Athens, 6 July 2006
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Good morning.
Yesterday’s launching of ballistic missiles by North Korea gives rise to particular concern. The Greek government condemns this action, which does not contribute to global peace and security, and which creates serious problems for the effort to limit the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Greece is already collaborating closely with the other members of the council to send the necessary message to North Korea
Regarding the programmes of the Minister and Deputy Ministers, today, at 12:00, Foreign Minister Ms. Bakoyannis will meet at the Foreign Ministry with Iraqi Foreign Minister Mr. Zebari.
Tomorrow, at 12:30, she will meet with NATO Secretary General Mr. Scheffer, who is visiting Athens. Mr. Scheffer will have earlier meetings with the Defence Minister and the Prime Minister.
Ms. Bakoyannis and Mr. Scheffer will make statements to the press following theirmeeting, and Ms. Bakoyannis will host a working luncheon in the NATO Secretary General’s honour.
Mr. Scheffer’s visit to Athens is taking place within the framework of the usual visits of the Secretary General to Alliance capitals leading up to the Summit Meeting. In this case, the Summit Meeting will take place in Riga, in November.
Regarding the programme of the activities of Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Valinakis, today he will be representing our country at the 3rd informal meeting of European Affairs Ministers of South East Europe, in Dubrovnik. This meeting is being organised within the framework of the Croatian Chairmanship of the SEECP. Greece is currently a member of the SEECP Troika.
Tomorrow, Friday, 7 July, Mr. Valinakis will be in Rhodes to participate as the keynote speaker in the International Center for Black Sea Studies Conference entitled “The Black Sea Region: Quo Vadis?”.
On Monday, 10 July, Mr. Valinakis will participate in Prime Minister Mr. Karamanlis’ talks with Cypriot President Mr. Papadopoulos.
Journalist: The Minister won’t be there?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Mr. Valinakis, whose programme I am giving you, will also be present.
Journalist: So both of them will attend the talks?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Obviously. I was reading out the memo from Mr. Valinakis’ office – the Foreign Minister will also be there, of course.
Journalist: What time is the meeting?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: At 12:00, if I remember correctly.
And on Monday, 11 July, Mr. Valinakis will represent our country at the Euro-African Ministerial Conference on migration and development – he’ll be departing from Athens, following the Prime Minister’s meeting, on Monday afternoon. The Conference is being held in Rabat, Morocco.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Stylianidis will receive at the Foreign Ministry today, Thursday, 6 July, the Finance Minister of Azerbaijan, Mr. Sharifov.
On Friday, 7 July, Mr. Stylianidis will meet at 12:00, at the Foreign Ministry, with US Ambassador Mr. Ries and the US Embassy’s Commercial Counselor. On the same day, at 13:30, Mr. Stylianidis will speak at a luncheon being held in his honour by the Hellenic-Italian Chamber of Commerce – at the Hilton, for those of you interested in covering it.
Mr. Stylianidis will carry out a working visit to Argentina and Brazil from 9 to 15 July, participating in the 6th Environmental Symposium, under the auspices of His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch. This is being supported by ‘Hellenic Gate’ and the Greek Foreign Ministry.
During his visit, Mr. Stylianidis will have political meetings with representatives of the Argentinean and Brazilian governments, in view of the new opening into the Latin American Market being prepared by Greek economic diplomacy for 2007.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Kassimis has been in Iceland since yesterday, and will be there until Saturday, 8 July, accompanying the President of the Republic on his official visit there.
On Friday, 7 July, Mr. Kassimis and the Foreign Minister of Iceland will sign an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation.
Finally, on Sunday, 9 July, Mr. Kassimis will travel to Munich for a three-day visit.
Regarding the Security Council’s activities, I want to note three issues. A few days ago, on 29 June, the Security Council adopted a Presidency statement condemning the ruthless murder of members of the Russian diplomatic mission to Iraq, who had been abducted by a terrorist organization and were later executed in cold blood by their abductors.
The Council stated that no cause can justify terrorist acts such as this, and reaffirmed its utmost determination to combat terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.
On 30 June there was a Security Council public meeting on the Middle East. The Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs characterized the situation that has taken shape in recent days in the Gaza Strip as particularly grave. He warned of further escalation, and called on both sides to show self-restraint in calming the crisis.
Finally, on 5 July Japan requested emergency closed consultations in the Security Council to discuss the issue of North Korea’s multiple missile tests.
In the consultations, Japan submitted a draft resolution in which the Security Council condemns the missile tests, calls on North Korea to stop the development, testing and proliferation of ballistic missiles, and provides for the withholding of funding, goods and technology that my be used in North Korea’s missile programme, while calling on the country to return to the six-sided talks.
The discussions regarding the draft resolution are continuing in the Security Council.
