Athens, 16 November 2006

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Good morning.

I’ll start with the Foreign Minister’s programme. This morning in Parliament Ms. Bakoyannis briefed the Chairmanship of the Hellenic Parliament’s friendship groups on our country’s foreign policy. It was an extremely interesting and useful discussion, because it showed – from the interventions of MPs from all of the parties participating in this discussion, as well – with great clarity the potential and problems confronted in the implementation of Parliamentary diplomacy, which is an aspect of diplomatic activity that is taking on ever greater importance in our time. It was useful that there were conclusions and that proposals were heard that will help improve the maximization of the potential for Parliamentary diplomacy.

Tomorrow, Friday, 17 November, at 12:00, Foreign Minister Ms. Bakoyannis will meet, at his request, with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Assefi, who will be in Athens. The agenda for the discussion includes issues of bilateral relations, and of course Iran’s nuclear programme, as well as developments in the Middle East.

Next week, on 20 and 21 November, Ms. Bakoyannis will accompany the Prime Minister on his visit to London. More specifically, and within the framework of this visit, on Tuesday, 21 November, Ms. Bakoyannis will attend a working luncheon with the UK Minister of State for Europe, Mr. Hoon.  Later the same day, Ms. Bakoyannis will meet with her UK counterpart, Ms. Beckett.

On 22 and 23 November, the Foreign Minister will carry out a working visit to Russia. More specifically, Ms. Bakoyannis, on 22 November, will have meetings in Moscow with her Russian counterpart, Mr. Lavrov, with the Speaker of the Russian State Duma, Mr. Gryzlov, and with National Security Advisor Mr. Ivanov.

On the evening of the same day, Ms. Bakoyannis will depart for St. Petersburg, where, the following day – 23 November – she is to meet with the Governor of St. Petersburg, Ms. Matvienko.  Ms. Bakoyannis will depart from Russia on the morning of 24 November.

On the afternoon of 24 November, the Foreign Minister will address an ELIAMEP event entitled “Developments in the Middle East”. And on Saturday, 25 November, Ms. Bakoyannis will address an event being held by the Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce in Athens.

On Monday, 27 November, the Foreign Ministry will host a seminar for high-level European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) officials, and the Minister will address the participants.

On 28 and 29 November, Ms. Bakoyannis will accompany Prime Minister Mr. Karamanlis to the NATO Summit Meeting in Riga, Latvia.

That’s it for the Minister’s programme. As I will certainly be asked later on, I will confirm Mr. Gul’s visit on 7 and 8 December.

Regarding the programmes of  the Deputy Foreign Ministers:

On Friday, 17 November 2006, at 10:00, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Stylianidis will meet at the Foreign Ministry with a delegation from the World Food Program. Based on an agreement signed in Rome by Hellenic AID and the WFP, the delegation will brief Greek operations regarding the potential for their participation in the WFP’s international tenders for international food aid. On the same day, at 13:00, Mr. Stylianidis will meet with his Iranian counterpart, Mr. Assefi.

On Monday, 20 November, at 09:30, Mr. Stylianidis will address a seminar on regional cooperation in Europe. This seminar is being organized by the Foreign Ministry in collaboration with the Finnish Embassy and the International Center for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS) (Kranidiotis Amphitheatre).

On Tuesday and Wednesday, 21 and 22 November 2006, Mr. Stylianidis will participate in the OECD DAC conference in Paris, and will present the Hellenic AID strategy on Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid issues.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Kassimis has been in New York since Tuesday, 14 November. Today, Thursday, 16 November, Mr. Kassimis will hold a coordinating meeting at the Consular residence and will visit the offices of the Greek-American newspaper “Ethnikos Kiryx” and will meet with the editor, Mr. Antonis Diamataris. On Friday, 17 November, Mr. Kassimis will depart from New York for Boston, where he will hold a dinner in honour of the Consul General.

On Saturday, 18 November, Mr. Kassimis will visit the Greek day school in Lowell Massachusetts, where he will address a school celebration and attend a short mass at the historic Church of the Holy Trinity. He will also visit the Karamanlis Chair and, later, Northeastern University, where he will meet with trustees and students. On the evening of the same day, he will visit Holy Cross Seminary and will meet with the president and faculty of the Seminary, and also address the students. Mr. Kassimis will address members of the Greek-American community at the Maliotio Cultural Center. Finally, he will participate in an event being organized by the Macedonian community and will meet with the board of the Pan-Macedonian organization.

