right messages towards the solution being pursued. Because by undermining the goal of a solution, Turkey is certainly not helping the negotiations in Cyprus.

At the same time, Turkey has undertaken obligations to the European Union; obligations that hold for all of the member states. They are nothing extraordinary, but Turkey has not fulfilled them and is obliged to do so. It is an obligation to the European Union, and Turkey itself cannot set preconditions and terms in order to meet its own conditions.

This is the position of the Republic of Cyprus. We expect that Turkey should meet its obligations, otherwise there will be consequences. Of course, we hope that the consequences will be decided on collectively by the European Union, depending on the conditions at the right time.

I also had the opportunity to be briefed on the visit of the NATO Secretary General. As you know, Cyprus is not a member of NATO, but we are a member state of the European Union. We have no objection to the cooperation between the European Union and NATO within the framework, of course, of the autonomous operation of both Organizations and independence in their decision-making. But I want to repeat what the Prime Minister of Greece said during Mr. Rasmussen’s visit: that the European Union has 27 member states. And this will have to be recognized and accepted by Turkey. The problem in the functioning of EU-NATO cooperation is Turkey, not Cyprus.

I want to say again that the Cypriot government and the Cypriot people very much appreciate the constant and firm support of the Greek government, Greek politics and the Greek people before the difficult challenges that we have to face – particularly at this time, when we are trying to resolve our major national issue.

Of course, I cannot add anything to what my friend Dora said regarding what we are pursuing in the solution of the Cyprus issue, but I will finish by stressing that the solution we are proposing, that was basically agreed, that we are pursuing, will be to the benefit of all Cypriots. It will benefit both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, who will be able to capitalize on the prospect not only of a unified island, but also of a member state of the European Union, with all of the resulting benefits.

We have agreed that we will continue to be in contact and that we will, of course, confront matters as they arise. Thank you.

Journalist: Madam Minister, in the coming time – during which no one can predict how things will develop with regard to the critical issues that are upcoming in foreign policy, Turkey’s European course, the Cyprus issue – how difficult or easy will decision-making be on the political level?

Ms. Bakoyannis: Listen, the Greek Foreign Ministry – whether in run-ups to elections or in normal periods – always continues to work and never stops for a moment. The defense of foreign policy issues is a basic duty for all of us, and we will carry out this duty until the day the government elected by the Greek people is sworn in to office, so that when the duty is passed on – or not – there is not the slightest gap in the exercising of foreign policy.

It is a good thing that in matters of foreign policy, Greek politics essentially – despite the efforts made once in a while by certain political parties to play the patriotism card – does not have differing views, so there is one nationally agreed-upon line.

Journalist: Madam Minister, Mr. Kyprianou said a short while ago that there will be consequences for Turkey if it does not meet its commitments to the European Union. In his interview with the Athens News Agency yesterday, he said that Turkey’s accession to the European Union passes through the solution of the Cyprus issue. And the older statements from Mr. Kyprianou that say that Cyprus will take painful decisions regarding Turkey if the latter does not fulfil its obligations to the European Union.

Will Greece support the choices of the Republic of Cyprus – whatever they may be – at the December Summit Meeting?

Ms. Bakoyannis: Right now, what we are talking about is precisely the ways in which we can jointly – Greece and Cyprus, but also the European Union as a whole – reply to any non-implementation by Turkey of the Acquis Communautaire; that is, things that have been agreed upon, like the Ankara Protocol.

That is what I said and that is what Mr. Kyprianou said. That is what we are both saying and that is what we are discussing at this time. And I also said that Turkey still has time to implement the Ankara Protocol and thus honour its obligations. And in December Turkey will be assessed according to non-implementation or implementation.

That is what we both said, and I think that is the basis of our cooperation. And I believe that we will have a European position on this.

Thank you.