Athens, 18 March 2009
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Good morning.
Foreign Minister Ms. Dora Bakoyannis will accompany the Prime Minister to the European Council taking place tomorrow and Friday, 19 and 20 March, in Brussels.
The main issues to be addressed by the European Council include:
· The international economic and financial situation
· Energy and climate change
· European Neighbourhood Policy
· EU-U.S. relations
Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Valinakis will also participate in the proceedings of the Spring Council.
On Monday, 23 March, Ms. Bakoyannis will visit Tbilisi as the Chairperson of the OSCE. The programme for the visit – specific meetings and details – is still being formulated and will be announced in the coming days. Meetings are being scheduled with the country’s political leadership and with representatives of the political parties.
Within the framework of her visit, Ms. Bakoyannis will visit the OSCE mission in Georgia. She will meet with the heads and the staff of the mission, as well as with the military observers. She will be briefed on current developments in the region and will present the Greek Chairmanship’s proposals for ensuring the continued multifaceted presence of the organization in the region.
Since yesterday, Deputy Foreign Minister Valinakis has been carrying out a two-day visit to Moscow, meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Ministers Mr. Titov and Karasin. The subjects of the talks will include bilateral political relations, the prospects for further development of Greek-Russian cooperation in key sectors, EU-Russian relations, and issues of international interest.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Varvitsiotis is carrying out a working visit to Belgrade from today through Friday. He will meet with members of the Serbian government – specifically, the Deputy Prime Minister and Economy and Regional Development Minister, Mr. Dinkic, Foreign Minister Mr. Jeremic, as well as representatives of Greek enterprises.
On Monday, 23 March, Mr. Varvitsiotis will participate in the 14th Conference of the National Council of Exporters. This Conference will take place at the Finance Ministry and will look at the “extroversion of the Greek economy in the current international economic state of affairs.”
Tomorrow, Thursday, Deputy Foreign Minister Kassimis will attend the President of the Republic’s accreditation ceremony for new ambassadors to Athens. On Friday, Mr. Kassimis will meet with Italian Deputy Defense Minister Mr. Crosetto.
On Saturday, 21 March, Mr. Kassimis will travel to London, where he will stay through Monday. On Saturday, he will meet with Archbishop Grigorios of Thyateira and Great Britain and other representatives of the expatriate community, and he will attend the events commemorating Greek Independence Day.
On Monday, within the framework of this visit, Mr. Kassimis will visit the Greek Centre in London for an event on “Greece’s presence on the international political stage”, at which he will be the keynote speaker.
And today at 18:45, an event is taking place at the French Institute amphitheatre, under the auspices of the Foreign Minister, marking “International Francophony Day”.
Beyond that, I want to inform you of the following: Yesterday, we received a letter from the Skopje Foreign Minister – a letter sent to Ms. Bakoyannis – reiterating positions regarding the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’s proposals. Well-known positions that were submitted in January 2008 and were presented – that is: “the signing of a Declaration of Friendship, Good-Neighbourliness and Cooperation between our two countries,” the “establishment of a Joint Committee on Education and History”, a “framework agreement on the development of the bilateral relations of the two countries.”
If you would allow me to make an initial comment on this, I hardly need stress that Greece has always believed and believes in good neighbourly relations. As for the issues that exist in our relations with the neighbouring country, it is our conviction that everyone’s efforts must focus on the pending name issue and the negotiations taking place within the framework of the United Nations.
The solution of this issue will be a catalyst.
Other moves are in the nature of delay tactics and are an attempt to divert the negotiations and the discussion from the subject of the basic pending issue that we are discussing within the framework of the United Nations.
Beyond that, it is obvious that the resolution of this issue automatically resolves and helps the development of bilateral relations as well, as we have repeatedly said, along with regional cooperation and the European perspective of the region as a whole and, in this specific case, the European perspective of our neighbouring country. So we are pursuing a solution to this pivotal issue, and, as I said, we believe that efforts should focus on this and not be diverted from this central issue.
That’s it from me. Your questions, please.
Ms. Antoniou: I wanted to ask you two things. The first is whether there is any mention of some occasion for his sending this letter now, and the second is whether there will be an answer from the Greek side; a corresponding letter.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: There is no specific occasion, from what I saw from a quick perusal. As I said, it is a reiteration of a thought within the framework of a specific tactic, which is mainly a tactic that indirectly but clearly concerns the negotiations. I don’t rule out there being a reply.
Mr. Santamouris: Mr. Spokesman, are there other pending issues besides the basic issue in the negotiations or in the negotiations in general with Skopje?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: No. We have said this repeatedly. There is nothing else. The negotiations are taking place on a specific topic.
Mr. Santamouris: Excuse me – a clarification. I’m asking whether there is something, not whether we are negotiating something, whether there is something on the table.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I told you what the subject of the negotiations is, according to the relevant Security Council resolutions.