On 19 November, Mr. Kassimis will have breakfast with the Board of Directors of the Federation of Greek-American Organizations of New England, and later he will meet with the Metropolitan of Boston, His Eminence Methodios, and will attend the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of Saint Athanasios, where there will later be a briefing on the establishing of a second Greek day school. On the evening of the same day, Mr. Kassimis and his delegation will depart for Toronto, where a Greek community reception will take place.

On 20 and 21 November, Mr. Kassimis will be in Toronto, where he will have meetings with MPP Ms. Marie Bountrogianni and His Eminence Sotirios, Metropolitan of Toronto. He will also attend a dinner hosted by the President of York University. Mr. Kassimis will also visit the Greek community, where he will be received by the President of the Administrative Council. On the morning of 21 November, he will meet with representatives of the Greek-Canadian news media, and in the afternoon he will attend a luncheon with Greek-Canadian academics.

On 22 November, the Deputy Foreign Minister and his delegation will travel to Montreal, where he will meet with the presidents of the Greek Community of Montreal and the Greek Orthodox Community of Laval. On the same day he will visit the trilingual elementary day schools “Socrates” (Greek Community of Montreal) and “Demosthenes” (Greek Orthodox Community of Laval). He will attend a luncheon with community officials and will meet with the Council of the Greek Community of Montreal. Later, he will hold a press conference will Greek representatives of the Montreal news media, and will attend a reception open to all members of  the Greek community of Montreal. That evening, he will attend a dinner with the Consul General and prominent members of the Greek business community of Montreal.

Mr. Kassimis’ tour of Montreal will end with his meeting, on Thursday, 23 November, with City Councillor Ms. Maria Derou, accompanied by the Consul General, for a briefing on city issues of interest to the community. In the afternoon he will meet with representatives of the Universities of McGill, Montreal and Concordia, at the Consulate General reception area. In the evening he will depart for Athens.

Finally, let me add that on 20 and 22 November the examination will be held for the filling of 10 positions in the Foreign Ministry’s Communications and Informatics  branch.

Your questions, please.

Mr. Meletis:  Mr. Spokesman, I would like to ask at what meeting between Ms. Bakoyannis and Ms. Rice the minority issue was raised. That’s the first question.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Where did you get the idea that this was the case?

Mr. Meletis:  From the statements of Mr. McCormack.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Personally, I don’t remember the issue of minorities being raised between the Greek Foreign Minister and her US counterpart. But I will look at the minutes of the meetings. Personally – as I was present at at least the last two meetings – I haven’t heard anything like that.

* [Note] “Reference was in fact made to the issue of minorities within the context of the broader discussion. But specific reference was not made to the Muslim minority in Greece. Such a discussion – the content of which you know – was held at the recent meetings of the US Ambassador to Greece with the Foreign Ministry’s Secretary General, Ambassador Rokanas, and Foreign Minister Ms. Bakoyannis.

Mr. Meletis:  Regardless of what you’ve heard, as the State Department spokesman has made a statement, please look into it or deny that the issue has ever arisen in discussions between Ms. Bakoyannis and her counterpart – with US officials. We’re not talking about the last meeting, with the Ambassador. It’s another thing with Mr. McCormack – this is a statement from the day before yesterday. And please answer us in the briefing as to whether this issue has been raised by the American side.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Of course I will. I’ll look into it, because, as I said, as far as I know and remember, I cannot confirm what was said by my US counterpart.

Mr. Quinn: Can you give is a few additional details regarding tomorrow’s visit from the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister? You said Iran’s nuclear programme would be discussed. Can you be a little more specific regarding what the Deputy Foreign Minister will discuss?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: As I said, this discussion is taking place at the request of the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, and I gave you the outline of issues that will be discussed. I don’t have any information regarding anything more specific – that the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister might be interested in raising.

Mr. Kapoutsis: Yesterday, the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr. Gul, made a statement in occupied Cyprus that the European Union is unreliable because it does not keep its commitments to the Turkish Cypriots, and he also characterized the European Union as a whole as an "blackmail club", that is putting coercive pressure on Turkey. Do you have a comment on that?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The European Union, in very clear terms and with a very clear policy, is implementing the enlargement policy. The enlargement policy is based on very specific rules and has a very specific reasoning, which has been in effect in all the cases in the enlargement and for all the countries that, in the end, following a satisfactory period of their compliance with the accession-negotiations process, were made full members of the European Union.

And when the European Union does this, it is obvious that it is not blackmailing candidate countries that wish to accede and accede in the end.

Mr. Vitalis: Mr. Spokesman, since we’re on the subject of Mr. Gul, I want to ask you this: Yesterday, Mr. Gul cleared up a lot of things with regard to the Finnish initiative that is in progress and the terms Turkey is setting on certain issues that concern the implementation of the protocol.

