SPOKESPERSON: Good morning to everyone and thank you for being here
today for the first regular briefing of diplomatic correspondents. In
particular, I would like to thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr.
Dendias, for honouring us with his presence today. Without his support
and encouragement, the relaunching of these useful briefings could not
have happened.
Keeping journalists up to date and managing
information in today’s environment has become a very demanding
endeavour. The flow is constant, even ceaseless sometimes, I would say,
and this is why the relationship between the reporter and the diplomat
must be an ongoing, two-way relationship. An honest relationship based
on mutual respect for the particularities, difficulties and demands of
each party’s mission.
Most of you know very well, from your many
years of experience covering diplomacy, that the spokesperson for the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a very delicate and sensitive mission.
I
look forward to working closely with you, as I have also done until
now, further enriching this collaboration through these regular
briefings in “Seferis Hall”. We should note that Seferis was, in
addition to other things, a distinguished diplomat. I follow many worthy
and experienced colleagues in filling this role – colleagues who
performed their duties with a strong deep sense of responsibility and
professionalism.
I also want to say that if there is something
you might ask about that I am not aware of, I will get back to you on
the matter as soon as possible.
The Information and Public
Diplomacy Department, myself and everyone working with me, will always
be at your disposal to respond to any questions or requests you have.
And of course this collaboration has to adapt to the importance of the
issues we and public opinion deal with from time to time.
In
this context, I ask for your understanding, given that, as we all know,
in diplomacy some things are done but not talked about.
We are
planning that this regular briefing take place on a weekly or
fortnightly basis, depending, of course, on the Minister’s schedule and
the flow of events. I think we all agree on the need to focus on
high-quality, complete and substantial information, and on the fact that
quantity is not so much what this briefing is about.
With these
few words, I would like to thank you once again for being here, and
especially the Minister, whom I invite to take the floor and address you
briefly.
N. DENDIAS: Good morning. My warm thanks, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Yennimatas, I understood the pun: “briefly”.
Allow
me to thank everyone for being here today. Your great experience and
your perspective are vital to the success of this endeavour that we are
re-launching. Allow me to say that, in the Mitsotakis government’s
thinking, the briefing is absolutely vital – in other words, timely,
regular and institutionally obligatory to have a briefing on foreign
policy issues.
You know that we are entering a very complex and
busy period. Yesterday I was in Moscow. Tomorrow I will be in Geneva to
discuss the Western Balkans. I think it’s a period during which mutual
understanding and keeping public opinion abreast of developments is
absolutely necessary. And to achieve this, collaboration with you is
vital.
In this sense, allow me to welcome the relaunching of
this process – the necessity of which is obvious to us – and to thank
you once again for being here. Allow me, as a concluding observation, to
say that the ‘motto’ written, the lines of the Nobel laureate Seferis,
for whom this hall is named, is a timeless goal for the Greek political
system, and one we serve.
In other words, we want to be able to
agree on a framework of unity and national understanding, regardless of
our given differences of opinion. But in the context of unity and
national understanding and the long-term goals of our country, how we
are moving ahead and where we are going.
Thank you very much.
Mr.
Yennimatas, you have the floor. I won’t stay, in the sense that this
won’t be a briefing if the Minister is here. Mr. Yennimatas is holding
the briefing. He is the institutional spokesperson for the views of the
Ministry, the Minister, the Alternate Minister and the Deputy Ministers.
I look forward to this new chapter in our collaboration. Again, thank
you very much for being here.
Good day and farewell, Mr. Yennimatas.
SPOKESPERSON:
Good morning, again. In keeping with tradition, we’ll start with the
schedules of the political leadership for the coming days. I’ll talk a
little bit about the Minister’s visit to Moscow, and then I will take
your questions.
Let’s start with tomorrow. Tomorrow, the Minister
of Foreign Affairs will be in Geneva to participate in the proceedings
of the World Economic Forum summit on the strategic dialogue on the
Western Balkans. This is a high-level platform for open dialogue between
the participants, with the focus on current challenges and
opportunities for the region.
The orientation of this strategic
dialogue is mainly economic, but the participants will also undoubtedly
have the opportunity to discuss the political developments in the
region. In this context, they are expected to discuss a positive agenda
for cooperation, with the aim of supporting the reform spirit and
European path of the Western Balkan countries.
On the margins of
this meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is to have a number of
meetings with officials in attendance, including Mr. Zaev and Mr.
Dimitrov.
