Athens, 23 September 2009

Journalist: How can Greece to play a major role during the next six months, in regard to the Middle East Peace Process, taking into consideration the constructive history of Athens in the region and the complications in the situation after the latest Israeli elections?

Ms. Bakoyannis: Greece has always supported the Palestinian people’s right to create a state and works towards the establishment of a viable solution in the Middle East, which includes the peaceful co-existence of a Palestinian and an Israeli state. To this end, the Peace Talks need to be put back on track, the Road Map must be implemented in full, and the Arab Peace Initiative should remain at the core of our discussions. The Israeli Government must refrain from house demolitions and evictions of families in East Jerusalem, and also halt all settlement activities, in order to actually promote the Peace Process. Eventually it needs to follow a more realistic and constructive approach in order to launch a fresh effort for a viable solution to the Palestinian issue.

Through multilateral and unilateral actions, we have worked towards the aforementioned goals, in both the field and international diplomatic fora. In the aftermath of the Gaza war, Greece was among the first countries to provide help to the people most affected by the crisis. It has contributed funds to the reconstruction of the damaged areas and sent supplies to relieve the population. Even before the crisis, during the period from 2005 to 2008, Greece contributed some $16,5 million in support of the Palestinian people, in the form of bilateral cooperation. Yet we are seriously concerned at the persisting grave humanitarian situation due to the limited access of goods and equipment imposed by Israel. The security of the Israeli citizens is undoubtedly of paramount importance as is the human dignity and security of the Palestinian People. Those responsible for the actual situation should urgently reconsider their practices.

Greece has consistently supported the Palestinian cause in the EU and tried to convince its European partners of the need to take bold decisions and decisive action. Our participation and contribution to UN and EU organizations acting in the region has always been very active. Our course of action up to now is to take advantage of every possible opportunity to promote the Middle East Peace Process, and we will continue our efforts alongside the International Community towards the final resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

While the Palestinian issue continues to be at the heart of the problems of the region, a lasting peace and stability can only be achieved when the Israeli-Syrian and the Israeli-Lebanese tracks reach a negotiated settlement.

Journalist: Shall we expect a change in the Greek stance from the Turkish bid to join the EU in the upcoming period bearing in mind the positive political atmosphere with Ankara?

Ms. Bakoyannis: Greece is a sincere supporter of Turkey’s European path. We believe that Turkey’s European perspective can work as a catalyst for the full normalization of Greek-Turkish relations.

At the same time, we have also made it clear that all conditions and requirements set by the EU should be met fully and in a timely way. We are not giving any “blank check”. Our line is simple and clear: full compliance – full membership. In this context, we cannot accept lower standards or any shortcut during Turkey’s accession process.

Unfortunately, we regret to note that Turkey has so far made only limited progress in its reform process. Furthermore, it refuses to honor essential commitments and obligations it has undertaken vis à vis the EU and it is reluctant to cooperate with the EU in order to face major security challenges, such as illegal migration. Turkey’s actions in the Aegean Sea in contravention of international law, such as violations of Greek national airspace, including military flights over inhabited Greek islands, are of particular concern to my country.

This attitude of Turkey inevitably has a negative impact on its accession course and undermines efforts to establish a climate of mutual trust. Progress in the EU accession course depends -- naturally – on the progress made by Turkey in each and every field. It is therefore up to Turkey to move from words to deeds and to make its EU aspirations a reality.

Journalist: Talking about Turkey, is there any optimism inside Greece or the EU that the issue of Cyprus will be solved in the near future, and how do you describe the Turkish standpoint in this regard?

Ms. Bakoyannis: President Christofias’ clear determination to achieve a comprehensive, just and viable agreement with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Talat gives us hope that this time a solution can be reached. The relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the principles and values of the EU, of which Cyprus is a full member state, provide the framework for a solution of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with inter-communal political equality, a single international personality, a single sovereignty and a single citizenship, which is the agreed objective of the two Cypriot leaders. In their negotiations – which began last September under UN auspices – there has been convergence on a number of points, but core differences remain. The only way to resolve them is through continuation of this effort, without artificial deadlines and arbitration.  

