Athens, 24 April 2007
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Good morning. I’ll start with a brief outline of Foreign Minister Ms. Bakoyannis’ programme for the coming days. I remind you that today, at 13:00, she is meeting with her Slovenian counterpart, Mr. Rupel, who is accompanying the Prime Minister of Slovenia on his official two-day visit to our country.
The issues to be raised in the meeting concern bilateral relations, with emphasis on economic cooperation, European issues, trans-Atlantic relations and developments in the Balkans, of course. Statements will be made following the meeting, and a working lunch will be hosted in honour of the Slovenian Foreign Minister.
Today, at 17:00, the Foreign Minister will meet with the UK Minister of State for Europe, Mr. Hoon, who is on a working visit to our country. The subjects to be discussed during the meeting are developments in the European Union, developments in the Balkans, and the latest developments in the Cyprus issue. When I say the Balkans, the emphasis will of course be on developments regarding Kosovo.
Also today, Ms. Bakoyannis will attend the annual reception hosted by the Israeli Embassy marking their National Independence Day.
Tomorrow, at 10:00, the Foreign Minister will participate in the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, at which the new plan for the Organization of the Foreign Ministry is being submitted for ratification in codified form.
Tomorrow evening, at 18:00, Ms. Bakoyannis will receive the Chairperson of the Arab International Women’s Forum, Ms. Al Kaylani, at the latter’s request. Afterwards, at 18:45, Ms. Bakoyannis will receive the Iranian Ambassador to Athens, at his request.
On Thursday and Friday, 26 and 27 April, the Foreign Minister will be in Oslo to participate in the Informal Meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers. Very briefly, the items on the agenda for the talks include: developments in Afghanistan; developments in the Western Balkans and Kosovo; NATO enlargement; developments in the Middle East; and anti-missile defence.
On the margins of the proceedings, there will also be meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Committee and the NATO-Russia Council. Due to the busy schedule and agenda, bilateral meetings have not yet been scheduled for the Foreign Minister in Oslo, but this may change. As you know, the Foreign Ministers will be staying in the same place, so I don’t rule out bilateral meetings. But at this time, nothing has been scheduled.
On Monday, 30 April, at 18:30, Ms. Bakoyannis will deliver the welcome speech at a special event being organised under the auspices of the Foreign Ministry, at Zappeio, by the Panhellenic Women’s Organization “Panathinaiki”, marking the 50th anniversary of the EU. The subject of this event is “Review and Prospects of the European Union”.
On Wednesday, 2 May, the Foreign Minister will meet with her Tunisian counterpart, Mr. Abdallah, who is carrying out an official visit to our country. The subject of the talks will be the bilateral relations of the two countries, European issues and, more specifically, the Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation and EU-Tunisian relations. They will also discuss international issues of mutual interest, with emphasis on developments in the Middle East.
The additional protocol to the Greek-Tunisian agreement on the avoidance of double taxation is also set to be signed on the margins of the meeting.
On 3 May, Ms. Bakoyannis will travel to Egypt to participate in the international regional conference on Iraq.
Regarding the programmes of the Deputy Ministers, today, 24 April, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Yannis Valinakis will participate in Foreign Minister Ms. Bakoyannis’ meeting with the UK Minister of State for Europe, Mr. Geoffrey Hoon, at the Foreign Ministry.
At 19:00 today, Mr. Valinakis will host a working dinner in honour of Mr. Hoon. They are to discuss current European affairs, with emphasis on the European Constitutional Treaty and EU enlargement.
On Wednesday and Thursday, 25 and 26 April, Mr. Valinakis will be in Berlin, where he will meet on Thursday, 26 April, with his German counterpart, Mr. Reinhard Silberberg, who is responsible for the German EU Presidency’s talks with member states regarding the European Constitutional Treaty, ahead of the European Council in June.
On Wednesday, 25 April, at 10:00, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Evripidis Stylianidis will participate in the meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defense and Foreign Affairs on the new Organization of the Foreign Ministry.
On Friday, 27 April, at 10:30, Mr. Stylianidis will brief the Parliamentary European Affairs Committee on relations between the EU and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and Greece’s role in these relations.
On Wednesday, 2 May, at 12:00, Mr. Stylianidis will meet with Spanish Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Leon, at the Foreign Ministry.
On Thursday, 26 April, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Theodore Kassimis will attend the meeting of the Parliamentary Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad for discussion of the draft law on the exercising of voting rights by Greeks living abroad. On the same day, Mr. Kassimis will attend the President of the Republic’s state dinner in honour of the President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, who is visiting our country.
