Athens, 16 April 2008
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Good morning. Today, at 13:00, Foreign Minister Ms. Dora Bakoyannis will deliver a welcome speech at the presentation of the “End Child Trafficking” information campaign. The presentation will take place at the Museum of Cycladic Art (Megaro Stathatou, Vas. Sofias and 1 Irodotou). This awareness campaign is being mounted on the initiative of the Greek National Committee for UNICEF, in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry.
At 10:00 tomorrow, Thursday, 17 April, the National Council on Foreign Policy will convene at the Foreign Ministry. The Foreign Minister will chair this meeting, which will focus on developments in the Balkans, including the name issue, of course, and the Cyprus issue.
At 14:00 on Friday, 18 April, Ms. Bakoyannis will meet at the Foreign Ministry with PASOK MP Mr. Andreas Loverdos, who, as you know, is overseeing foreign policy issues for the main opposition party.
On the evening of the same day – Friday, 18 April – at 17:00, Ms. Bakoyannis will receive the UN Secretary General’s personal envoy for the Greece-FYROM talks, Mr. Matthew Nimetz. Their meeting will take place at the Foreign Ministry.
Regarding Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Yannis Valinakis’ programme, today he will participate in the first meeting of the special Parliamentary Committee for examining the bill for ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. At 10:00 on Friday, 18 April, he will meet at the Foreign Ministry with the EU Commissioner for Multilingualism, Mr. Leonard Orban.
On Friday and Saturday, 18 and 19 April, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Theodore Kassimis will carry out a visit to Istanbul, where he will meet with His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
At 12:00 today, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Petros Doukas will address a meeting of the committee on banking techniques and practices, which is being organised by the International Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Greek Banks, and will take place at the Astir Palace, in Vouliagmeni.
Tomorrow, 17 April, Mr. Doukas will participate in the proceedings of the 18th meeting of BSEC Foreign Ministers, which is being held in Kyiv, Ukraine.
That’s it for announcements. Your questions, please.
Mr. Vatikiotis: Is there any comment on the Academies letter to the Prime Minister requesting that the draft law on the vakoufs be re-examined.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: No.
Mr. Kottaridis: Given that Skopje is already in the midst of an intense pre-election period, do you think there is a basis for discussion and grounds for dialogue over the next two months – even via Mr. Nimetz?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Both before and after Bucharest, Greece stressed that it remains active within the negotiation process under the UN. It is a positive indication that this process is evolving with the upcoming visit of the UN Secretary General’s personal envoy, Mr. Nimetz, to Athens and Skopje.
At the same time, obviously, serious note is being taken of the fact that Skopje is the midst of a run-up to elections. Beyond that, however, Greece – as I said – stated prior to and after Bucharest that it remains in the negotiation process.
Mr. Pollatos: Do you think that a solution can be found given that the Skopje negotiator essentially says that he doesn’t have instructions from the country’s foreign ministry and that he doesn’t have a negotiating line.
And whether you are satisfied with Mr. Nimetz’s services – that is, whether the Greek government sees Mr. Nimetz’s mediation as satisfactory.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Mr. Nimetz remains within the framework of the mandate he has from the UN and the Secretary General, and his mission is continuing within the framework of the familiar process, in which Greece is participating. That answers your second question.
Regarding your first question: As you know, at this stage Mr. Nimetz will have meetings in Skopje and then in Greece. There is no reason why Greece shouldn’t be present in the consultations at this time. This is a firm position. And beyond that, the course of the consultations is what will tell.
Mr. Kallarytis: At the European Parliament tomorrow, Thursday, some groups are organising a speech – a conference – on unrecognised minorities in Greece, with reference to a Macedonian and Turkish minority. Is the Ministry aware that these two groups came together or that there are channels of communication, and that they argue that there is a Turkish minority – they got together with those who support that there is a Macedonian minority and are jointly organising events? Thank you.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: This is one of hundreds of similar events that are held every year within the framework of the European Parliament. It doesn’t concern us and we won’t make any particular comment on it.
Journalist: I would like to ask you about U.S. Secretary of State Ms. Rice’s call for Turkey to reopen the Halki Seminary. Whether you know something and what our countries position is.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: You know Greece’s position. This is a positive reference.
Mr. Fourlis: Yesterday I read of some thoughts on founding a seminary similar to that of Halki in Greece, on Greek territory. Was there such a discussion between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek government?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I am not aware of anything like that. Allow me to look into it, and if I have anything on this I’ll let you know later in the day.