He will also meet with the President of the World
Economic Forum, and on Sunday he will receive the President of China,
who, as has already been announced, will be carrying out a state visit
to our country.
On Monday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will
attend the expanded talks that the President of the Republic and, later,
the Prime Minister will have with President Xi Jinping.
On
Wednesday, 13 November, he will receive, at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the Saudi Arabian Minister of State, and on Thursday, 14
November, he will travel to Belgrade for meetings with the President of
the Republic, Mr. Vucic, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr.
Dacic, with whom he will hold talks, and with members of the Greek
business community in Serbia.
The agenda for the meetings is
still being formulated. I’ll have more to tell you when the agenda has
been finalised. But the talks will definitely focus on Greek-Serbian
bilateral relations and developments in the Balkan region.
Now on
to the schedule of the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr.
Varvitsiotis, who met earlier today with the U.S. Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State, Mr. Palmer. The talks focused on European issues,
and first and foremost on the European perspective of the Western
Balkans, in light of the important role our country plays in the region.
A
little later today, he will meet with the Russian Ambassador to discuss
preparations for his upcoming visit to Moscow, on Tuesday and
Wednesday, 12 and 13 November, where he will meet with the Russian
co-Chair of the Joint Interministerial Committee, Transport Minister,
Mr. Ditrich. They will focus on preparations for the next meeting of the
Joint Interministerial Committee, which is set to take place in the
spring of 2020. The JIC, of course, will look at economic issues.
On
Wednesday, 13 November, while he is in Moscow, he will meet with the
Deputy Foreign Minister, Russia’s Special Presidential Envoy for the
Middle East, Mr. Bogdanov, with whom he will also discuss regional
issues pertaining to the Middle East.
As you know, we got back
from Moscow last night. It was the Minister of Foreign Affair’s first
visit to Russia, in his current capacity, and it took place at a
sensitive time, in the midst of very important regional developments.
The
visit was deemed a success. Sergey Lavrov welcomed the Greek Minister
of Foreign Affairs warmly, there was a very friendly atmosphere during
their one-on-one meeting. The agenda included the major economic,
regional, bilateral and national issues.
We believe this visit
achieved its goal, which was essentially to mark the beginning of a new
chapter of warm Greek-Russian relations.
Greece-Russian relations
have always been friendly. The two countries are linked by deep
historical, religious and political ties, and this effort of ours in
these relations has a two-fold goal: on the one hand, to promote our
bilateral relations across a broad spectrum and on the basis of the
existing treaties, and on the other hand to shape a closer cooperation
and mutual understanding with regard to international and regional
issues.
I also want to stress that the programme of
Greek-Russian consultations for 2020-2022, which the two Ministers
signed, institutionalises a number of regular contacts on the official
and political levels between our countries, and it is another permanent,
official and regular channel of communication between Athens and
Moscow.
It clearly and categorically sets down the two sides’
commitment to upgrading Greek-Russian relations on the basis of sincere
dialogue and equality.
It is our country’s firm will to further
enhance cooperation with the Russian side in a number of sectors,
including energy and economy.
The Minister extended an
invitation to Russian investors to come to our country, which is
emerging from the crisis and is now becoming an attractive investment
destination, and he also made special reference to the synergies that
have already been created in the energy sector – specifically, the
natural gas sector.
At the same time, there is strong interest on
both sides in collaborating in new fields, such as renewable energy
sources. Indicative of the current period in Greek-Russian relations are
the invitations for the Prime Minister, Mr.
Mitsotakis, to visit
Moscow this coming May for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of
the victory in World War II, and for President Putin and Mr. Lavrov to
visit our country for the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution.
Finally,
we should also mention that Mr. Lavrov accepted an invitation from the
Greek side to visit our country in the near future. The specific date
for this visit will be arranged via diplomatic channels.
That’s it for my introductory remarks. Your questions, please.
JOURNALIST:
You had a very important visit to and meetings in Moscow yesterday. I
want to ask whether the matter of the Ukrainian Church came up and what
pressure was put on Athens, and what our position is on this and what
our next moves will be.
SPOKESPERSON: The subject was raised. I
think you saw the public statements of the two ministers, the Minister
took a very clear stance. He responded by stressing the discrete roles
of the Church and the State in Greece, and essentially that the State
does not intervene in church affairs. The takeaway is what was stressed
by both sides: that the issue will not be an obstacle to the further
development of Greek-Russian cooperation.
