Athens, 23 May 2008
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Good morning. On Monday, 26 May, Foreign Minister Ms. Dora Bakoyannis will represent Greece at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels.
The proceedings of this particular GAERC will last for two days – 26 and 27 May – with parallel participation of EU member-state Defense and Development Cooperation Ministers. Ms. Bakoyannis will be accompanied by Deputy Foreign Ministers Mr. Yannis Valinakis and Mr. Petros Doukas.
The main issues on the agenda:
1. Preparations for the 19 June European Council.
2. Developments in the Western Balkans, with emphasis on developments in Serbia.
3. The situation in Iraq, Georgia and Somalia.
4. Ongoing developments in the Middle East.
EU-U.S. relations will be among the subjects discussed at the Foreign Ministers’ luncheon. There will also be a joint meeting of Foreign and Defense Ministers, and together they will look at European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), as well as developments in Afghanistan and the issue of the participation of children in armed conflicts.
The subjects to be discussed at the Development Cooperation Ministers’ Council will include the protection of children’s rights within the framework of the EU’s external activities, and acceleration of progress towards meeting the Millennium Goals.
Finally, on the margins of the GAERC there will be an EU-European Economic Space Council, the Association Council with Turkey, and the Cooperation Council with Moldova.
On Tuesday, 27 May, Ms. Bakoyannis will host a luncheon for former U.S. Senator Mr. Paul Sarbanes, who will be carrying out a visit to our country from 24 to 29 May.
On Wednesday, 28 May, at 10:00, the Minister will meet with Cypriot High Commissioner Mr. Giorgios Iacovou, and that afternoon she will receive the special representative of the Organization Internationale de la Francophonie, Mr. Henri Lopes.
I would like to refer to two events being organised within the framework of the Ministry’s activities. The first is the International Conference on the impact of climate change on human security. This important event will take place on 29 and 30 May, here in Athens, at the Athens Concert Hall, and is taking place within the framework of the Greek Presidency of the Human Security Network, which began in May 2007, and the end of which coincides with the 10th meeting of HSN member states, which will take place here in Athens on 30 May, at the Grande Bretagne Hotel.
I would like to mention a few aspects of the Foreign Ministry’s activities within the framework of the Human Security Network.
Within the framework of the Human Security Network, the Foreign Ministry undertook and promoted initiatives and actions in three directions:
1. Raising the awareness of international and Greek public opinion through the hosting of events in various cities, such as Athens, New York, Bali, Geneva and Vienna.
2. Drawing up and promotion of specific policy proposals concerning climate change, human security and development assistance.
3. Drawing up and promotion of flexible funding programmes for Greece within the framework of development cooperation and assistance for strengthening the adaptability of less developed countries and small island nations to climate change.
On Thursday, 29 May, at 09:30, the proceedings of the conference will be opened by Ms. Bakoyannis and Environment Minister Mr. Souflias.
Beyond that, the programme for the event will be distributed to you.
On Monday and Tuesday, 2 and 3 June, the International Conference for women in the Middle East and North Africa will take place at Lagonisi. The conference is entitled “Initiative for the next generation, local entrepreneurship for international rights, the Middle East problem, regional forum for local and regional women entrepreneurs”.
This meeting is taking place under the auspices of the Foreign Ministry, on a Greek initiative.
On 28 and 29 May, Mr. Valinakis will participate on behalf of the Foreign Ministry in the sessions of the special Parliamentary committee for drawing up and examining the draft law for ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.
Mr. Doukas is in London at the invitation of the Association of Greek Bankers of Great Britain, and from 1 to 3 June the Deputy Minister will be in Moscow on an official visit, heading a business mission.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Kassimis will be touring southern Italy through 25 May, visiting Greek-speaking villages. On 26 May, Mr. Kassimis will meet in Rome with the Federation of Greek Communities in Italy, and also on the 26 he will meet with Secretary of State Mr. Alfredo Mantica.
I also wanted to add that today, at the Foreign Ministry, the Secretary General for International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation, Mr. Skylakakis, and USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia Mr. Thomas Fleetwood Mefford signed a Memorandum of development cooperation in the energy sector.