That’s it for announcements. Your questions, please.
Mr. Hadoulis: A question regarding Mr. Hoon. First of all, what time will the statements be made today? The meeting is at 17:00. Whether we know what time the statements will be made. And regarding the agenda, the Republic of Cyprus recently made a request for the UK to pay rent for British bases on its territory. As Mr. Hoon is British, whether this issue will be discussed at all by the two Ministers, and what Greece's position is on this issue.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The meeting is scheduled for 17:00 today. Joint statements to the news media with Mr. Hoon have not been planned.
Regarding what will be discussed, this issue is not on the agenda. And you know that it is an open discussion between colleagues who meet very frequently in Brussels.
Mr. Gilson: Mr. Spokesman, as there has been a news report on the same issue to the effect that some initiative is imminent from the UN Security Council to revive the 8 July process. As the UK is a permanent member, will something like this be discussed? Are you aware of something along these lines, or not? Will you confirm this?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: No, I cannot confirm that. If there are such thoughts from the UK side, Mr. Hoon may want to brief the Greek Foreign Minister. But I have no such information at this time.
Mr. Santamouris: First of all I want to ask who else will be attending the meeting that Ms. Bakoyannis will be attending; that is, what is the framework for this meeting. And my second question has to do with the Greek position on the manner in which the European Union must confront the Palestinian government. Is Greece in favour of the European Union's contact with only certain members of the Haniya government? Is this their position, or is it a choice that has to do with the effort toward a single EU position?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The Foreign Minister – I'll start with your second question – yesterday, within the framework of the relevant discussion that took place among the EU Foreign Ministers, supported that the union should send a clear message that it supports the newly formed Government of National Unity in Palestine.
Beyond that, and beyond how each member state will communicate with this government, with regard to its specific members, this is an issue that is completely within the competency of the each member state.
Regarding the Minister's participation in the regional conference on Iraq, it is an international conference and there is to be broad participation. I don't have a full picture. I will look into this and give you this information later on.
Mr. Santamouris: I just want a clarification on your first answer. So in the European Union, each state will determine the manner in which it will communicate.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I said that the Greek position is that there should be an overall message of support for the government. Beyond that, each EU member state will decide on the nature of its contacts with this government.
Let me add here -- to complete the picture -- that yesterday, the Foreign Minister also proposed that the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Government of National Unity be invited to one of the upcoming General Affairs Councils of the Foreign Ministers.
Mr. Santamouris: So the question for clarification is whether the European Union is sending in a message of support to the Palestinian government; whether it is the EU, and not the member states, who will speak with certain Ministers.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I told you precisely what the Greek proposal was. A message of support for the government. A message of support for the efforts of Mr. Abbas.
Mr. Santamouris: The question is this, Mr. Koumoutsakos: Ms. Bakoyannis said that the European Union must send a message of support to the Palestinian government. On the other hand, however, she said that the European Union, within the framework of its efforts, will be the one to talk to whichever Ministers it sees fit. She didn't say member states. If what you are telling me clarifies what I'm asking, fine. So the Minister said each member state. If the European Union speaks selectively with certain Ministers, is it sending a message of support to the Palestinian government?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: You can see that this is a matter of handling. No one is addressing this detail. The political decision -- and this is what you should note -- is a message of support to the government. Beyond that, contacts are another matter.
Mr. Meletis: Mr. Spokesman, I want to ask whether some demarche has been made to the State Department making our position clear on the Skopje issue, in the wake of the confusion caused by Ms. Rice's letter. And second, whether you have become aware through newspapers -- as the Italian Embassy's dialogue is conducted through newspapers -- of what is happening, in the end, with the vessel "Urania”.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: First of all, there was no confusion with regard to Ms. Rice's letter. Regarding this letter, an initial position was taken on my part, and there was a very clear and detailed answer from the Foreign Minister. So there was no confusion on this.
Contacts with the State Department and the process of informing the US government with regard to Greek views and positions on this issue are ongoing on all levels. There was the recent meeting of the Foreign Minister, and beyond that there are daily, very regular contacts of all the officials of the Greek Embassy in Washington with the competent State Department officials. Corresponding meetings take place in Athens, as well.
So there is no issue of a demarche, because the spirit and general framework of US positions on this particular issue is well known.
Mr. Meletis: Are they identical, are they convergent with the Greek positions?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I didn't say that.
Mr. Meletis: I'm asking. Regarding the NATO issue, that the non-resolution of the problem will not hinder accession to NATO.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The US position has been stated. The Greek position has also been stated.