Following Mr. Gul's statements – which reject the issue of the return of Varosia, he says that they will not open their ports – do you see the Finnish initiative as being able to proceed, and who will be responsible if this effort founders?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Listen, the effort being made by the Finnish Presidency so that there can be progress on the issue that has been pending for a year or two – the trade regulation issue – is in progress following the recent decision to give some additional time, a few days or a few weeks, to see whether the Finnish Presidency’s effort can have a positive outcome or not.

The effort made a few days ago for an unofficial meeting in Helsinki, an unofficial exchange of views between the immediately interested parties, did not come off, as you know, and this was the result of the stance held by Turkey in the event. At this time, and given that that effort not have a positive outcome due to the Turkish stance, no one can be optimistic about the results of the Finnish Presidency's effort, which will be continuing in the coming days.

Ms. Adam: What is the reason for Ms. Bakoyannis’ visit to St. Petersburg, given that the meetings are serious in Moscow, and they will make short work of them and go to St. Petersburg to visit for a day . . .

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I interrupt you to disagree with the term "make short work of”. I disagree completely.

Ms. Adam: Discharge, if you like. And why is she dedicating a day to St. Petersburg with Ms. Matvienko, who we know – she was in Greece, she speaks Greek, etc. What is the reason for her visit to St. Petersburg? That's my first question.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: With regard to the programme that has been drawn up for the Minister’s visit to Russia, I don’t think we need to stress that the manner in which it was drawn up and the reasoning behind how it was drawn up are fully in line with the importance of the excellent relations between Greece and Russia, the importance to Greece of excellent Greek-Russian relations, and, of course the consistent objective of these meetings and these visits, which is to produce the optimum results.

So this visit – like all visits, whether to Russia  or to other countries – has been organised in a manner that will produce the best possible results.

Ms. Adam: On what issues?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: All of the issues of interest to the two countries. There is the bilateral portion; the promotion of bilateral relations. As you know, there is an action plan that was signed by the two countries during the Greek Prime Minister's visit. This is an ongoing process for strengthening bilateral relations. The steps being taken based on this action plan are what will be discussed. Economic bilateral relations. There is no point in time at which development of economic bilateral relations stops – they are always ongoing and evolving. There are other international issues that are evolving and that concern both countries. These, too, will be discussed – regional and broader.

I believe these observations answer your question. I don't see why the agenda for this discussion raises such questions. The whole range of issues that concern the two countries, starting with bilateral issues. As you know, to refer to an issue that concerns Russia, there is its relationship with the European Union. On this particular issue, EU-Russian relations, Greece is one of the countries that firmly and consistently supports the acceleration of development and progress of these relations. This is one issue that certainly will be discussed by the two Foreign Ministers.

So, if you like, there are no strict limitations on such a discussion. The issues of common interest are very broad and an effort is made to discuss them all. And not just so that these issues are mentioned, but in order for the discussions to go as deep as possible and so that the two Ministers can exchange views.

Ms. Adam: Mr. Spokesman, from what you said, from your description of the framework, I observe that the keyword is missing. I don't know whether you are doing it intentionally . . .

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I consider it a given . . . You're talking about the Cyprus issue or our relations with Cyprus, our relations with Turkey?

Ms. Adam: No, none of those. Energy issues.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: But that's a given.

Ms. Adam: What’s a given?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: That energy issues – this may be my omission, we don't need to repeat this – energy issues are an intrinsic element of the agenda of Greek-Russian relations. This is a given. It goes without saying.

The issue of cooperation in the energy sector is a basic element of Greek-Russian relations, and is of particular importance. We needn't stress this constantly.

Ms. Adam: You didn't give me the clarification I requested. What is the reason for Ms. Bakoyannis' visit to St. Petersburg?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I've answered. I said that the programme that has been drawn up has been drawn up with the sole objective of its being an effective and substantial visit for the Greek Foreign Minister to Russia.

Ms. Adam: Why is she choosing St. Petersburg? That's what I'm asking.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I answered you.

Ms. Adam: There is something that wasn't clarified that the last Council of Foreign Ministers: whether and to what extent the 25 have agreed on a specific deadline by which the Finnish Presidency will have finished its initiative and will make its proposals. Ms. Colona came out and said that the deadline from the Council is 6 December. Mr. Rehn’s office basically contradicted Ms. Colona – that such an issue was not discussed and no such decision regarding 6 December was taken as a deadline for Turkey. What's the story here? Is there a relevant timeframe? Is there not? Is it at the Presidency's discretion? What has the Council of Ministers decided? Does it give the presidency the right to put its conclusions on Euro-Turkish issues in with the general conclusions of the Council, before, after, when?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The prevailing view – because there is no issue of a decision, as you know, in the conclusions there is no decision set down – but the prevailing view, and this has been understood by the partners, is that this effort must be completed, clearly before the GAERC of 11 December.