This cooperation concerns speeding up investments in renewable energy sources and energy conservation in the member states of the energy community: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Croatia, Montenegro, Moldova, Ukraine, FYROM and Serbia. The relevant information will be distributed to you.
Any questions?
Ms. Spanou: I would like to ask why you covered up the Foreign Minister’s meeting with the self-styled “Foreign Minister” of Kosovo, which took place in Bulgaria, whether the secret diplomacy being exercised by Ms. Bakoyannis has the approval of the Prime Minister, and whether Greece is going to recognise Kosovo.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Greece never left any ‘grey zones’ as to its position. There is a new state of affairs in Kosovo, regarding which Greece will take decisions after an in-depth examination of every aspect, every facet, every possible consequence this new state of affairs might have for the security and stability of the region – and with Greece’s broader interests as a frame of reference.
Mr. Meletis: In what capacity did the Foreign Minister meet with Mr. Hyseni? I want a specific answer. There is a photograph of the Minister in a meeting with someone whom the Kosovo news media call the “Foreign Minister of Kosovo”. How did Ms. Bakoyannis meet a person, in what capacity did she meet him? Can you answer us as the Foreign Ministry?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: He is a member of the political elite, the political leadership of Kosovo, and in that capacity he asked to meet with the Minister. Within the framework of the role Greece has – as I described earlier – there was a short meeting that lasted a few minutes.
As for the supposed secret diplomacy, the existence of photographs puts paid to any suggestion of secret diplomacy. Secret diplomacy is not carried out in the presence of photographers.
Ms. Adam: Mr. Spokesman, my colleagues and I met on Tuesday with you and the Minister. We talked about everything. From the serious to the ‘unserious’. We talked about various things, apart from this issue. So I would like to know on what level the decision was taken not to inform the Greek correspondents covering an official mission of a meeting of the Minister, as you claimed is the usual practice, though you announce everything – including meetings with ‘I don’t know who’ – except this, when this is a major issue, given that Greece has not recognised Kosovo. No one went to the trouble of informing the Greek media team that representatives of Kosovo would be in attendance. Even after the fact, no one went to the trouble of saying, precisely that – even if by chance – this meeting with the Minister took place, and we have to learn about it from some obscure site.
So I want to know on what level it was decided not to inform the Greek news media correspondents of the presence of Kosovo representatives at an international meeting where they had no place – not as observers, nor as members, nor as anything.
Additionally, what exactly was discussed? The question is official and I want an answer.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Regarding the time of the meeting. It hadn’t been scheduled and nor had it been scheduled at the time of our meeting on Tuesday. This very short meeting of a few minutes took place late the following morning.
So don’t blame yourself or others unjustly. No one tricked anyone. No one covered anything up.
The other question, concerning the content of the talks…
Ms. Adam: (off microphone) Excuse me, did it take place before or after the Prime Minister’s statement?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Just before, if I’m not mistaken. I will confirm that, though.
Please let me answer, just as I very patiently listened to a very long question.
Second, you asked me about the content. The Foreign Minister reiterated Greece’s well known positions on how our country sees the Kosovo issue. If there was anything else, I will find out and let you know.
Was there a third part to your question?
Ms. Adam: When did the meeting take place, and what was the content?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: As I said, the meeting took place on the second day, after the Minister and I had talked to you. It wasn’t scheduled, so it couldn’t be announced beforehand, and it is part of the common practice in all of the countries of the world. Every meeting of this or a similar kind is not announced.
Ms. Adam: A question of substance. Had the Greek side, the Greek government, been informed in good time by the Bulgarian Chairmanship of the SEECP that representatives of Kosovo’s political elite would be in the room? During the preparations for the Summit Meeting, was this information given out – that is, did the Greek side know, or did it simply find itself, by surprise, in the presence of an unknown person? And what was Greece’s reaction?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Your questions are very specific, whether we knew, whether we didn’t know. I want to say that the practice in the SEECP is for there to be a presence of officials of the political leadership of Kosovo, who attend as members under the umbrella of the UNMIK, which is invited as an observer.
Mr. Meletis: Was there a reaction from Greece when this gentlemen took the floor?
Ms. Adam: Since when has this been the case, Mr. Spokesman?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: It as been the case at least for all the years I have monitored the proceedings of the SEECP.