Mr. Meletis, I think we are repeating ourselves. We have said that the finding of a mutually acceptable solution would help and have positive repercussions on three levels: on the bilateral level, on the regional level, and for the Euro-Atlantic perspective and aspirations of our neighboring country. This is the Greece’s firm position.
Regarding the issue of the Italian research vessel "Urania”, you can see that the public statements and public letters of the Italian Embassy are well known. You can see that there are diplomatic contacts, as there was from the outset a demarche to the Italian Foreign Ministry, and the necessary contacts were continued via diplomatic channels.
Following the actions taken by the Foreign Ministry, I would like to say that the Greek NAVTEX has been issued; a message to persons at sea regarding this issue. Moreover, last Friday our embassy in Ankara made a demarche to the Turkish Foreign Ministry regarding this matter.
Mr. Meletis: Following his meeting with his Slovenian counterpart, Mr. Karamanlis, when asked, said that there are criteria that must be satisfied and that full compliance means full accession. He said this about Turkey. He said the same applies for Skopje, on the condition that a solution is found on the pending name issue. Do you see this as assistance for the Euro-Atlantic course, or as a prerequisite? That is, what exactly is it? What the Prime Minister is saying sounds like a prerequisite. What you are saying sounds like a hope.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: What I said is not at all a hope. It is within the framework that has been set down through the statements of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister. I said that if this happens -- if a mutually acceptable solution is achieved -- it will have positive repercussions on those three levels.
Mr. Meletis: So if a solution isn't found, the repercussions will be negative. That's what you're saying.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Your interpretations are your own.
Mr. Meletis: I'm not interpreting. You gave a hypothetical scenario. If a solution is found, there will be positive repercussions. I'm giving the other possible outcome. As you say, it is a possible scenario. If a solution is not found, what is the other formula?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: It can easily be inferred from my answer and its wording.
Mr. Tsaka: Mr. Koumoutsakos, two days ago, the Mayor of Chimaras, Mr. Bolanos, made the incendiary statement that the Greek minority of northern Epirus wants independence. Is Greece in favour of this position from Mr. Bolanos?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I am not aware of Mr. Bolanos' statement. I have to see the full text and an evaluation has to be made.
Mr. Tsaka: The statement is official and …
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I haven't seen it.
Mr. Tsaka: … and has caused a storm of reactions on this issue.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I'm honestly not aware of the statement, and I will have to read it so we can have a common frame of reference.
Mr. Tsaka: Do you believe that this idea is right; that is, for northern Epirus to be independent and to be compared, as Mr. Bolanos says, with the Kosovo issue -- that is, as in the case of Kosovo?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: As I said, I am not aware of Mr. Bolanos' statement. I don't know what it contains. I will have to see it for you and I to have a common frame of reference so that you can ask your question to someone who knows, and I can answer to someone who also knows.
Mr. Tsafos: Can I ask a question?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Of course, have I ever refused you?
Mr. Tsafos: No, never. Yesterday, something unprecedented happened in the EU -- the day before yesterday, Saturday. The German Finance Minister linked the accession of Cyprus to the Eurozone with political criteria. This has never happened before in the history of the EU. And yesterday there was, from what we learned from the Athens News Agency, telephone communication between the Greek Foreign Minister and the Federal Minister of Germany.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Not by telephone. They met on the margins of the General Affairs Council.
Mr. Tsafos: Can you say a few words about this? And an assessment: what consequences will this have if the German Presidency persists in this tactic of linking it with political criteria?
Ms. Fryssa: I’d like to add to that question. As the Minister will meet with her Slovenian counterpart at 13:00, will she raise this issue with him?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: On this issue, first of all, I have nothing to add in answer to your initial question as it was stated.
Beyond that, there is the statement that the Foreign Minister made yesterday following the proceedings of the Council and her meeting with the German Foreign Minister, that her clear feeling is that at this time there is nothing that specific -- as what came out in the media -- regarding the criteria for a country's participation, in this specific case the Republic of Cyprus, in the Eurozone. I have nothing further to add. Everyone in the Union is aware that the criteria for the participation of a country in the Eurozone are purely technical and economic.