Ms. Adam: Mr. Rehn's office denies this.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I told you that no decision has been taken. This is the timeframe that arose from the discussion. It is believed that this would be the "optimum" time for completion and for the results of the efforts of the Finnish Presidency to be presented.

I cannot rule out – and I don't think anyone can rule out – at this time the Presidency’s – for reason a, b or c, depending on how its efforts develop – asking for an extension for an effort  that it is making and that is in progress. And usually the Presidency gets what it asks for. But this is an ongoing practice in the European Union. No one can deny the Presidency the option of asking for an extension. But I repeat that the prevailing view that arose from the most recent Council of Foreign Ministers is that this effort got an extension that will clearly end before the next GAERC, which is scheduled for 11 December.

Ms. Adam: So there is no commitment from the European Commission and Mr. Rehn and the Finnish Presidency that we will complete the effort by six December . . .

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The date of 6 December coincides with and specifies a general deadline that I mentioned: “Clearly before the Council of 11 December.”

Ms. Adam: Yes, commitment – is there a commitment?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: But I said that there may well be an element of flexibility.

But I repeat that the clear view of the Council is that there is a given time limit on this extension for the effort.

Ms. Adam: For the Greek side, is this just an ongoing procedural matter, or does it have some substance that we would want in any case?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The Greek side believes that this effort must – as I said this is the general view of the Council – come full circle, clearly before the GAERC of 11 December. This is the Greek view, and it is a view that is shared by many partners.

Mr. Polatos:  Do you agree with Mr. Bryza’s statement, in Brussels, that in the negotiations – as you said it may be extended – on the direct trade regulation, provision should not be included regarding the return of Varosia, because this would influence the overall resolution of the Cyprus problem? And a second part: How do you assess the direct US involvement in favour of Turkish positions on an issue that is purely intra-EU – the evaluation of Turkey’s candidacy by the 25?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Starting with the latter, let me say that regardless of whether states want to have an opinion on things that concern EU matters, matters within the competency of the European Union concern and bind only member states of the European Union and the Union alone. The EU takes decisions and is responsible for how it handles issues that concern it. If others discuss issues that concern the European Union, this is their right, as you can see – they can discuss issues that concern the European Union. In any case, the issues being addressed by the European Union are issues that concern many others, in the end, or are of interest to many more countries that just the member states.

Regarding your first question: this is Mr. Bryza’s view, with which we do not agree. This is very clear. I have no further comment to make. We have said that there is an initiative – an initiative that is supported – from the Finnish Presidency, and beyond that we agree with the approach and the priorities of the Cypriot government.

Mr. Meletis: Mr. Spokesman, in the end, what is the focus of this much-touted strategic cooperation and agreement on almost everything, which was announced during the Minister's two visits to Washington? We disagree on the minority, on the issue of the handling of Euro-Turkish relations. What do we agree on?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The overriding conclusion of visits that have taken place during these years and the meetings have taken place between the two countries on all levels – Prime Minister, President on the American side, Foreign Ministers and officials – is that Greek-US relations are in a very good period, particularly when one compares to the past. The other major conclusion was that we have, for precisely this reason, entered into a period of maturity.

I went into detail on this at a previous meeting of ours when I was asked what I mean by a "period of maturity", that these are the relations of two countries that participate in the same international organizations, that have traditional bonds of cooperation, that may have diverging views on a number of issues without that affecting the general atmosphere and climate and environment within which they are developing.

Ms. Kourbela: I wanted to ask this: As the Minister will be going to London with the Prime Minister, and London has played a leading role in the revision of the financial perspective, which is under preparation. I want to ask whether the Foreign Ministry has begun this process, because as you know the CAP will also be revised – an issue of major interest to Greece, and whether there will be a discussion of this issue during this trip. Thank you very much.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I have no specific information on this. Your question is very specific and I would like to give you a  documented answer.

I consider it a given that, particularly regarding issues of the Common Agricultural Policy, to which our country is very sensitive, the preparation that is necessary has begun at the Foreign Ministry as well as, and mainly, at the competent Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration, of course, wherever necessary, with the Foreign Ministry.

Your question is very specific, and I will have to look into where this discussion stands and get back to you.

