Athens, 9 July 2008

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Good morning. On Sunday, 13 July 2008, Prime Minister Mr. Karamanlis, Foreign Minister Ms. Dora Bakoyannis, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Valinakis and Secretary General for European Affairs Mr. Katsoudas  will take part in the Paris summit on the “Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean”. There will be a separate Foreign Ministers’ meeting within the framework of the Summit.

I would like to say a few words on how Greece addressed the initiative on the Union for the Mediterranean. Having close, friendly ties with all the countries of the Mediterranean, Greece supported the French initiative from the outset and contributed to the process for its development with specific proposals.

The “Union for the Mediterranean” is an excellent opportunity to achieve development for the peoples of the wider region of the Mediterranean by implementing specific programmes with an economic, cultural, and social dimension.

Following the new call for tenders by the Foreign Ministry's Hellenic Aid, the 2008 deadline for the submission of applications for development cooperation on the part of Ministries, NGOs, and other agencies is 31 July.

I would like to stress certain elements and characteristics of this call for tenders. For the first time, it introduces a series of innovations in implementation of the basic guidelines set by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. More particularly: the Foreign Ministry places particular emphasis on food security programmes to address the world food crisis and on aid programmes to help developing countries adapt to climate change. This is known as the adaptation policy.

A second particularly important and noteworthy characteristic is the encouragement of project co-funding, on which the Ministry has set the co-funding percentage basis at 50% for the first time. According to previous practices, co-funding was at 75%, that is, the Foreign Ministry at 75% and other agencies undertaking the project at 25%. So we have proceeded to a significant reduction in the co-funding percentage. It goes without saying that co-financing can come from international development aid agencies, i.e., the European Union, UN institutions, corporate social responsibility projects, etc.

The third characteristic relates to these actions’ geographical characteristics. These actions have as their priority aim the following geographic regions: Sub-Saharan Africa, the Balkans, Near and Middle East, North Africa, and countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia. Priority countries include China for the first time, and a Memorandum of Understanding on development cooperation was signed between Greece and China.

You will find more detailed information in the relevant notice already uploaded on the Foreign Ministry website. More details on this issue are given in the note that we will hand out to you immediately after the briefing.

The Foreign Ministry has set up a Special Secretariat for the Development of International Programmes. This Secretariat offers a range of specialised services adapted to the premise of a modernised public administration closer to citizens and their needs. The Secretariat’s basic concern and responsibility is capitalising on EU funds related to the Foreign Ministry’s activities, drawing up and monitoring the Foreign Ministry’s investment programme, and supporting Greek businesses and NGOs. Support to the latter is aimed at making more efficient use of financing and investment opportunities offered by international development organisations and other muiltilateral bodies.

Allocated funds around the world amount to a €50 billion reserve in total. So the Special Secretariat’s objective is to help interested businesses and NGOs in Greece to make optimum use through specific and well-prepared proposals of this large sum of €50 billion offered by international organisations and other multilateral agencies around the world.

In order to achieve this goal, we created and opened a portal (www.aidfunding.mfa.gr), the portal for international funding, at the disposal of those interested in finding new markets and new networking opportunities outside Greece. Of course, the Foreign Ministry’s comparative advantage is its wide network of Embassies around the world and the international networking of Greek businesses and NGOs. We will give you more detailed information in the form of a press communique.

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Regarding the programme of activities:

Today, at 13:30, Foreign Minister Ms. Dora Bakoyannis will meet with representatives from the Parliamentary group of the Christian Social Union (CSU) political party of the Bundestag (Germany). Tomorrow, Thursday, 10 July, at 12:00, she will take part in the meeting between Prime Minister Mr. Kostas Karamanlis and his Spanish counterpart, Mr. Zapatero, at Maximos Mansion.

Mr. Valinakis will meet tomorrow, Thursday, 10 July, at 09:30 with the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Mr. H. Biscevic.

On Friday, 11 July, Mr. Valinakis will have bilateral contacts in Paris with Special Advisor to the French President Mr. Guaino, Secretary General for European Affairs Mr. G. Briatta, and Secretary General to the Sea Mr. X. De la Gorce.  On Saturday, 12 July, he will take part in the proceedings of the informal meeting of European Affairs Ministers to be held in Brest, France. The main topics of discussion are: the Lisbon Treaty and the EU’s Maritime Policy.

Finally, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Kassimis will travel to Washington on Sunday, 13 July, to take part in the Clerical-Secular Assembly of the Archbishopric of America.

Are there any questions please?

Ms. Spanou: I have two questions regarding the new round of talks with Mr. Nimetz. First of all, I suppose that Mr. Vassilakis has instructions not to enter a discussion on the issue of a “Macedonian” ethnicity as requested by FYROM’s political leadership. I am simply asking for a confirmation.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I would like to refer you to the detailed position I took last week. There are firm instructions.

Ms. Spanou: Secondly, is there any information that Mr. Nimetz will propose a new methodology, i.e., discussions at the level of technical committees? Have you heard anything about that?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: No, I don’t have anything at the moment that I could comment on.

Ms. Nikolaou: The day before yesterday, Mr. Fried visited Cyprus and had meetings with the local political leadership. Are his statements regarding U.S. support and the timeframe he indirectly determined putting pressure on the Cypriot government? And a second question, Mr. Talat seems to be coming back to his statements about a “virgin birth”. What is your comment on that?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: With regard to the statements of this U.S. official, there is a clear answer on that by the Foreign Minister of Cyprus, Mr. Kyprianou. I therefore refer you to these statements. It is our impression that these particular statements raise no question of pressures.