Mr. Fourlis: A question regarding the Skopje issue. We hear you constantly reiterating that Greece is prepared to participate in any negotiations. So that we can understand: Is Greece prepared to participate in any negotiations, regardless of the conditions? The time? The climate? Who are participating and how, and who they are representing?
Because these are the issues that are being raised here. It’s not whether Greece is generally willing to participate in negotiations. We know this, and it’s pretty obvious. The question is whether Greece deems that under these conditions, at this time, and with these collocutors, it is important and essential to be in these negotiations.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: My initial position stands.
The discussion is continuing, and we are participating in the discussion. I would see some substance in your question if today or tomorrow – or in the coming days – we found ourselves faced with a final decision on some text. But that is not where we are.
Mr. Tsorakis: Recently, the Foreign Minister has been talking about a cohesive, feasible and functional solution.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Not recently – she’s been saying it for some time now.
Mr. Tsorakis: It has been added to the arguments for some time now. What does ‘cohesive’ refer to? Does it refer to ethnicities?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The discussion in and of itself has various parameters. For Example, the parameter of there having to be a Security Council resolution. We are talking about a solution that covers all these parameters.
Journalist: Are there more things on the agenda? Can’t this be surmised from the word ‘cohesive’?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The Greek position is that there must be a name with a geographical qualifier, an erga omnes name, etc. This is where the ‘cohesive’ element comes in. Theses are all parts of the same thing.
Mr. Bibe: Mr. Spokesman, I wanted to ask whether there has been some change from Greece on the delimitation of the minority zone in southern Albania, and whether the agenda for Mr. Kassimis’ meetings during his visit to Albania was submitted to the Albanian authorities. Because there was a Foreign Ministry announcement …
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Which Foreign Ministry – the Albanian or ours?
Mr. Bibe: Whether the Greek Foreign Ministry submitted the agenda to the Albanian authorities. And second, whether there has been some change, because the announcement from the Greek Foreign Ministry stated that the Deputy Foreign Minister had meetings in minority villages in Narta and Himara, as well as Korca. The announcement says they are minority villages.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Mr. Kassimis visited and had contacts with members of the Greek national minority on Albanian territory. Regarding the minority zones, as you know, this is a regulation that has been made by the Albanian government. Mr. Kassimis deemed it appropriate to visit Greeks wherever they are.
Mr. Bibe: In Narta and Himara …
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Whatever is in the Foreign Ministry announcement stands. Regarding the agenda, I think that a three-day visit –that is how long it lasted – was well prepared by both sides.
Ms. Fryssa: Another question on Albania: Whether we discussed an agreement on the delimitation of Greek-Albanian territorial waters. And if we did discussion it, what are the boundaries? That is, 6 miles or 12 miles?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: What I can tell you at this time is that during the Foreign Minister’s recent visit it was agreed that there will be a meeting of a Technical Committee from both countries to start the discussion on this issue. I don’t have anything further on this right now.
Mr. Pollatos: Since the discussion with Skopje is continuing, could you clarify whether an agreement will be reached by 1 June, who will sign it, is it the provisional government of Mr. Gruevski , or is it someone else, perhaps the President? And the second question: Whether you confirm or deny Mr. Crvenkovski’s statement that Greece suggested the name “Republic of Skopje (Macedonia)”?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I will start with the first point. The process at this stage has a specific form which I don’t think anyone can ignore. At the moment, we don’t have a meeting like the previous two meetings, i.e., Mr. Nimetz and the two negotiators. Mr. Nimetz is visiting the two countries separately. This is already an element that you have to take into account.
The second part of your question is hypothetical. And this is not a prevarication. One thing is for sure: That Greece said both before and after the Bucharest Summit that if a solution is found, it will have to be feasible, there will have to be a Security Council Resolution. All these elements stand. Beyond that, whether we reach an agreement or not before 1 June is just speculation.
With regard to Mr. Crvenkovski’s statement, I think you can guess what my answer will be. I am not going to refer to the name issue, as we have consistently been doing for the past few months. Tomorrow, there might be another statement by another official of the neighbouring country or any other official. We are not going to go into this discussion. I am not going into any kind of discussion on the name issue. It is not the time. This is an ongoing process. And now is not the time.
