JOURNALIST: Could you brief us on the meeting with the Foreign Minister of Albania, Mr. Bushati?
N. KOTZIAS: With Mr. Bushati, we carried out an overall assessment of where Greek-Albanian relations are headed and of the discussions we are having with regard to the problems that have arisen between the two countries. We noted that, concerning our relations, tones ought to be brought down.
JOURNALIST: Do you think a date might be set for the opening of accession negotiations between Albania and the EU within 2016?
N. KOTZIAS: In the Commission’s recommendation – in the Report, that is – nothing like that is provided.
JOURNALIST: Ms. Bakoyannis posed a question to you on the matter of the Commission’s Report.
N. KOTZIAS: Yes, I think she needs to read it more carefully and she will see that the series of critical observations contained in the Report simply haven’t gotten coverage in the Greek press. So I think that the main opposition party needs to study the texts carefully. I also want to mention that, since 2015, when I became Minister, the European Union texts have started to contain clear and specific references – as well as specific claims – regarding the rights of the indigenous Greek minority in Albania.
JOURNALIST: Did you raise the matter of Mr. Erdogan’s statements about Lausanne, regarding his conduct in the Aegean, with the Council?
N. KOTZIAS: What I brought to the attention of the Council is the contradictory situation that today exists in Turkey, the need for the European Union to speak in such a way as to be understood by Turkey and not generate a negative incorrect sense that we don’t want to have a relationship with Turkey. At the same time, I underscored the need for us to insist that the relations between the European Union and Turkey must be based on international law, on international rules, and on the European acquis. Included among these, of course, is respect for international agreements and for the very borders that exist in Europe. And this doesn’t concern just Turkey, but anyone raising issues, either in the Balkans or in the eastern Mediterranean, regarding the region’s borders.
JOURNALIST: On the migration issue?
N. KOTZIAS: There was no discussion on that. I think, of course, that we have to meet this agreement, not just Turkey, on its part, but also Europe.
JOURNALIST: Is Mr. Anastasiades coming to Athens on Wednesday?
N. KOTZIAS: As soon as Mr. Obama departs.
JOURNALIST: What do we expect from the meeting with Mr. Anastasiades following the talks?
N. KOTZIAS: Mr. Anastasiades will brief the Prime Minister – we have already been briefed, of course, on the key points – on the talks that were held in Geneva, on the proposals for solutions that were formulated, which, as far as I can evaluate them right now, are positive, and on the next steps in the process of resolving the Cyprus issue.
JOURNALIST: So there is optimism that some solution might be found very soon regarding the main problems?
N. KOTZIAS: I think that the Cyprus issue is on a good path, and we have to fight to keep it on that path. No one can see the future.
JOURNALIST: One last question. Would you like to tell us something about the quadrilateral meeting – given that you saw Mr. Bushati today – regarding how you see it moving ahead. Will the quadrilateral configuration move ahead in Thessaloniki, or is it not advisable at this time?
N. KOTZIAS: As you know, we have two quadrilateral configurations in the Balkans. One concerns the member states of the European Union – Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece – and, in fact, this configuration met today on the level of political directors, with our excellent diplomat and Political Director of the Foreign Ministry, Petros Mavroidis, taking part on behalf of Greece. Regarding the quadrilateral meeting on the level of Ministers, for the other configuration – that is, Greece and the three northern countries sharing a border with us – it was scheduled to take place on 21 and 22 November, but, as you know, the current Bulgarian government was defeated in the presidential elections, while at the same time we have elections in Skopje on 11 December. Together with the Ministers and Mr. Bushati, whom I saw here, we agreed to postpone our meeting until after the elections in FYROM, so that all of the participating governments aren’t in a transitional situation.
JOURNALIST: Thank you very much.
November 15, 2016