Ms. Adam: During our chairmanship, three years ago, did a representative of Kosovo address the Summit Meeting?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: He didn’t talk, he attended, in the capacity I referred to.
Ms. Adam: How is it that this person addressed the Summit Meeting? That’s what I’m asking.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I don’t know, Ms. Adam. Your question was “Did he attend?”.
Ms. Adam: Yes, of course.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: So I’ll sum up. Attendance, in the manner I set out for you, is standing practice. The right to speak. Addressing the Summit is another matter and I don’t know whether there was prior notification of the delegations. Honestly, I don’t know whether it had been agreed, and on what level, with the Bulgarian Chairmanship, or whether he took the floor “de facto”.
Mr. Santamouris: I would like to ask whether meetings of this kind – that is, informal and unscheduled, etc. – with representatives of the political elite of Kosovo.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The political leadership.
Mr. Santamouris: Right, the political leadership of Kosovo. Of course, political leadership is a term, because there are many political leaders in Kosovo, right?
Have there been other meetings between representatives of the political leadership of Kosovo and high-level governmental representatives of Greece in any region of Europe or elsewhere? That’s one question. The other is …
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: If you’re talking about the period since this past February, the answer is no. Before that there were also visits to Pristina.
Mr. Santamouris: So, my second question, based on your answer, is whether the reiteration of Greek positions on Kosovo by Foreign Minister Bakoyannis took place because they hadn’t understood them correctly or because the representatives of the Kosovo political leadership didn’t remember them. And the third question is whether other issues of Balkan or Greek interest were discussed at this meeting – issues such as the FYROM name issue. And of course what Greek reaction should we expect if the representatives of the Turkish Cypriot pseudo-state are accepted by someone as representatives of a state entity?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I’ll start with your last point. There is no basis for any parallels between two things that are unrelated to each other. That is the answer to your third question.
The answer to your second question is that obviously during such a meeting the country’s position is reiterated in person.
In answer to your first question, I repeat that the answer is no.
Mr. Santamouris: (off microphone) .. whether other issues of Balkan or Greek interest were discussed at this meeting.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: No – no such issue.
Ms. Kourbela: Mr. Spokesman, I will ask a question that is unrelated to the previous questions of my colleagues, but concerns a recent development in the European Parliament. The European Parliament’s report on the progress of Turkey’s accession course contains many issues – all of the issues of particular interest to Greece – and the European Parliament requested that these requests be justified. Will the Greek government move ahead on this following the relevant reaction of the European Parliament?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: This is a positive accomplishment. Beyond that, the actions to be taken will be evaluated based on what as already been accomplished.
Mr. Kottaridis: I would like you to tell me whether you expect NATO to notify us as to when they will have AWACS available in the region in order for the exercise to take place. And as I haven’t heard any comment, I would like you to tell me how you see all of these news items in Ankara, according to which Turkey is behind the cancellation of this exercise in Agios Efstratios.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Regarding the operational availability of aircraft or other Alliance vessels, please address your question to the Alliance.
Regarding the news items you referred to, I would like to take a general stance. Turkey’s thirty-year-old stance on a number of issues within the framework of NATO – issues concerning the strengthening of Greece’s geopolitical role within the Alliance – is well known. It is a stance that in the final analysis has a negative impact on the cohesion and operational readiness of the Alliance.
This situation has to change, and Greece is making an ongoing effort for this situation to be remedied. This, in the final analysis, is in the interest of the Alliance itself.
Mr. Meletis: Mr. Spokesman, as you’ve known for thirty years what Turkey’s stance is, and obviously thirty years ago AWACS hadn’t been invented, nor have we had constant bad weather for the past thirty years. You see what I mean.
So my question is this: Why was it, then, that the Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry decided to submit the plans for the conducting of the exercise including Agios Efstratios, knowing that Turkey has had a specific stance for thirty years? And I assume that if you made this decision, the Diplomatic Service and the Foreign Minister would have taken care first, in contacts with Mr. Scheffer, to obtain certain assurances that the exercise would be carried out, given that unanimity is not required on this exercise’s being carried out. That is, Turkey doesn’t veto the exercise – supposedly a decision is taken by the military commander.
