Athens , 22 April 2007

Journalist: Are you worried that the political-military tension in view of the elections in Turkey will spread across the Aegean Sea and influence Greek-Turkish relations as well?

Mr. Stylianidis: We are following domestic developments in Turkey in a responsible manner. Greece has maintained a crystal clear position with regard to the European perspective of its neighbouring country, supporting it under the terms and conditions that Europe itself has set. Greece has also made a lot of good-will gestures in order to improve bilateral political and economic relations with Turkey. However, Greece is also prepared to act in order to avert any scenario that might put the country’s sovereignty in doubt or in danger. We wish, we hope and we are working for a future in which Turkey will be able to show a better face and our bilateral relations will follow a new path of real and substantial improvement.

Journalist: You have said, however, that Turkey seems to be having difficulty walking hand-in-hand with Greece.

Mr. Stylianidis: In the political field, despite the fact that our relations have significantly improved compared to the past, we note that Turkey is hesitating or dragging its feet in complying with the terms and conditions that the EU itself has set for the opening of negotiating chapters. We think that if Turkey – which is now under the obligation to adapt to the community acquis - really wants to safeguard its European perspective, it should not take steps back; it should align itself with Europe, move ahead with the necessary reforms, achieve the results it wants, ensure the perspective of its people and, at the same time, improve its prospects for cooperation with Greece. The responsibility now lies with Turkey.

Journalist: Following the Rice letter, is it possible that Greece’s warning about a veto on FYROM’s perspective for accession to Euro-Atlantic institutions is not enough?

Mr. Stylianidis: Issues such as this are not resolved at once or in a given time period, but are ongoing, and for this reason it is meaningful to continuously, systematically and persistently try to follow a given strategy. Greece has thus far shown the necessary flexibility and suggested a mutually acceptable solution. At the same time, it has proven its interest in supporting the neighbouring country’s Euro-Atlantic perspective through its actions.

Beyond that, Greece has its given positions and it is clear on them. We have briefed, and asked for the support of, international organisations and our allies in our effort to resolve the last pending issue between us, which is important to us – i.e., the name issue – and we believe that insisting on the strategy that we drew up from the beginning will bring results that will meet our expectations.

Journalist: You carried out 49 visits abroad for the promotion of economic relations. What have been the results of these visits and what does Thessaloniki stand to gain?

Mr. Stylianidis: The results can be seen in the statistics showing an increase in exports following a seven- or eight-year downward trend. Exports increased by 9.15% in 2004, 14.5% in 2005 and about 19% in 2006. 2007 is expected to be an even more productive year, because the initial goal for 2006 has been achieved, i.e., exports reached almost 7.4% of GDP and our objective now is to increase this percentage to 8.4%. By reviving the HiPERB, by constructing vertical axes, through energy projects such as the Karacabey-Komotini-Italy natural gas pipeline and the Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil pipeline, through our major ports, and our general economic and energy diplomacy, we are achieving four goals: to render Thessaloniki, and northern Greece in general, a major transit hub, a commercial centre, an exhibition centre, and a centre for education and modern-technology dissemination.