Mr. Kapoutsis: Does Milososki’s reason for sending the letter have anything to do with the European Parliament’s decision regarding the immediate opening of accession negotiations – by a large majority – FYROM’s negotiations with the European Union, first; Second, the report of Independent UN Expert on minority issues Ms. McDougall on these issues. And there is a third question that I don’t remember right now, so I’ll just go with those two.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: With regard to the European Parliament report, I will repeat the answer that the Foreign Minister gave the day before yesterday to your colleagues in Brussels: that, in any case, these decisions are taken by the Council of Ministers of the European Union.
With regard to the McDougall report, that was answered in the forum where the discussion took place – that is, at the United Nations in Geneva. And general stances of a political nature on this report were issued by the Foreign Ministry, but mainly by Prime Minister Karamanlis in the recent parliamentary debate on foreign policy issues.
Mr. Kapoutsis: I’ll continue with a third question that I forgot. It concerns yesterday’s statement from Mr. Veros, the Ambassador at Coreper, who protested the Skopje government’s intervention in Greece’s domestic affairs.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Your question gives me the opportunity to say something about Mr. Milososki’s letter. Bilateral relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – in terms of manner, form and climate – are determined by the implementation of the Interim Accord.
So the implementation of the Interim Accord is what is required for the smooth functioning of the two countries’ bilateral relations. Unfortunately, the other side has not done this.
Regarding what was said by Mr. Veros, I can only assure you that this is also our view. What Mr. Veros said is the Greek position.
Ms. Fryssa: I wanted to ask this: Will the OSCE send observers to the elections in Skopje?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: There is, as you know, an OSCE body – the ODHIR – whose responsibilities include the monitoring of election procedures in various countries. Moreover, as far as I know, the OSCE parliamentary assembly also sends observers. And I think this will be the case with the upcoming municipal and presidential elections in FYROM.
As for the participation of Greek observers, no – Greece will not send observers to this election process. The reason is that not even the slightest opening should be given to those who would like to misinterpret or misconstrue or use such participation for purposes that have nothing to do with the observer process in the carrying out of elections. And, of course, for there to be no possibility – should they attempt it – of implicating the OSCE Chairmanship in any results or any matter of the quality of the election procedure, the upcoming election procedure, in the neighbouring country.
I would also like to add that the Foreign Minister, in her capacity as OSCE Chairperson, will carry out a visit to FYROM some time after the elections.
I want to note in this regard, so there should be no misunderstanding – and I mentioned this at our last meeting – that this visit in the capacity of OSCE Chairperson is completely separate from – I stress: separate from – bilateral relations and the name issue, which is the subject of negotiations within a completely different framework.
Ms. Kourbela: I wanted to ask a question regarding the Greek position on the basic topics of the European Council and, in particular, what the Greek position is on the EU’s decision to scale up the reduction of gas emissions from 20% to 30% by 2020.
My second question has to do with Greece’s position on the European recovery plan’s implementation, and my third question: what is the Greek position on the issue discussed lately about the creation of a single market for transport which would include the European Union and Balkan countries, like the Energy Community before...
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I would like to start with the first question. As you know, Greece and the Greek government have stated their sensitivity to environmental issues. The but I admit I’m not aware whether this scaling up to 30% has been approved or whether it is still under discussion. This is mostly the European Commission’s intention but it is an ongoing discussion that has not reached a conclusion. In any event, the Greek position is, as I said, defined by the basic and constant sensitivity on environmental issues, which will of course have to take into account the need for growth, not just in the member states, but also in the European Union as a whole, particularly in the midst of the current financial crisis.
With regard to your second question, on the European recovery plan, Greece's position and objective at the previous General Affairs and External Relations Council and in the 30% target has already been approved at the European Council and Greece actively participated in shaping his decision. I should, however, point out that achieving this target depends on the progress of discussions in Copenhagen and , most of all, the commitment shown by other developed countries outside the EU. In any event, the Greek position is, as I said, defined by the basic and constant sensitivity to environmental issues, which will of course have to take into account the need for growth, not just in the member states, but also in the European Union as a whole, particularly in the midst of the current financial crisis.
With regard to your second question, on the European recovery plan, Greece's position and objective at the previous General Affairs and External Relations Council is that a decision should be made, if possible, before the European Council.
We are talking a €5 billion emergency contribution from the European budget in the sectors of energy and rural development. Our position is that at a time when European citizens expect clear messages from the European Union, decisions – and this decision in particular – should be important both in terms of semiotics and substance, and should be taken as soon as possible. Even beforehand – if possible – because I know that the Council is opening its proceedings tomorrow, even in the coming hours; that is, before the European Council begins its proceedings.