So my question is who made assurances to the Minister, to the Minister of Defense, to the Diplomatic Services, that this exercise could be carried out? And my second question: Who – according to the Foreign Ministry – kept the exercise from taking place?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: As I said, I think this subject has been exhausted.
The competent Parliamentary committee has been briefed in full – particularly regarding the operational aspect – by the Defense Ministry.
Regarding the broader issue you are raising – a policy that is repeated or efforts that are continued – I would like to give you a general answer.
As you know, what is vital regarding such complex and difficult issues is not always the exact time at which an effort has a positive outcome. What is important is that you believe in the goal of your effort and that you continue.
Greece’s positions have been set down and are well known in the Alliance. Beyond that, the potential for further actions is assessed by the Foreign Ministry. Moreover, it is clear and it is questioned by no one – not even, I am glad to say, your question – that among our national priorities is the optimum utilisation of the role of the potential and contribution of Greece within the Alliance.
Mr. Meletis: The further actions?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: As I said, the potential for further actions is being assessed.
Mr. Meletis: Excuse me for interrupting, but I’m finishing. Why will further efforts be made? Due to the non-availability of AWACS.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I said that the potential for further moves is being assessed and that, in any case, Greece’s positions have been set down and are well known to the Alliance.
Mr. Meletis: Mr. Spokesman, can this exercise take place? Will it take place?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The carrying out of this exercise remains on the calendar for the carrying out of exercises.
Ms. Fryssa: Continuing from the previous question. From here on in, how can the blocking or cancellation of exercises impact Greek-Turkish relations?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: As the Foreign Minister has said, the effort towards full normalisation and improvement of Greek-Turkish relations is a marathon. With straightaways, turns and hills. To reach the finish line – which is full normalisation of Greek-Turkish relations – we need stamina, patience and persistence.
Mr. Kottaridis: Could you tell me the purpose of yesterday’s visit by Mr. Speckhard to the Foreign Ministry? Who he saw and what they discussed?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Yes, of course. He met with the Secretary General, Ambassador Agathokles, within the framework of routine diplomatic meetings.
The issues they discussed included human trafficking and the course of the visa waiver program.
Ms. Adam: On from there, can you tell us why Mr. Speckhard visited the Roma camp in Aspropyrgos a couple of weeks ago, whether he had talks with the people, whether he had notified the Foreign Ministry of his visit, and whether the written reply of the Mayor of Aspropyrgos to Mr. Speckhard has come to you.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Regarding the first part of your question, please address your question to the U.S. Embassy.
Ms. Adam: So the Foreign Ministry didn’t know …
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: You asked me why Mr. Speckhard went to the Roma camp. You can see that that is a question for the U.S. Embassy spokesperson, not for me.
Ms. Adam: Whether you had been notified – I’m not asking why.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Regarding whether or not we knew. I don’t think that in Greece – and this is a general stance – one’s visiting any given place in the country requires approval from the government. Luckily, we do not live under such a regime.
Ms. Adam: No, I don’t mean it in that sense. But when this issue suddenly becomes news.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I don’t know whether the Foreign Ministry had been notified in any way – which could mean a simple phone call.
Ms. Adam: The pertinence of this for the Foreign Ministry – and that’s why I’m asking, as one of my colleagues reminded me of this – is that in recent years, as you know, in the annual U.S. reports on human rights in Greece, oppression of the Roma is high on the list. That’s why I’m asking.
Since when has the Greek government been aware of the Turkish stance in NATO on the problem of Agios Efstratios? My first question.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I don’t have that specific date right now. In any case, as you know, and I think this was part of your previous answer, there is a standing rationale on the part of Turkey regarding certain issues that bolster Greece’s role in NATO.
Ms. Adam: Given that this Turkish stance longstanding – as you have given us to understand – why has the Greek government, throughout this time, not done anything within the Alliance to alter this Turkish course?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I don’t accept that it hasn’t done anything, Ms. Adam. I told you the following earlier, and I think my answer is clear.
