Athens , 5 February 2010

Mr. Droutsas: I just met with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon. We had a very good discussion. We also had the pleasure of having the SG just a few months ago in Athens. So it was a good continuation of our talks at that time. I also had the pleasure of meeting with the SG few days ago in London, in the framework of the International Conference on Afghanistan. We discussed especially issues of specific Greek interest and concern. The developments in Cyprus, the negotiating process in Cyprus. The SG informed me about his recent visit to the island. We also tackled upon the issue of the name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and I had the opportunity of outlining again the Greek position and expressing the willingness and the wish of Greece and the Greek government to contribute constructively and positively in the negotiating process for finding a settlement; a solution to the name issue of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Besides that, we also had the opportunity to discuss major international issues and developments like the climate change and the Copenhagen Summit. We also discussed the Development Summit that the SG is initiating in the framework of the next General Assembly, where PM George Papandreou will certainly be present and will lend his full support to these activities. We also discussed the issue of piracy in Somalia. Once again it was, as always, a fruitful discussion with the SG and I had the opportunity of expressing our thanks for all his efforts and his commitment, and of course the full support of Greece and the Greek government to all the activities of the UN.

Journalist: Mr Droutsas, do you share the SG’s optimism about the events on Cyprus?

Yesterday, actually, he told us that he expects the talks to intensify even though there are the so-called “elections” in the north.

Mr. Droutsas: It is certainly an important period in the negotiating process on Cyprus.

We have to encourage both leaders, President Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr. Talat, to take advantage of the next days and weeks to come and try to intensify their talks. However, I would like to stress the fact that maybe time is not always your friend, but the quality of the solution of the settlement for Cyprus should not be a victim of any kind of time frameworks. Therefore we have to use all of our efforts and energy to try to take advantage of the next weeks, but certainly it is also necessary that the Turkish Cypriot side will show a constructive attitude in order to reach a settlement.

Journalist: In the morning you said you are not very optimistic; or you said it is a little bit difficult to be optimistic about the ongoing negotiations. Did you share this feeling with the SG?

Mr. Droutsas: We had, as always, a very frank discussion with the SG, and I had the opportunity to outline our analysis of the facts so far. Especially judging from the latest proposals that are issued by Mr Talat, that in our view are not going in the necessary, right direction. We feel that they do not really give us all necessary opportunity and possibility to be very optimistic. But still, again, we want to encourage both sides, both leaders, to try and take advantage of the next days and weeks to come and reach a settlement.

Journalist: If I may, quoting directly the SG “President Dimitris Christofias told me that he will issue some sort of plan for further negotiations despite the plan in northern Cyprus and that is quite encouraging”. What is this plan?

What kind of plan will you back?

Mr. Droutsas: We will back and we are always backing all sincere efforts to find and come up with a settlement which is on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions, which is respecting the principles of the EU, and which is respecting the acquis communautaire, the rules of the EU. I would like to stress and emphasize that the Republic of Cyprus is a member-state of the EU, and after a mutually agreed settlement will still be a member-state of the EU, which means that it will also have to be able to function efficiently within the EU. This is in the interest, to the benefit of all Cypriots, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and of course in the interest of the EU. So, in this regard, we have to emphasize that the settlement reached will be fully respecting the European acquis, the rules of the EU. In this context, we see that President Christofias is addressing these issues and the negotiating process in a very constructive and courageous way, and I would like to express from here, once again, the full support of the Greek government for his efforts.

Journalist: To follow up on a statement you’ve made this morning on your country’s stance in the Middle East policy. You’ve mentioned that your country is standing to be elected next year in the Human Rights Council. That Council spends a great deal of its time, one figures it has spent 80% of its time on resolutions condemning Israel. Would you use your seat to try to influence the Council to deal with at least with some of the major Human Rights problems in some other countries in different part of the world?

Mr. Droutsas: Elected as member of the Human Rights Council – which we very much hope – or not, Greece will always make all necessary efforts to promote Human Rights wherever in the world it is necessary.

Journalist: IMF director is quoted on the French radio saying “if Greece asked for its help the IMF would intervene,” and in a press conference held after you spoke this morning the IMF said that it has a technical team in Athens and that the government has welcomed its activities there. Can you explain what is the IMF team doing in Greece and what relation does Greece have with the IMF?

Mr. Droutsas: I will repeat, once again, what I have said in the morning; that there is no thought at all of Greece turning to the IMF. Greece is a member of the Eurozone. Greece has presented a very credible and serious program and proposals for necessary measures to stabilize the Greek economy. We have put forward to the EU our three-year program to stabilize the economy, and that was accepted yesterday and fully backed by the European Commission. Also, major EU member-states have with official statements expressed their support and their confidence in the Greek economy and the Greek government and the measures taken, and I think this is the important message we should focus on.