With regard to your second question about a so-called “virgin birth”. I would just like to say that the aim of the negotiations once they start – and this has been repeatedly stated – is for the Republic of Cyprus to evolve – if we find a solution – to a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with a single sovereignty, a single nationality and a single international personality, within which there will be political equality, as defined by relevant UN Security Council resolutions and decisions.

Mr. Stavroulakis: Base on your previous answer, I wanted to ask whether the translation of the relevant telegram, according to which Mr. Talat spoke of an equal sovereignty, is correct. And a second question. The Chief of the Turkish General Staff, Mr. Buyukanit, spoke about problems with Greece that we can solve. Any comment on that? Thank you.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: On the first question, I think that my previous answer has covered your question. I am not going to go into more comments on Mr. Talat’s positions on the negotiating tactics that he chooses to follow and the objectives he sets. I spoke of our own position and how we see this matter.

With regard to the other issue. It is a firm practice not to comment on statements by military or other authorities, other than Foreign Ministries.

A general statement that one could make is that when there is a problem everyone, of course, wishes for a solution to be found. And this is very important. To solve problems. It is even more important and more essential for problems not to be created in the first place.

Mr. Spyropoulos: Ι would like your comment on the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights with regard to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and, more specifically, the issue of the Foundation of the Büyükada Greek Orphanage for Boys, whether it will be perhaps an incentive for Turkey to change its general stance vis-a-vis the Greek community, not just the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s rights but also those of the Greek community, their property rights in Turkey. And a second question with regard to the political crisis in Turkey, in which way do you think the possibility of a coup d’etat would influence Greek-Turkish relations.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: With regard to yesterday’s judgment of the European Court of Human Rights: yesterday’s decision was the successful outcome of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s year-long efforts and just struggle. It is an important development for the consolidation of the right of ownership of this international ecclesiastic institution.

With regard to the policy that Turkey will follow from now on, this matter is Turkey’s affair.

We had the opportunity to give a detailed position on the domestic situation in Turkey last week. I refer you to last week’s position.

Mr. Barakat: You said that Greece has very good relations with all of the Mediterranean countries. What is your comment on this relationship following Greece’s joint exercises with Israel, and are these relations influenced by this exercise?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: You are giving me the opportunity to stress for a second time in the same week that this exercise was carried out in implementation of a Memorandum of Cooperation– as I would say happens with most inter-state agreements around the world. I categorically repeat that this exercise had nothing to do with all that, the analyses or appreciations or assumptions in parts of the international press. This is to make things clear about the exercise.

With regard to Greece’s relations with the Arab world: these relations are strong, they go back in time, but also have dynamics for the present and future. As such they are not influenced by – in any event – non-existent matters, as I said earlier.

Mr. Caka: A few days ago, Mr. Bolano once again upset bilateral relations with his interview published in the Greek press, in which he stated that two regions, Korce and Premeti, must be recognised as "Greek minority regions". Does Greece share Mr. Bolano’s view? How do you see it?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: First of all, I would like to say that I didn't sense relations were upset due to this interview, which I haven’t managed to find. Secondly, I do not comment on statements by local officials, particularly those who are democratically elected by local communities.

Mr. Caka: Does Greece share this view?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I already answered. I know there are a lot of official statements on the excellent course of bilateral relations between Greece and Albania at government level.

Mr. Kapoutsis: Last week, you said that you would brief us whether there is any development regarding the ECHR judgment on the possibility for minority associations in Thrace to use the word “Turkish”. Do you have anything to add to that? Are there any developments on this issue? Has Greece done what it has to do to overturn this judgment?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I repeat the Greek government’s decision to refer the issue on two cases to the ECHR Plenary. I have nothing new on that today.

Ms. Fryssa: With regard to the Skopje issue. A morning daily “TO VIMA” reports that on 14 July Mr. Nimetz invited Mr. Vassilakis to New York

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I think I had the opportunity - I don’t remember if it was in our meeting here, our regular meetings or in the answer I gave to one of your colleagues’ questions on the phone – to tell you that the process will continue and that, if this meeting were to take place, it would take place after 9 July. This is what we answered back then. Developments confirm this initial answer, the date has just been defined now. Yes, Mr. Vassilakis will be in New York on 14 July.

With regard to the meeting with Mr. Dimitrov, I am not competent to answer that question, but I know that it will be held approximately on the same days.

Mr. Caka: Prime Minister Thaci thanked the Greek side for the initiative on the opening of a delegation of Kosovo in Athens, stating that “I am very optimistic that Greece and two or three other countries in the region will very soon recognise Kosovo’s independence”.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I am not aware of this statement. But because your question raises an issue regarding the possibility of a Kosovo Liaison Office operating in Greece, I would like to say - in order to avoid any misunderstandings – that, as the Minister said from the outset, this issue will be raised within the framework of reciprocity. As you know, Greece has not recognised Kosovo's unilateral independence. We have not reached this point. So the question of opening a representation office here will be examined within the framework of mutuality, when there is such reciprocity.

With regard to the optimism expressed by Mr. Thaci, this is an appreciation that I am not going to comment on. I would like to repeat the Greek position, i.e., that decisions will be made once every aspect of this intricate and complex matter is evaluated in depth.

Thank you.