Athens, 26 October 2009

Mr. Droutsas: Let me say a few words about today’s General Affairs Council, which just came to end.

As you know, the working dinner will begin shortly, and within the framework of the working dinner I will have the opportunity to talk to each of my colleagues – the EU Foreign Ministers – separately, given that this is the first Council since the elections in Greece. As you would expect, my colleagues are very interested in hearing the views and positions of the new government.

Today’s Council is critical because it is preparing issues ahead of the European Council in a few days, and the Prime Minister will participate in this European Council. We have important issues before us; issues important to Greece, like the issue of illegal migration.

On this issue, we are pursuing a further strengthening of cooperation, given that this is a European issue. We want Frontex to be strengthened – this is important to us. Equally important is the shaping of joint actions and procedures within the framework of a common European asylum and migration policy. Also, reinforced funding and cost sharing, and, finally, the conclusion of readmission agreements between the EU and third countries – like Turkey – as well as the implementation of existing bilateral agreements, such as the one we concluded with Turkey in 2001.

We discussed – and this will be discussed at the European Council – important issues for Europe and its position in the world, including the institutional reorganization of the European Union in view of the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, which we hope will happen soon.

Greece wants Europe to have a strong voice in international affairs, and we have come out in favor of the reforms that are in progress. We believe that Greece has much to contribute to the shaping of the Community Positions. We want Greece’s contribution to EU foreign policy to be discernable. We want our country to have a strong presence in the Community organs.

We want transparency in decision-making and close cooperation with all the partners, as I had the opportunity to tell the Council today.

All of these goals are being pursued through the government’s approach, which we have stressed repeatedly: For Greece to once again gain a real presence and voice in all international developments.

Finally, the upcoming European Council will also discuss – we made the preparations at our Council today – vital global issues. Here, I am referring to the issue of climate change, ahead of the Copenhagen Conference.

The European Union is trying to formulate a common position and strategy ahead of this Conference. The other issue we discussed was of equal importance: further steps for confronting the international economic crisis.

I want to reiterate here – and I think you all know this – the government’s commitment to radically change our environmental policy. The climate change issue is of the highest priority for the government, and we want Greece to be at the vanguard of initiatives for confronting the phenomenon of climate change. And this is precisely what the Prime Minister will underscore the day after tomorrow at the Summit Meeting, during the discussion on this issue.

As I said, we will shortly continue our discussions at the working dinner, where external relations will be the focus of our discussion.

We will of course discuss the Balkans, where – I repeat once more – Greece’s goal, our will, is to once again play a leading role in the Balkans, in our immediate neighborhood, and in particular concerning the accession courses of the Balkan countries; all of Southeast Europe.

As I have stressed, we want Greece to be the motor force behind the accession courses of these countries. We are coming to renew the European Union’s commitment, which was made in 2003, under the Greek Presidency, and we want to renew this commitment with a new target date. A target date that is ambitious, but that we believe is also realistic. An extremely symbolic target date: 2014. We have the opportunity to present the outline of this Greek political initiative, which we will of course discuss in detail in the coming time with our neighbors, our neighboring countries in the Balkans, as well as with our partners in the European Union.

We will also discuss the situation in the Middle East, where Greece wants to regain the leading role it played in the past and that I think Greece can play again in this region. I mention here that I met last week with all of the Ambassadors of Arab countries to Athens in, if you will, a symbolic gesture to these countries, so that we could underscore the high priority the new Greek government gives to relations with the Arab world.

I needn’t remind you of the traditional relations that Greece has with these countries. And, as I had the opportunity to say to the Arab Ambassadors, it is my intention to visit all the countries in the region as soon as possible.

Finally, this evening we will discuss the course of the negotiations being carried out at this time with Iran on the matter of its nuclear programme. I would like to stress here that Greece clearly supports the dialogue and diplomatic efforts underway, and I would like to believe that on this issue, as well, Greece has the potential to play a special role.

That’s it as an initial briefing on what was discussed and what is still to be discussed this evening.

Journalist: Mr. Minister, a question: On the matter of confronting illegal migration, are we satisfied with the text of the European Council Conclusions, and if not, where are we pursuing improvements?

Mr. Droutsas: We have submitted some thoughts for amending the draft Conclusions on this issues. What Greece is pursuing – and I think this is obvious to all of us; to the European Union and the member states, I would like to believe – is that issues that exist with regard to Turkey in particular, concerning the cooperation that Turkey is showing at this time or the level of cooperation that Turkey is showing at this time on this issue with the European Union and bilaterally with Greece – I don’t think it can be considered satisfactory. In this area in particular, we are pursuing some changes – improvements – to the text of the conclusions, and we have made our relevant proposals.

Journalist: And one more question, if I may: In Australia, Mr. Gruevski spoke again today of “Aegean Macedonians”. How do you reply?

Mr. Droutsas: We will not enter into a dialogue with Mr. Gruevski, with Skopje, on non-existent issues.

I will just stand on what I said recently. That Greece looks on its relations with Skopje with an open mind, always with a willingness to be constructive. As I said, we have open minds, and I think that the leadership in Skopje needs to realise that it is in their hands to choose between the familiar aggressive nationalistic and irredentist rhetoric, or choose a constructive, sincere, substantial dialogue on the matter of resolving the name issue.

There is but one solution. We have said it many times, and I take the opportunity to repeat it today, as well: A name with a geographical qualifier, for use by everyone and in all instances.

This is the solution that will release the Euroatlantic perspective of the neighboring people, whom we want to welcome into our European family as soon as possible. And I think that this solution will contribute decisively to regional stability.

Thank you very much.