My answer was that what is vital regarding such complex and difficult issues is not always the exact time at which an effort has a positive outcome. What is important is that you believe in the goal of your effort and that you continue. That is still my answer. But I in no way accept that there is negligence or inaction or inertia on the part of Greece when it is a matter of issues that are among our national priorities.
Ms. Adam: Great. I’ll bear that in mind and I continue. Turkey, as we know, includes Agios Efstratios among a number of what are in its view “demilitarised islands” in the Aegean, and it gave the relevant list to NATO some years ago. Given that this is the case, and bearing in mind the content of your previous answer – that Greece acts in the national interest, etc. – the question is why, for two years running, this year and last year, Greece – the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry – planned and submitted to NATO an exercise that includes Agios Efstratios and does not include Limnos.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I am not aware of the programming of military exercises – their operational aspects and such data. The choice of exercises – their form and content, etc. – is decided and discussed within the framework of an ongoing, productive collaboration between the two Ministries, but I have nothing more on that.
Ms. Adam: And a final question. At this time last year, when the same issue came up in this very room, both the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry assured us that “the issue will be resolved within a short time.”
It has been a year, and yet …
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I repeat my answer that the effort never stops. The exercise is still on the agenda.
Ms. Adam: A deadline – where do you place it?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I can’t designate a time right now. What you should know is that there is still potential for its taking place.
Ms. Adam: Potentially when, Mr. Spokesman? Because …
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I don’t know. As you can see, this has to do with the interaction of many different factors, whether purely technical, for example, availability, scheduling and carrying out of other exercises that might coincide. There are a lot of elements, technical data that must be taken into consideration.
Ms. Adam: From mid-June through mid-September, as we know, the Papoulias-Yilmaz Memorandum goes into effect. That is, no exercises, no nothing. So we go to October.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I don’t know. That is one of the things I referred to without naming it specifically.
Mr. Athanasopoulos: From what I understand – to continue this question a little – the reasons it might or might not take place are technical. Don’t you entertain the possibility that the reasons might be political.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I referred to a number of reasons, among which are those I referred to specifically – for example, scheduling of exercises, availability, etc.
Mr. Santamouris: I wanted to ask, in the opinion of the Foreign Ministry, what is the next stage in the Greek-Turkish consultations and whether the meeting of Greek-Turkish government officials has been scheduled for the immediate future – before mid-summer. And the second question – I’ll go back to the first issue – whether – in view of the official taking up of governmental duties by the political leadership of Kosovo – there is a question of a meeting between Kosovo political leaders and Greek government leadership. Thank you.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The answer to both questions is that no such thing has been scheduled. More specifically, regarding the second question, there is nothing on the horizon. Beyond that, you are aware that Greece has had diplomatic representation in Pristina for many years now.
Mr. Meletis: Based on 1244.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Based on 1244, Mr. Meletis, certainly.
Mr. Caka: Mr. Spokesman, from the very outset, Greece took on a substantial role on the Kosovo issue in this region, in 2003, I remember, at the Summit Meeting hosted by Greece and, in fact, in some fora that took place here and were attended by Kosovo representatives. Now, after so many years, when Kosovo is no longer a hot issue – it is a country that has been recognised by many states and EU members – it appears that a secret meeting took place between the leaders of Greece and Kosovo. Is this perhaps a form of pressure what Greek diplomacy must do in the interest of Serbia, or is it perhaps distancing the substantial role Greece had in this region now that Kosovo has already been recognised by neighbouring countries that were once in the federation …
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The subject of that very brief meeting has been exhausted. I had the opportunity to reiterate that Greece’s position remains unaltered regarding the new state of affairs in Kosovo. That answers your question.
Mr. Meletis: Whether there was a demarche from the Greek representation to the SEECP regarding the illegal action of giving the floor to a non-member.
Ms. Adam: A clarification on the same issue.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: We’re finished with this. We have exhausted the issue, Ms. Adam. I have nothing to add on this.
Mr. Pollatos: Regarding the Agios Efstratios exercise. This is probably my own oversight – I haven’t understood. Are you satisfied with the explanation that the exercise is being delayed due to the unavailability of AWACS, or do you put the delay down to 30 years of a familiar stance on the part of Turkey?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Mr. Pollatos, I answered a general policy question asked by Mr. Kottaridis. Moreover, I said that as regards the specifics of the exercise, the subject has been exhausted with the thorough answers provided to the competent Parliamentary committee by the Defense Ministry.
