Response to the topical question of the President of L.A.O.S. George Karatzaferis | Prime Minister’s speech

PRIME MINISTER’S PRESS OFFICE
Athens, 30 April 2010

Mr. Karatzaferis,

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to start with a general comment on issues pertaining to our foreign policy. It has to be made clear that we may not confound two totally different things. One thing is the international battle we are fighting for our the economy of our country, as well as the protection of our common currency, namely the negotiations we are holding to ensure the low-interest loan and the country’s borrowing; another thing are our national affairs.

The only thing they share in common -because a lot is said about red lines- is the interest of our country. The measures we must take, which are of economic nature, are necessary for the protection of our country, our survival, our future, so that we can stand firmly on our feet.

It’s a patriotic responsibility which we undertake no matter what the political cost, which is minimal, at any rate, compared to the national cost of inaction, scuttle and indecisiveness.

Yes, we are tap resources from a system, within Greece, which we know comprises injustices. This is why changes are required. This is what we are doing in the case of the tax law, for instance; we are at long last establishing a fair distribution of tax burden and wealth.

Yet what is urgent now, today, immediately, is the survival of the nation. This is our red line and, this is precisely why our negotiations with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, as well as my meetings with foreign leaders on the issues of the economy and crisis, do not include any of our national affairs.

We know that we are under supervision; under supervision for out economy, though. And I am given the opportunity today, Mr. Karatzaferis, to clarify something once again; that we are not under supervision on any other account. If anyone dared to link these two issues against our interests, it would amount to a political “causus belli” for us. I am reiterating this, because I see that there has been a prevalent rhetoric in recent months, and some have been exhibiting excessive fervour to create impressions, confounding these two issues quite irresponsibly.

We would be demonstrating fear if we indeed remained inactive in our foreign policy -not taking any initiatives. Through our foreign policy, we are reinforcing our influence, our country’s influence abroad. It acts as a significant reminder of our role, that Greece knows how to play a major part in the region. This mobility of ours is yet another strong negotiating tool for Greece of today and tomorrow.

It is our unswerving target, by giving voice and negotiating power to Greece, to effectively defend our national rights. Do not forget that the strategy, that had been shaped and implemented by previous PASOK administrations, has borne fruit for our country, and the entire region.

We, unlike the Nea Demokratia administration, adopt and implement an outward-looking strategy, and strengthening our country’s reliability is our primary weapon. This was the precondition for our voice to be heard again –we achieve it.

We achieved Cyprus’ accession to the European Union; the stability and association agreement between the Western Balkan countries and the European Union, by virtue of the decisions made during the Summit Conference in Thessaloniki during the Greek EU Presidency in 2003; the European course of the Western Balkan states, Greece’s membership in the UN Security Council. These are leading examples of our successes. Because, for us, strong Greece means a Greece that is not afraid; a Greece that stands for itself.

With regard to the visit of Erdogan and the meeting agenda, now, you are well aware of our firm position, that Greece wishes to smooth out its relations with Turkey, and further promote Greek-Turkish cooperation. Wherever possible, we endeavour to intensify our contacts with Turkey, expand the scope for cooperation, in order to give impetus in many sectors for the mutual benefit of both our countries.

It is in this context that the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr. Erdogan, is paying a visit to Athens and the setting up of the high-level strategic cooperation council between Greece and Turkey. As it is known, following the decision on the setting-up of the Council, made by myself and Mr. Erdogan, we will inaugurate the works of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Athens in the following sectors: economic cooperation, energy, environment, transportation, communications, culture, tourism, education, domestic citizen protection and European affairs.

Of course, meetings between Greek competent ministers and their counterparts in Turkey will have taken place earlier. The relevant preparations are conducted, as always, with serious and systematic work, under the coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The exact agenda of the talks is being determined via the diplomatic channel. Please, be sure, both you and the entire House, that I will keep you informed.

We never do anything behind the scenes and, especially in foreign policy questions, fully observe the principle of keeping both the political parties and the entire House informed. In any case, although absolutely self-evident, I reassure you that every action, every contact of ours with Mr. Erdogan or any other foreign leader, is always in the context of strengthening our country and always aimed at rigorously defending our national interests, for peace, security, the International Law and stability in the region.

With regard to your second question, I would like to let you know that the leaders of foreign countries who visit Greece are welcome to travel to any area of the country, subject to the agreement of the Greek Government. It is self-evident that the same holds true for the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr. Erdogan, who will be visiting Athens on 14 and 15 May.

As regards Thrace in particular, our policy aims to fully and smoothly integrate our Muslim fellow-citizens into the local community. We are particularly proud of the significant progress that has been made. In any case, however, I would like to let you know that the Turkish Prime Minister is not going to travel to Thrace during his visit.

SECOND RESPONSE OF THE PRIME MINISTER GEORGE A. PAPANDREOU

Mr. Karatzaferis,

First of all, I would like to tell you that I regularly visit Thrace and I intend to continue to visit Thrace. It is a place with great growth potential and a key economic, cultural and political role to play in the broader Balkans.

However, I believe that it would be wrong to give the signal that we are afraid of any visit paid by any foreign leader, to any area of our country, certainly subject to our decision, the decision of the Greek Government –and I think that this is the meaning of the public statements made by Mr. Droutsas.

We must not exhibit fear, especially now may I add. Especially now, at this critical moment for our country, self-confidence is a crucial issue. What the Government is currently doing consist in shielding the psychology of the Greek citizen against real threats, either due to market speculation or anything else, which might be potentially associated with out national issues.

I also share your pain, to which you referred, for both the Asia Minor Catastrophe and the Pontian Greek Genocide. I would also like to underscore that we, certainly, don’t forget, but on the other hand we have no reason not to seek to set new rules or not to abide by the existing international rules of respecting and observing international agreements; this is after all what we strive to achieve in the case of Turkey. Turkey must precisely respect the international rules, the International Law and the territorial integrity of our country.

And if you made a list of concerns, I could add a hundred more to it, Mr. Karatzaferis. The question is whether we are going to simply be intimidated by the concerns or raise them valiantly to the Turks, clearly stating that, yes, we want to be friends, to cooperate, but there are rules in place. This is what I say. I don’t say it here, at the Hellenic Parliament; I say it when I visit Istanbul or Ankara, and I will reiterate it to Mr. Ergogan when he comes. Yes, there is huge potential for cooperation between our two countries, on condition that such cooperation is founded on rules and the principles of the International Law.

Finally, I would like to say that the mosque issue is totally irrelevant to Turkey –and I think that we should not associate or confound the two. It is our obligation, as democratic country, to a population that lives in Greece, be it the Muslims of Thrace or Attica, or numerous other immigrants –many of whom have become Greek citizens- who do not have a place of worship, not even a cemetery -which is unacceptable. It is unacceptable that when a Muslim dies, the body has to be transferred – where? – to Thrace in order to be properly buried. Unacceptable!

This is the problem we are resolving and, I think, that it will settle our relations with our fellow citizens, or the immigrants, who simply want to –and it their right to- be able to go to places of worship of their own religion.