Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Sia Anagnostopoulou gave an interview today on Athens-Macedonia News Agency radio station Praktoreio 104.9 FM.
Referring to the results of the first round of presidential elections in North Macedonia, Ms Anagnostopoulou noted:
“The two candidates who are in favour of the Prespa Agreement hold an 11%-lead over the nationalist bloc candidate. I consider it unlikely that she [Gordana Siljanovska] would be elected. But even if she wins, even if she is elected, as she has said in her speeches, which are rife with contradictions, she cannot do anything on an international level [to overturn the implementation of the Prespa Agreement]. I also consider that even the VMRO has realised that it neither can nor it wants to do anything because they would bear the brunt of the people, since all the citizens of North Macedonia want European prospects for their country, want it to open up. When it was closed and they had no contact with Greece, it cost them dearly.”
As to the work of the interministerial committee for the proper and efficient implementation of the strategic partnership between Greece and North Macedonia, the Alternate Minister stated that for all the issues arising with regard to products, a committee has been formed, with entrepreneurs institutionally participating in it. “What we have come to realise is that our products – the PDO and the PGI ones – are fully protected. The committee will step in and provide solutions for the products where there are problems,” she explained. She also announced that the two agreements for opening two new border crossings – in Lemos, Florina, and in Promachi, Pella – would be brought to Parliament this week.
Asked to comment on the results of the 12th Greek-Russian Joint Interministerial Committee proceedings, after its meeting in Thessaloniki, she answered, “What we realised along with the Russian Minister of Transport is that there is no single tool that could help entrepreneurs and bring them faster in contact with the legal framework of each country and with the market. A flexible tool, close to the entrepreneurs, is required, to expedite the investments that are necessary for our country [Greece]. So we decided on this work team, which had been in the works for a while, but never had been forced to be formed.”
As to the limitations in place when promoting the bilateral partnership, due to the economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU, the Alternate Minister clarified, “The Russian side is aware that – fully respecting the Minsk agreement and the sanctions imposed – as an EU member state, we are obliged to respect this framework. Beyond that, though, we are finding ways to work together.”
“We cannot export rural products to Russia, but we can proceed with product standardisation; or, for example, as specified by the very important agreement we signed on shipping and ship repair, we can build passenger vessels, but we can also repair them at the Salamina shipyards. We can find such solutions and that’s what we’ve tried to do.”
Referring to the resolution approved by the Greek Parliament for claiming WWII reparations from Germany, the Alternate Minister noted, “It was not just passed for sentimental reasons, but because it is of essence – moral, political and economic. To date, Germany is refusing that there’s such an issue. However, we will make it public internationally. We will elevate it at a European level and a note verbale will follow in the immediate future, for one reason only: Not to incriminate the German people or to treat them badly. But there is an open issue and, in terms of history, 70 years is not a lot.” She further added, “The people must stand against their history with courage and braveness, but also assume the responsibilities of history.”
With regard to the European election stakes on 26 May, Ms Anagnostopoulou stated, “The crucial political conclusion that must come out of it is that Europe is taking a turn away from austerity to effectively deal with the extreme right and the rising fascism. We will not be able to effectively address the extreme right if we do not take a turn away from austerity, meaning that if powers that are against austerity do not rise in Europe, both in the member states and the central bodies of the European Union. The people of Europe must be aware of the fact that a vote in the European elections is not an easy vote, but a deeply political one, because our future depends on it. During the crisis we also experienced that our future depends on the leaderships of Europe and their direction.”
Lastly, when asked about the prospect of implementing the measures announced by the government, Ms Anagnostopoulou noted, “Ever since 2015 we have been saying that exiting the memorandum can only mean one thing: the country will exercise the politics it wants depending on the leadership it has. We saw this through the ban on pension cuts, the collective agreements and the minimum wage. Non-reduction of the tax-free threshold will also be implemented, because we have the freedom to do so. The 120 instalments will be brought to Parliament – immediately after Easter I believe – so we have the willingness and the political will to put into practice what the Prime Minister had announced at the Thessaloniki International Fair.”
With regard to the stance of the Institutions against these policies, she clarified, “The leaderships of the European Union said that this can done, as was the case with the pension cuts that did not happen. Because as long as the country fulfils the fiscal conditions it is bound by, as is the case with all member states, its economic policy and the direction it takes depends on the local national leadership; that’s what's important.”
April 22, 2019