Mr. Gilson: A question on Ms. Bakoyannis' meeting with the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas. In her statements following Saturday's meeting, Ms. Bakoyannis stated that the prerequisites for lifting the embargo on the Palestinian Authority are the three that have been set by the Quartet. That is, recognition of Israel, renouncing violence, and the implementation of previous peace agreements. So I ask myself how the Greek position on the request of Mr. Abbas – who stated that the Palestinian people are experiencing a tragedy at this time due to the embargo – how does Greece’s position differ from that of any other European country? Because Greece alleges that it has very close relations with, and strongly supports, the Palestinians. How is the Greek position different from that of Germany or France or any other country?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Greece has not alleged that. It is confirmed by the statements made by Mr. Abbas. Just to clear that up.
Regarding Greece's positions, the Foreign Minister's statements hold true completely and by the letter.
We have this specific policy on Palestine. We are a country that has knowledge of the region, and we are doing whatever we can -- we participate actively within the framework of the EU and the bilateral actions we take -- to help the peace process move forward in the long-suffering region of the Middle East. Beyond that, Greece helps to shape the decisions of the EU.
These positions that I set out for you briefly were communicated by the Foreign Minister to Mr. Abbas. Based on these statements, statements from the Palestinian President followed, that said specific things regarding Greece's stance on this matter.
Mr. Gilson: So within the framework of the EU -- and I'm finishing here -- will Greek diplomacy be undertaking any initiative for lifting the embargo on the Palestinians, or are Greece's hands tied unless the preconditions set by the Quartet are first satisfied?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: Greece, based on what I told you, makes specific and constructive proposals each time; proposals that move in this direction. I already set out for you the proposals submitted yesterday by the Greek side at the Council of EU Foreign Ministers, which attended with interest the overall briefing from the Foreign Minister following her recent meeting with Mr. Abbas.
Mr. Symeonidis: Mr. Spokesman, is the Foreign Ministry concerned at the possibility of Turkey's provoking an incident in the next two months.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I think we've touched on this issue repeatedly -- the hypothetical issue of possible tensions.
I have repeatedly said that the Foreign Ministry is not worried; that worrying is not its job. The Foreign Ministry's mission and job is to examine all possibilities so that it can be prepared for every eventuality.
Working scenarios, as you know, are done by all the Foreign Ministries in the world regarding many issues. The Greek Foreign Ministry is no exception. It could not be an exception, particularly when we are speaking of Greek-Turkish relations.
Mr. Kapoutsis: I would like to ask, by the way, if you have been briefed by NATO regarding what's happening with Agios Efstratios, the demilitarization of the region, etc.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: My answer of last week still holds.
Mr. Kapoutsis: The week before last.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: That answer.
Mr. Meletis: Are we still waiting for NATO's answer? Have we submitted a request for the exercise to be rescheduled?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: When there is something specific, you will be informed.
Mr. Meletis: I'd like to ask something else now. Did the Italians submit a permit for the research of "Urania”? And whether the course taken by the vessel was the same as that submitted or is it different.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: The application to the Turkish authorities has been withdrawn. A new application has been submitted to the Greek authorities. It has been approved, and on Friday the NAVTEX -- radio instructions to persons at sea -- was broadcast, not a NOTAM as reported in the media. A protest was made to Ankara regarding the Turkish NAVTEX that was issued, also on Friday. These are the actions that have been taken on the part of the Foreign Ministry with regard to this issue.
Mr. Meletis: A problem was created with this vessel. The vessel submitted a research program that concerned specific coordinates, it submitted a request to Greece and Turkey for permission, there was the snag we all know about, and the research team submitted a new request. Is the request exactly the same or has it been altered.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I'll have to look at it and get back to you.
Mr. Meletis: Can you please look at it? Because it makes a difference if it has been altered.
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I'll look at it and answer you.
Mr. Symeonidis: Regarding Agios Efstratios again. A week ago in Brussels, Ms. Romero, the assistant spokesperson for NATO, stated to a group of Greek journalists there at the invitation of NATO that the Agios Efstratios exercise is a Greek exercise, was a Greek exercise with the participation of some NATO vessels. Nevertheless, NATO is carrying out an inquiry into the whole issue. Do you see any contradiction in this claim?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I admit that I don't have the text of the NATO spokesperson's statements with me. I have no reason to doubt your phrasing, but as you ask whether I see any contradiction in her words, I would like to have it in front of me. So I reserve my answer at this time.
Regarding the nature of the exercise, as you know, provided that a NATO vessel was involved, it is not an exercise of a purely national nature.
Mr. Barakat: Does the Foreign Minister have a specific initiative to submit at the international conference on Iraq?
Mr. G. Koumoutsakos: I don’t expect there to be a Greek initiative within the framework of this particular conference on Iraq.
Thank you very much.