Mr. Pollatos: Forgive me, Mr. Spokesman, I don’t think the subject has been exhausted. In fact, my opinion – which is binding only for me – is that the Defense Ministry fanned the flames with what it said. Because this exercise, based on NATO planning, is to last a total of one hour – one hour – we are talking about a one-hour exercise. Whether you are covered by the official explanation of the unavailability of AWACS for this hour-long exercise, or whether you think Turkey might be behind it. And finally, I would like your comment on what the Head of the Joint Chiefs and the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr. Chinofotis, said last year. Mr. Chinofotis, with regard to NATO, called on the Alliance and received a paradoxical and incomprehensible decision, and added that this awkward way of handling things must be remedied as soon as possible, with remedial actions regarding NATO, and with regard to Turkey he noted precisely that the effort to create a climate of trust is severely undermined by such incidents. I just want to note that the postponement of the exercise took place a mere 5 days before the visit to Ankara of the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which is scheduled for Sunday, as you know. Is the climate in Greek-Turkish relations being undermined by such incidents or do you think everything will work out and that the two heads of the joint chiefs – according to the official announcement – will discuss ways to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I have already said that Greece’s positions have been made clear and are well known in the Alliance. As I also said that the effort is continuing.
So everything you mentioned, the Chinofotis letter and all that, are covered by what I said.
Regarding the other issue you raised, the visit of the chief of the defence staff, Mr. Grapsas, to Turkey, it is not within my competency to discuss that.
This is a meeting that, as far as I know, will take place within the framework of the broader effort being made for steps to be taken towards the improvement of Greek-Turkish relations. This is a long and exacting effort.
Mr. Jacobi: The U.K. has stated that it will not attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games. Australia and France are discussing it – they haven’t decided yet. What will Greece do?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: That is not the case for Greece.
Mr. Jacobi: What do you mean it isn’t? So Greece will go.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Yes.
Mr. Meletis: I looked at the Ministry archive at the answers you gave about a year ago, when we were waiting for an answer from Mr. Scheffer on Agios Efstratios. I wanted to ask – because we overlooked this for a year – whether it came and what exactly it says on the issue of Agios Efstratios. Second: Given that from your answer I see that you, too, agree that AWACS availability is not such a major issue in the holding of the exercise, and given that the Ministry is looking at further actions on this issue, I wanted to ask – given that unanimity is not required for exercises – what was the snag; who decided on the postponement? The military commander in Izmir, or was the decision taken at a higher level?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I won’t enter into a discussion of these delicate issues.
Mr. Meletis: Excuse me, was the Secretary General of the Alliance involved in the case? I’m asking specifically.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The subject has been exhausted.
Mr. Meletis: Mr. Spokesman, we are awaiting Mr. Scheffer’s answer, we’ve been waiting for it for a year and a half, we have the patience to wait, but tell us that “it came” or “it didn’t come” so that we can announce whether or not Mr. Scheffer has sent an answer. So that Turkey, the commander, everyone can find out. Because here we always have this question: If Mr. Scheffer has sent an answer and has said that we have the right to hold a NATO exercise in Agios Efstratios, it means things went wrong somewhere else.
If, on the other hand, he has said, “leave Agios Efstratios out of NATO exercises,” then AWACS is not the problem, and neither is bad weather, Mr. Spokesman. That is why I’m asking – and please answer us – whether an answer has come from Mr. Scheffer regarding Agios Efstratios over the past year and a half. And if an answer hasn’t come, why didn’t the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister ask him for an answer when he came to Athens?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: First of all, I am not forwarded – and quite correctly – every development on every issue in the Ministry. Secondly, there is ongoing communication on this issue within the framework of NATO.
Mr. Meletis: A year and a half later you tell me that the Foreign Ministry doesn’t know whether an answer has come from Mr. Scheffer?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I told you that I am not made aware of every single development.
Mr. Meletis: An exercise has been postponed and you don’t know whether Mr. Scheffer has given an answer on the Agios Efstratios issue?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I’ve answered you. Thank you.