JOURNALIST: Could you
tell us a little about the meetings Mr. Dendias will be having tomorrow
with the political leadership of North Macedonia? Will you encourage
them to continue on the path of reforms? And will you try to meet with
the opposition as well? Given that the Greek government may have other
interlocutors from April onwards.
SPOKESPERSON: I think the
framework of the discussion between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and
his interlocutors from North Macedonia is clear from all of the recent
statements from the political leadership. Our position is clear: We
firmly support the European course of the Western Balkans. Moreover, I
remind you that Greece was one of the original sponsors of this
accession perspective and course, in the Thessaloniki Agenda of 2003.
So,
you can see that the talks will focus, first, on how the reforms will
continue and how Greece will support the implementation of these
reforms, as it has done to date. And beyond that, our positions on the
Prespa Agreement are also well known: that there must be full and strict
compliance with this agreement. And this is a prerequisite for further
progress on this European path.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Spokesperson, does the Greek government intend to take any initiative regarding North Macedonia and Albania?
And
a second question: What’s happening with the committees that are part
of the Prespa Agreement? I think the Committee on brand names was to
meet in early November. Thank you.
SPOKESPERSON: Thank you for
the question. First of all, right now we are evaluating the current
situation, because the next steps will have to be very careful ones.
They will certainly be in the direction I mentioned – supporting the
accession perspective of these countries. Greece has a role to play. It
is playing it actively in the region and will continue in this
direction. Any initiative that is to be taken – and it will be announced
in good time – will have to be taken based on the achievement of
maximum potential for some progress in this case.
We can't
expect the stated positions of major European Union countries to change
overnight. What we can do is to work to create the conditions for
relatively speedy progress in the desired direction.
You also
asked about the committee on brand names. And about the other committee.
The committee on school books – yes, a new meeting is to be set soon.
Regarding brand names, the Greek government has already referred
repeatedly to the imperative need for us to support the Macedonian
brand, the authentic, real Macedonia, and win the communication game on
the global level.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is vigilant in
order to deal with all of these issues. Regarding the work programme,
you know that the first meeting was held in Skopje on 22 June 2019,
after which a joint statement was issued. There will be an announcement
on any further developments.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Spokesperson, I
would like to ask: Regarding the initiative from Italy and Giuseppe
Conte for the opening of the accession negotiations of North Macedonia
and Albania to be put on the European Council agenda again. Do you
agree? Will you help in this direction? That’s one part. The second part
concerns the Minister’s visit. Reading Mr. Lavrov’s statement, what I
understood is that he raised a number of issues on which Greece and
Russia disagree. One was the Vinnik issue, if I’m not mistaken, and
whether he will be extradited to Russia, America or France.
The
Church issue was, I think – at least from what I understood – an
indirect threat that many Russian pilgrims will not visit certain areas
of Greece. And there was no discussion of the agricultural products
under embargo in the Russian market. Thank you.
SPOKESPERSON: In
response to your first question, you should know that we are talking to
the Italians and the French and to other EU partners about this issue,
which really must be raised again, but, as I said earlier, under
favourable conditions. That’s why we need the right discussion, dialogue
and preparation before we move ahead to further initiatives on this.
Now,
regarding Russia. You mentioned some differences. I think all of the
questions you mentioned have been answered publicly, repeatedly, by the
Minister and by other officials. What is important is that these
obstacles will not burden the agenda of Greek-Russia relations. There is
mutual, expressed will from both sides to move forward, on a positive
course for developing our relations.
Of course, there are
differences. Of course, we don’t agree on everything. That’s nothing new
in international relations, Mr. Sideris. It happens all the time. What
is important is that we persist with the dialogue, keep the channels of
communication open with a very important country, Russia, which plays a
very important role in our region. That is why we are continuing in this
direction, without adding burden or diverging from the positive
development of our relations.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Spokesperson, you
referred to the talks that took place in Moscow – that economic issues
were discussed. Were the gas pipelines discussed? The Russian side
recently announced that the South Stream – TurkStream II, as it was
renamed – will no longer pass through Greek territory. Is that the final
decision?