What remains to be seen is whether Turkey, which in fact has a determining role on this issue, will allow and encourage the Turkish Cypriot leadership to negotiate a mutually acceptable compromise. Frequent Turkish statements about the establishment of a “new partnership” of two separate “peoples and founding states” are certainly not helpful. They disregard the fact that Cyprus is already an EU member-state which shall not, of course, renegotiate its accession terms and contravene UN Security Council Resolutions, which recognize only one State of Cyprus. 

Journalist: How do you evaluate the current relations between Greece and UAE and what are the proper perspectives to develop the relations in the future?

Ms. Bakoyannis: Our relations with the United Arab Emirates are very satisfactory and promising. Greece was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the UAE (1971) and our Embassy in Abu Dhabi opened in 1989, while the Emirates recently opened their respective Embassy in Athens. Both our countries are working towards the further development of our bilateral relations. In this context, H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Papoulias paid an official visit to the Emirates in 2006, followed by my own personal visit (2007), as well as those of the Minister of Health (2008), and the Minister of Tourism (2008).

During the recent visit of H.E. the Foreign Minister of UAE, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to Athens, Greece announced its intention to support Abu Dhabi’s candidacy to house the IRENA headquarters. Furthermore, the two sides agreed to take concrete steps in order to further improve their bilateral relations. In this context it has been decided to conclude the Agreements for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Promotion and Protection of Investments, which we hope to sign as soon as possible. We are also working on a proposal for a Cultural Agreement and another for the establishment of a Joint Committee presided over by the two countries’ Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

Moreover, Greece and the UAE have decided to support each other’s candidacies for the International Maritime Organization’s Board.

The forthcoming visit next January of His Excellency the President of the Hellenic Republic to Abu Dhabi – where he will be the keynote speaker at the World Future Energy Summit – is another sign of Greece’s interest in promoting our bilateral relations with the Emirates in all fields.

Taking into consideration the level of political relations between Greece and the UAE, there is ample room for further development of our economic and trade relations.

The UAE constitutes a major economic and trade partner for Greece among Arab countries in the broader region of the Middle East, Gulf States and Northern Africa. In 2008, the total volume of bilateral trade amounted to €278.5 million, while Greek exports to the UAE amounted to €217.9 million, thus making the UAE the top destination for Greek products in the region. Moreover, according to data from the Hellenic Trade Center in Dubai, there are more than 140 Greek-interest companies operating in the UAE, mainly in the fields of construction, general trade, shipping and transportation services, energy and software development.  Taking into consideration the magnitude of the two economies, our corporate communities have the potential to extend their cooperation not only in traditional trade fields, but also in dynamic investment sectors. I note that there are currently four airlines, three Emirati and one Greek, connecting three UAE cities with Athens. The favorable entrepreneurial environment in both countries presents numerous opportunities for the establishment of an effective long-range bilateral economic and trade partnership, and considering the strong investment interest, the bilateral constitutional framework must be completed.

Journalist: Finally, what is Athens policy in regard to renewable energy and how do you see Abu Dhabi’s selection to house the secretariat of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)?

Ms. Bakoyannis: Renewable energy is one of the key solutions to the current challenges facing the world’s future energy needs. Many countries already foster the production and use of renewable energy through different approaches on a political and economic level because they recognise the benefits renewable energy provides. Current use of renewable energy, however, is still limited – in spite of its vast potential. The obstacles are manifold and include lengthy permit procedures, import tariffs and technical barriers, insecure financing of renewable energy projects, and insufficient awareness of the opportunities for renewable energy.

Greece has been a strong supporter of the Abu Dhabi candidacy for the interim headquarters of IRENA and feels vindicated since at the Agency’s second session of the Preparatory Commission in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, the Signatories designated Abu Dhabi as the interim headquarters, by an overwhelming majority. Abu Dhabi works consistently towards its ambitious target of becoming a regional focal point in the new era in the field of energy.

The new policy for the promotion of Renewable Energy Sources, adopted by the Hellenic Ministry for Development, recognizes the importance to the national economy of promoting RES applications as a means to securing energy supply and utilizing an environmentally friendly local energy source while achieving the Kyoto Green House Gasses reduction targets and fighting global warming.

We at the Ministry strongly believe that the time has come for Greece to realize its full potential and become the hub of South Eastern Europe, especially in the solar and wind energy market.