With regard to the issue of the transport community, relevant discussions are moving forward at the bilateral level, between the European Commission and the countries of the Western Balkans. The goal is the gradual harmonization of these countries with Community law in the transport sector and the subsequent, gradual liberalization of transport, which, as you realize, is fully supported by Greece, within the framework of its wider policy on the region’s development.
Mr. Tsafos: Is there anything more on the OSCE Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Athens?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: It was announced yesterday and there is an intention on the part of Greece to hold this informal meeting of OSCE member states on the European Security Architecture at the level of Foreign Ministers. A sort of Gymnich meeting, during which, as you know, discussions are held but no official decisions are made; a meeting that would provide an opportunity for an exchange of views and dialogue on this significant issue, which, in any case, is on the table.
Here, I would like to remind you that the relevant discussion across Europe is also a matter of concern, perhaps not within a specific institutional framework. It is a priority issue within the OSCE, and this is why there is willingness and a relevant initiative is being taken. I stress that the Greek Chairmanship announced its intention to move in this direction; we think that the unofficial nature of this meeting would be helpful at this level of discussions because it takes time – as you know – particularly such complex and complicated issues need time to mature. So our view that this is a positive and constructive step.
I would like to remind you that a discussion on this issue was held during the Helsinki Ministerial Council in December, which saw an initial exchange of views on this issue on the initiative of the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship, and subsequently during the recent meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna, when there was also an exchange of views.
So this is precisely the framework for the Greek thinking and intention to organize this meeting. We will see how things will proceed, because there are difficulties.
Mr. Pollatos: If I may, I have a question on the Turkish “Egemen” exercise. Which areas within the Athens FIR have been reserved by the Turkish authorities, which have been approved and which have been rejected?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I don't have the information you are asking for; information of a purely operation nature. What I can generally say on this exercise is that there have been assurances by European countries participating in this exercise that, with regard to their actions and the manner in which they participate in this exercise, they will take into account and they have seriously taken into account Greece’s concerns and Greece's positions.
Journalist: (off microphone)
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: As I said, there are assurances. We will be certain following the end of the exercise. For this reason there is continuous briefing and monitoring of the manner in which this exercise is being carried out, with ongoing and good cooperation between the two co-competent Ministries.
Journalist: (off microphone)
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I will look into that of course and depending on the classification of this point I will let you know – because, as you know, another Ministry is co-competent.
Mr. Santamouris: Will there be a meeting between Ms. Bakoyannis and Mr. Christofias, who is in Athens?
And a second question. What is Greek diplomacy’s comment on the view of Ms. Merkel’s CDU party, which is part of the governing coalition in Germany, in favour of stopping EU enlargement at Croatia. Thank you.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I will not comment on this position by Ms. Merkel's party. I don’t think that it would be advisable for the Foreign Ministry to comment on that.
The truth is – and I'm separating this entirely from your question – that this gives me an opportunity to say that there are currently growing concerns as to the future of the Union’s political enlargement.
This is well known and another element to be added to that as a matter of concern is the global downturn.
Mr. Santamouris: The statement related to interrupting the enlargement process after Croatia joins the Union.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I have no comment to make, as I told you. This confirms the position, if you will, that there is general concern in many EU member states on the course of enlargement, its elements, its characteristics and its future.
Mr. Santamouris: Will Ms. Bakoyannis meet with…
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: No, no provisions have been made for a meeting with Mr. Christofias.
Mr. Hadoulis: To the extent the Ministry is involved in this issue, is there something new about the exhibits that Bulgaria has requested from the Benaki Museum? There are reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also involved in this, hence the question.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I will look into it to the extent of the Foreign Ministry’s competences in order to give you an answer.*
Mr. Hadoulis: As a clarification. Because there were reports that a reminder was sent by the Prosecutor’s Office in Sofia and no information has been given thus far by the Ministry of Justice – this happened five days ago – so even a confirmation that this has happened would be useful. Because there has been no information from the Justice Ministry on that.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: There is involvement of a third Ministry. This makes my position even more complex.
Mr. Pollatos: Mr. Spokesman, a question about the Greek Helsinki Observatory: Could you tell us what projects it has undertaken over the past few years and the funds disbursed by the Foreign Ministry to support the organization’s work …
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I don’t know the full amount. What I do know is that there was an initial approval of projects many years ago and that today the second funding stage has been suspended precisely because there was insufficient supporting documentation.
Mr. Pollatos: What kind of documentation?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: With regard to data, the documents submitted and so on.
Mr. Pollatos: Will you initiate monitoring proceedings in order to see what happened to this money?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: It has already been done. Supporting documents had to be submitted at the second stage. And following their submission it was established that they were not adequate and so the second stage of funding was interrupted.
Mr. Pollatos: Definitively?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: That is all I know. I have no other information.
Thank you very much.