SPOKESPERSON: Look, we already have significant
cooperation with Russia in the natural gas sector, and what I can say is
that there was a discussion of how to capitalise on any further room
for cooperation that exists. It is fertile ground for collaboration,
especially since the Southeastern Mediterranean is evolving into a route
and source of energy wealth. Beyond that, you can understand that this
is a process in which things have to mature before any announcement is
made. But what we can say is that there was a discussion of further
cooperation in this sector and how to capitalise on the existing margins
for further cooperation.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Spokesperson, I would
like to ask whether we have sent North Macedonia a list of the changes
we would like to see made on motorways, to signs on motorways, and
whether we know if the signs on the statues have been replaced.
SPOKESPERSON:
North Macedonia has undertaken certain commitments, and in this context
the Greek side is intervening systematically whenever it sees that
there are delays or omissions with regard to the implementation of what
we have agreed on. We are monitoring the situation closely and
rigorously. In fact, a special task force has been set up at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is tasked with monitoring these issues,
which we raise systematically, whenever necessary of course.
JOURNALIST:
Thank you, Mr. Spokesperson. In the meetings the Minister is having
tomorrow with Mr Zaev and with Mr. Dimitrov, in Geneva, what is the
message on the implementation of the agreement? Because at times we see
Mr. Zaev making ambivalent statements, on the one hand raising barriers
to the implementation of the Prespa Agreement, and then saying North
Macedonia will comply strictly with the Agreement. So, what is the
message?
SPOKESPERSON: I don’t want to comment on Mr. Zaev’s
statements. There was a statement from the Minister of Foreign Affairs
on this matter last week. I refer you to his statements. What is
important for Greece is for the implementation of this Agreement to
proceed smoothly. Beyond that, regarding the precise content of the
talks the Minister of Foreign Affairs will have tomorrow with Mr. Zaev
and Mr. Dimitrov, I gave you the framework, the outline for these talks,
but I don’t want to assume anything or go into greater detail.
JOURNALIST:
Yesterday, the Russian Minister Lavrov stated that the participation of
the members of the UN Security Council would be very positive for the
settlement of the Cyprus problem. What do you think about this problem?
And the second question is on the Cyprus problem. The Cypriot Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Christodoulides, said that Cyprus submitted an
application to join the Schengen area. What do you think? Do you think
this can happen?
SPOKESPERSON: You’ll have to address your second
question to the Cypriot side. I don’t have any comment on that right
now. Regarding your first question on the Cyprus issue, right now we are
a few days away from the convening of the trilateral meeting between
the UN Secretary General, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr.
Anastasiades, and Mr. Akinci. We hope progress will be made so that the
process can move ahead.
Beyond that, there needs to be very good
preparation at every step of this complex issue, and of course Greece is
always open to any proposal that might be constructive for the progress
of the process, remaining committed to and focused on our first
national priority, which, as you know, is none other than the end of the
Turkish occupation, in the context of a comprehensive, viable and
agreed solution to the Cyprus issue, based on the resolutions of the
United Nations. Beyond that, as the process moves ahead, we are
evaluating every step and taking a stance as and when we should.
JOURNALIST:
Mr. Spokesperson, does the Greek government have any comment on the
moves in Block 7 of the Cypriot EEZ and the alleged withdrawal of the
French and the Italian company? And a second question, if I may, on the
EU sanctions on Turkey. Is there anything new? Because again we are
seeing that these sanctions are not moving ahead in practice.
SPOKESPERSON:
Thank you. First of all, on the issue of Block 7 that you asked about, I
refer you to the relevant statements of the Cypriot Energy Minister,
the essence of which was that the Cypriot energy programme is moving
ahead smoothly.
With regard to the sanctions on Turkey, as you know,
there is a debate in the European Union right now on establishing a
framework of targeted sanctions, and these discussions are moving ahead.
We’ve seen no indication of any snag ahead of the next meeting of the
Foreign Affairs Council, on Monday. So, we’ll have a clear picture if
you wait till then. In any event, it is very important that the European
Union, for the first time, has moved and reacted to such a degree,
condemning, also in practice, Turkey’s illegal conduct in the Cypriot
EEZ and in Cyprus's territorial waters. Thank you.
JOURNALIST:
Mr. Spokesperson, I would like to ask about pending issues for the Greek
side in the implementation of the Prespa Agreement. Beyond the delay in
the meeting of the committee on school books, do we have other pending
issues? For example, the change in the signs on motorways leading to
North Macedonia, or any other pending matters we aren't aware of, that
Greece is responsible for taking care of? Thank you.
SPOKESPERSON:
As you are well aware, most of the pending issues are with the other
side right now. We think we have moved very quickly to comply with our
obligations under the Prespa Agreement. I’ll have to get back to you on
your second question.