In closing, and as our meeting today is our first following the end of the Austrian EU Presidency, I would like – on behalf of the Greek Foreign Ministry – to congratulate the Austrian EU Presidency on the excellent work it did during the past six months.
Austria’s successful handling of the Presidency takes on even greater importance when we consider the difficulties that arose over the past six months in various fields in which the European Union is active.
Austria succeeded in creating new momentum on a number of issues, played a catalytic role in finding solutions to difficult problems, and set realistic objectives that it achieved, concurrently ensuring collective action on the part of the European Union.
Once more, we congratulate Austria on its successful work as the Presidency, and we send the Greek Foreign Ministry’s best wishes to Finland, which has already assumed these duties for the current semester.
That’s it for announcements. Are there any questions?
Journalist: There are new statements from the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr. Erdogan, to the effect that Turkey will not open its ports and airports if the sanctions on Turkish Cypriots are not lifted – yesterday evening, in a French newspaper, they are being reported by international new agencies.
And I would also like to ask whether a visit is impending from the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State to Athens, Nicosia, Ankara.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I have no comment on the Turkish Prime Minister’s statements – regarding the Protocol issue, it is a familiar Turkish position that is often repeated. What is also well known is that the European Union has set specific prerequisites, which the candidate country, Turkey, must comply with promptly and within a specific timeframe.
The European Union honours the agreements it has concluded with all states, including, of course, candidate countries, such as Turkey.
Regarding the Bryza issue, at this time I do not have absolutely clear information that can confirm this report. But I wouldn’t rule it out.
(conversational exchange)
Journalist: If you will, on the subject of the customs union, do you know whether there are European Union countries that are considering proposing a postponement of the implementation of the customs union? And what is Greece’s position on a possible postponement?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: As far as I know, at this time no such proposal or thoughts have been submitted regarding this issue. What we do know are publicly repeated and clear stances – either from representatives of member states or representatives of EU bodies, most notably the Commission – and of course I know the Greek stance, which is well known and clear: That Turkey has undertaken obligations that it must fulfil, within the timeframe set by the decisions of the European Union – decisions that Greece helped to formulated in September, last year.
Journalist: What is the purpose of the Iraqi Foreign Minister’s visit?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The Iraqi Foreign Minister has a programme of visits to capitals of a number of states. Among these is Athens. He is visiting our country, and statements will follow the meeting between Ms. Bakoyannis and her Iraqi counterpart. Greece welcomes the Iraqi Foreign Minister. I’ll stop there, because detailed statements will be made by Ms. Bakoyannis and the Iraqi Foreign Minister following their meeting.
Journalist: I want to ask another question about the Protocol. Can you tell us the precise provisions of Turkey’s accession partnership regarding the implementation of the Protocol, and whether it in some way allows for the extension of this deadline?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I don’t have the text of the accession partnership to hand at this moment. In any case, I will not go into a discussion of scenarios regarding what thoughts and ideas regarding this issue are, or are not, circulating. What is in effect is the decision of 21 September 2005.
(conversational exchange)
Journalist: A month after the announcement of the extension of the moratorium, is the Foreign Ministry’s assessment of its implementation positive?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The moratorium, as you know, which is based on the Yilmaz-Papoulias memorandum, concerns national military exercises, and up until now the memorandum has been implemented smoothly and no problem has arisen with regard to the moratorium.
Journalist: Let me ask a second question, then. Is there a positive assessment regarding the implementation of the Eskisehir-Larissa hotline, as we have seen increased military activity of Turkish fighter planes over the Aegean in recent days?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The communication line is one means – a positive one, we think – that can help in the confronting of avoidable incidents. This is the function of the hotline, which went into operation recently and is in the first days of operation and implementation.
Journalist: So let me understand. Neither the Eskisehir-Larissa hotline nor the agreement that was announced concerns the illegal activity of Turkish aircraft over the Aegean.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: That is an evaluation that does not follow from my answer.
Journalist: That’s what you said. You told me that the Papoulias-Yilmaz moratorium, the extension of the agreement, concerns only exercises, while the other concerns the reduction of incidents.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I didn’t say that. This is the reality of the situation. You know the text of the memorandum, and I refer you to it. This is the content of the moratorium, and this is being implemented as foreseen and without any problems.
(conversational exchange)
Journalist: What is Greece’s stance on the PKK issue and the operations in northern Iraq? Because they will talk to the Minister and the Minister will come out and say something. Shouldn’t we know Greece’s positions?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Greece firmly supports the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and unity of the Iraqi state. Furthermore, respect for Iraq’s borders by all neighbouring countries and non-intervention in Iraq’s domestic affairs are a necessary precondition, as dictated by respect for good neighbourly relations.
Thank you.