Mr. Pollatos: In what sense, Mr. Spokesman, is now not the time? Are we not talking about finding a mutually acceptable name? By the same logic, I guess the positions of the Foreign Minister, who talked about New Mexico, New Macedonia, New Caledonia, and so on, are ill-timed too.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Listen, it is ill-timed in the sense that - not that the time is not important - but it is ill-timed in the sense that there is nothing in particular that we can talk about. Not that the particular timing is not important. But there is nothing in particular that we can talk about.
Beyond that, since you mentioned the Minister’s statements, it is a statement – the one you mentioned – concerning an example based on Greece’s position about a geographical qualifier, etc.
Mr. Kapoutsis: Forgive me for insisting on my colleague’s previous question, but we have a statement by the President of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia saying: The Greek proposal is the “Republic of Skopje (Macedonia).” This position/statement was specific. The question is: Does the Foreign Ministry deny, not deny, not comment on this statement? Which means that it might also stand?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: There is another alternative to add to the ones you proposed, and I thank you for proposing them: “We are not going into a discussion at all.” You did not mention this one. I am, though, by repeating my previous answer: “No discussion on the name issue.”
Mr. Fourlis: So the Greek government does not think that there is a problem in talking with Mr. Dimitrov, who just yesterday stated publicly in Skopje that there is obviously no common platform and no official position on the part of his country, and this is why he obviously called upon his country’s political parties to give instructions to him. Does Greece not think this is a problem? Does Greece think he can talk and still be a reliable collocutor, the discussion still being of substance and having a meaning?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: At this stage, we will talk with Mr. Nimetz. This is the nature of the next meeting.
Mr. Kapoutsis: Will there be statements on the part of the Foreign Minister?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I don’t know. I don’t see that happening. Mr. Nimetz can make a statement , if he wishes. We will brief you on that, as we always do. At the moment, I don’t know the level at which the briefing will be carried out.
Mr. Kallarytis: What is the content of Mr. Nimetz’s visit? As the neighbouring country is in a run-up to elections, there obviously can’t be talks on the substance because Greece cannot commit to certain issues when the situation in the neighbouring country is uncertain and Mr. Dimitrov’s statements are indicative of that. Is it a preparatory, an exploratory visit? What is the purpose of the visit?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I have nothing to add to what I’ve already told you. Mr. Nimetz is first visiting Skopje and then Athens.
Ms. Tsorakis: (off microphone) Do you have a particular reason for pointing out the order of the visits? How are we to interpret that?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I am referring to facts. And as they say: “Facts are sacred. Comments and interpretations are free.”
Mr. Pollatos: Are those who do not reject such names breaking ranks? Is there a public discussion at the same time as the negotiations between the two governments perhaps? There is a public discussion..
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: At the same time? One minute…
Mr. Pollatos: Within this framework, several questions have been posed. On such questions with regard to proposed names, for example, “Upper Macedonia” or “New Macedonia”, the Foreign Minister has clearly said that these two names are a basis for negotiations. Is the Minister breaking ranks when she says that they are a basis for negotiations? Because in a similar way you are refusing to confirm or deny a very simple thing: Does what Mr. Crvenkovski says stand or is he just using this method for electoral or other reasons?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I repeat that I did not refuse to confirm or deny it; I am not even going to go into this discussion. Secondly, you are well aware of the basic elements of what Greece considers a basis for negotiations. They have been declared by both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister in a manner that cannot be called into question.
I’m just reminding you of them: A clear, geographical qualifier, erga omnes, in order to reach a clear, practical and feasible solution. The Prime Minister has referred to the fact that the qualification on the neighbouring country’s form of government is not considered a solution on this issue. So it is not a basis for negotiations. Greece is talking based on all these general lines and characteristics.
Beyond that, I told you I am not going to go into a discussion on particular names. I am not taking part in any discussions that various officials have been trying to instigate with their occasional statements. There is no reason for Greece to go into this discussion when negotiations are still ongoing. Greece has set the framework in which relevant proposals can be discussed in a responsible and timely manner. Beyond that, I have nothing further to add.
Mr. Pollatos: I suspect that you have read the interview of Greece’s Ambassador to Turkey, Mr. Fotis Xydas. Has the Foreign Ministry given its consent for this interview, was there a previous understanding? Does the Foreign Ministry agree with what Mr. Xydas said?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: As you know, Mr. Xydas himself has made a clarification on that. There is no such question. The matter is closed.
Thank you.