Athens, 15 October 2008
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Foreign Minister Ms. Dora Bakoyannis and Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Yannis Valinakis will accompany Prime Minister Mr. Kostas Karamanlis today and tomorrow, 15 and 16 October, to the European Council that is being held in Brussels.
On Monday, 20 October, at 11:00, Ms. Bakoyannis will receive the Director of the OSCE's Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Mr. Janez Lenarcic.
At 12:30 the same day, Ms. Bakoyannis will visit the Peace Boat in Piraeus. Within the framework of Greece’s "Next Generation Initiative", a group of 120 young Israelis and Palestinians will be carrying out a visit to our country from 16 to 20 October. The program includes visits to Ancient Olympia, Delphi, Mycenae, Epidavros and the Acropolis.
Again, on 20 October, the Foreign Minister will depart for London, where she will accompany the Prime Minister on his two-day visit (20-21 October).
Following the European Council, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Valinakis will travel to Quebec, Canada, to participate in the proceedings of the 12th Summit Meeting of the International Francophone Organization, which is taking place from 17 to 19 October. I would like to note here that Greece is being represented at the International Francophone Organization’s Ministerial Meeting, which is being held today and tomorrow, in Quebec, by the Secretary General for European Affairs, Mr. Katsoudas.
Today, at 18:00, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Theodore Kassimis will address the opening of the academic conference on "Poles of Innovation, High Technology and SMEs, Technological Parks and Thermal Cells".
Tomorrow, Thursday, 16 October, at 18:30, Mr. Kassimis will receive the Permanent Secretary General of the Cypriot Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Mr. Nicholas Emiliou.
On 20 October, Mr. Kassimis will travel to Alexandria, Egypt, where he will inaugurate an exhibition of rare books on the Greek language. This exhibition is taking place under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic, at the Library of Alexandria.
Finally, on 21 October, Mr. Kassimis will receive the Syrian Ambassador to Athens, Ms. Soad Al Ayubi.
That's it for announcements. Your questions, please.
Ms. Nikolaou: I would like your comment on President Christofias’ decision to cancel the Nikiforos military exercise.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: President Christofias’ decision was followed by a corresponding decision to cancel the Turkish exercise that was to take place at the same time. Judging from the result, it is a positive initiative on the part of the President of the Cypriot Republic.
It is a positive initiative that, apart from anything else, assists and contributes to the creation of the right climate to strengthen the negotiation efforts and the process that is underway for the resolution of the Cyprus issue.
Ms. Bozaninou: What is the subject of the visit from the Director of the OSCE’s human rights office? Does it perhaps have anything to do with minorities in Greece?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: No, it is a meeting for a briefing leading up to our country's taking on the Chairmanship of the OSCE. It will concern the functioning, competencies and role of the ODIHR within the broader framework of the responsibilities of the OSCE.
Mr. Gilson: To a man, Greek politicians, including the Prime Minister, have made it clear that they want a solution to the FYROM name issue that is a single name for all uses. Does the fact that the Greek government was unable to convince UN mediator Mr. Nimetz of this mean that it failed in its purpose, and how will the Greek side be able to convince Mr. Gruevski if it can't convince the United Nations.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The success or failure of an effort is judged by the final result and not in the stages of a negotiation process.
Mr. Kapoutsis: A clarification. Has the Greek government accepted the Nimetz proposal as a basis for negotiation?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: There are relevant statements from the Foreign Ministry and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I have nothing further to add.
Mr. Kapoutsis: There is a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights against our country with regard to the application lodged by the Turkish Association to use the adjective Turkish. How does the Greek Foreign Ministry plan to handle this? Will it do the obvious? That is, will it fully implement the European Court ruling?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Let me clarify something. That this latest development concerns the fact that a discussion was not allowed in the broader composition of the very Court that had taken the decision you referred to months earlier. There was no new ruling, I mean. Beyond that, how the process evolves will depend on the steps that are taken and the interested parties themselves.
Mr. Kapoutsis: Meaning?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I repeat that what happens with the ruling will depend on the next procedural steps. I have nothing further to say. The matters concern the judiciary.
Mr. Kapoutsis: So these are judicial matters?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Yes.
Mr. Gilson: Do you have a comment to make with regard to the issue of the U.S. refusal to waive the visa obligation for Greece? Is there a possibility that Greece might impose a visa obligation on U.S. citizens?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I’ll start with your last point, so as not to let any false impressions linger. Greece is part of the Schengen area together with other European states, and therefore, whatever stands for the Schengen area and its participating states, also stands for Greece. This regards your last question.
With regard to the first question, there are relevant announcements from the Foreign Ministry and the Foreign Minister. These statements, of course, stand. Beyond that, we have been informed based on the announcement by the Press Office of the American Embassy here in Athens that it is an ongoing process.
I would like to remind you that in the last paragraph of the announcement issued by the Foreign Ministry, we expressed the hope, I remember that the formulation we used was “We would like to hope that this is not the U.S. administration’s final decision."
Mr. Gilson: Do you believe that the decision of the United States, its refusal, is “punishment” for other aspects of Greece’s foreign policy?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I would like to refer you to the Foreign Minister’s Statement. Greece neither understands nor accepts the rationale of pressures exerted among allied countries.
Mr. Papathanassiou: What is the Gruevski government aiming at with its latest moves, and what is your comment on the Skopje Prime Minister's statements made yesterday on a “Macedonian population”?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I made a clear statement yesterday.
In general, I would like to say that Mr. Gruevski is consciously fostering a climate of nationalistic fervor in his country. He is thus hatching the serpent’s egg in the heart of the Balkans. And consequently he is following the surest path to his country’s isolation from European and Euroatlantic institutions.
Mr. Caka: There is great enthusiasm in Kosovo following its recognition by two countries of the former Yugoslavia – FYROM and Montenegro. In view of this, it seems that the Hellenic Republic is at a disadvantage in terms of the recognition of Kosovo's independence. In fact, the President of Montenegro, Mr. Vujanovic, says that “Kosovo's independence is an irreversible fact.” Will that have an effect on Greece and Greek diplomacy in the future?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: All the foreign policy decisions made by Greece are conscious decisions. They are decisions of principle that are also based on a profound assessment of the facts.
Thank you.