Mr. Santamouris: You said before, more or less, that there is the potential for Greek and US stances to diverge, given that in any case they are allies or have substantial cooperation, etc. The question is whether these divergences, in view of the Greek government, are harmful or not to Greek national interests. That's one question. The second: As the United States, from what we hear, is making an effort to introduce or strengthen a different perspective on minorities, whether the Greek government intends to proceed to a corresponding presentation of its view of these differences in interpretation. Thank you very much.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: A clear yes is the answer to your second question. In any case we don't need a particular occasion – though particular occasions do arise – to set out the philosophy, the thinking, the legal framework behind how the Greek government perceives the issues of minorities in general, and the particular issue of the Muslim minority, for the US side.

Mr. Santamouris: I ask because last time you said that if someone had a different view of things that was his issue. That's why I ask.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Of course it's his issue, and in the sense that we see that there are diverging stances. In any case, my counterpart, the State Department spokesperson, Sean McCormack, stated that the divergences in view regarding the meaning of the term minority are not divergences that the US has only with Greece, but with other European countries as well.

Beyond that, Greek interests are adequately protected by Greek foreign policy. And these developments, which are assessed and handled with the certainty and self-confidence that the policy we are exercising is a policy that is in accordance with international law and reflects its implementation, and is in accordance with the principles and values that the country follows and respects domestically: those of democracy, respect for human rights, the predominance of law as the means for regulating the relations of states as well as citizens.

Mr. Santamouris: Excuse me, but I didn't ask whether or not Greek interests are being protected – I asked whether this difference in interpretation is harmful to Greek interests.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: No, I don't believe that it is harmful to our interests, because other interpretations cannot harm our interests, because they are adequately protected by the policy we follow.

Mr. Quinn: Has the issue been raised of the return of some 5 million dollars given by Greece to the United Nations? By Mr. Poulopoulos, that is?

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I read today's article. I have some basic information that I will have to look into further to gain a more complete picture.

I'll just give you to historical facts. There was an agreement between the Greek government, the Ministry of the Interior and the United Nations under which, in 1999, in Thessaloniki, the United Nations Thessaloniki Center was established for the training of public administration officials in the Balkans and countries of the former Soviet Union – 39 countries altogether.

There were some problems with the manner in which this center operated, and to give you just a few because at this time I cannot have a full picture and the details. The issue is that the supervising Ministry, the Ministry of the Interior, considered at some point that the center not only was not achieving the objectives for which was established, but that it was also squandering the Greek government's credibility. As such, in September 2005, in a letter to the assistant secretary general of the UN, the Minister of the Interior requested that an internal audit be carried out. In the end, after what I mentioned, it was agreed by the Ministry of the Interior and the UN that the Center cease operating permanently, and this decision was carried out in October 2006 – that is, a few days ago. That is the outline of the basic developments in this case.

Mr. Quinn: Yes, but the return of the 5 million will be requested through you . . .

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I don't think there is an issue of its being requested by  us.

Mr. Quinn: the Foreign Ministry has a representative at the United Nations, so he can go . . .

[conversational exchange]

Mr. Polatos: As you said that Greek-American relations have entered into a period of maturity, I wonder whether within this framework of maturity and strategic cooperation the Americans went to the trouble to inform the Greek government and the Foreign Ministry that they perceive the Muslim minority of Thrace as Turkish. The question is whether they did this before proceeding to official announcements and whether following the initial raising of the issue by the US representative to the OSCE the Greek government clearly requested from the Americans a change in or withdrawal of their arguments regarding the existence of a "Turkish minority".

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: All the necessary moves have been made in this direction. You are aware of this. Moreover, it has been stated that the issue was discussed at the recent meeting between the Minister and the US ambassador to Greece. There was also the meeting of the Secretary General, Ambassador Mr. Rokanas, with Ms. Rice. So all of the necessary actions, in addition to these two, have been taken.

Mr. Polatos: That wasn't the question. Whether the Greek government and the Foreign Ministry were informed before the public positions were taken by the Americans, viewing the Muslim minority as Turkish.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Of course Greece is aware of the view and thinking of the United States on minority issues. After all, this isn't anything that isn't publicly known. These are public stances regarding how the issue of minorities is seen.

Ms. Flores: Regarding Mr. Gul's visit to Athens. What are the expectations of the Greek government, the agenda of the issues that will be discussed with Ms. Bakoyannis. Whether he will see other Greek government officials and whether there is a part of the visit that will be an official – I mean after the two days, whether he will go to Thrace or anywhere else.

Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: You can see that it's relatively early for me to answer all these questions. I think that we will have the opportunity in the coming days to go into greater detail.

What I can say, because this was clear or announced in some way following the Minister's meeting with Mr. Gul in New York, is that some decisions enhancing the already existing confidence-building measures are expected. That is what I can tell you at this stage. But I'm sure we'll come back to this, and I will give you a complete picture.

Thank you very much.