JOURNALIST: A question on the refugee
issue. Both the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister have
spoken of the need for the European Union to impose sanctions. Is this
something you are considering raising at the next Foreign Affairs
Council, and can Greece exert pressure in this direction? Does it have
mechanisms for this?
SPOKESPERSON: The migration and refugee
issue, as you well know, does not concern just Greece – which is
disproportionately burdened, of course, being a country of first
reception – but is a broader European and global issue. This is an issue
that we raise in substance on all levels in the European Union and
elsewhere, and it is something that has to be handled collectively.
The
government has already moved in the direction of measures for dealing
with the issue, both domestically and in its external dimension, and I
won’t add anything further. I refer you to the responsible Ministry.
JOURNALIST: On the margins of his meetings in Geneva tomorrow, is the Minister scheduled to meet with his Turkish counterpart?
SPOKESPERSON: I am aware that he will be there. If something is finalised, we’ll announce it.
JOURNALIST:
Two questions: one on Egypt and one on Libya. We have excellent
relations with Egypt, with which we have signed a number of very
important agreements. But we haven’t signed an agreement on the EEZ. Is
there any problem on our part or some difficulty the Egyptians have? The
first question. The second is on Libya. The government in Tripoli has
excellent relations with Turkey. Moreover, this government does not
recognise, is creating problems with regard to the delimitation of the
Greek EEZ. What is our stance?
SPOKESPERSON: The discussion with
Egypt on the EEZ has been going on for a number of years. We had the
elections here in Greece, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs met very
recently – I think the most recent meeting was in New York. The Prime
Minister was in Cairo recently, in the context of the Trilateral summit,
and what had already been discussed in New York was for the technical
committees to start working again. So that’s where we stand right now,
and preparation is being made in that direction.
Now, regarding
the issue you raised, this is an issue that the Greek side has raised
with its partners, it is an issue on which the Greek side has spoken
directly with Libya. And what we explained to them, very clearly to all
sides, is that any such thoughts are completely outside the framework of
international law. They are a completely distorted and arbitrary
interpretation of international law and have no hope of success. I don’t
think I have anything to add beyond that.
JOURNALIST: (off microphone)
SPOKESPERSON: I think I answered your question.
JOURNALIST:
Good morning, Mr. Spokesperson. First, a question on the Minister’s
visit to Moscow. You said it was carried out with the objective of
opening a new chapter in warm relations. And second, a question on the
Greek government’s intention to open an Embassy in Damascus. Is there
anything new on this? Thank you.
SPOKESPERSON: First of all, the
discussion in Moscow concerned the future of our relations. In other
words, we focused on how to move ahead. I think this is what’s needed,
and this has to be done in a functional and effective manner, given the
long history of friendship between Greece and Russia. And this was
achieved, because we set a very broad agenda for moving ahead with a
number of things that will bear fruit in the near future.
Beyond
that, regarding our Embassy in Damascus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
is in fact considering this right now. As you know, Greece wants to be
present everywhere, and especially in a region like the Middle East, in a
country with shores on the Mediterranean, a sea that concerns us all,
and preparations are under way to send a chargé d'affaires, who will
arrange for the reopening and operation of our Embassy in Damascus.
JOURNALIST:
Did Mr. Dendias, in his meeting yesterday with Mr. Lavrov, raise the
issue of Turkey’s conduct? Given that Moscow is currently Ankara’s
closest interlocutor.
SPOKESPERSON: The matter of Turkey’s
violations of international law is an issue that we raise systematically
with all of our interlocutors, and it concerns first and foremost the
defence of international law. It is a position of principle, above all,
that we raise with all of our interlocutors.
JOURNALIST: I
wanted to ask, as the exercise with Egypt formally winds up tomorrow,
the Medusa exercise, was there any sign of annoyance, on the diplomatic
level, from Ankara, as there was in previous years when this exercise
was held?
SPOKESPERSON: First of all, let me say that this
exercise is part of the trilateral cooperation between Greece, Cyprus
and Egypt, which is a very advanced cooperation mechanism that includes
many aspects of cooperation, including, as you said, the matter of
defence cooperation. I refer you to the Defence Ministry for details on
this.
As far as I know, the Turkish side has expressed no annoyance.
These countries have the right to hold exercises as they see fit, and it
is understood that these exercises are not directed against any third
party. Exercises that bolster the deterrent capability of these
countries.
JOURNALIST: I want to go to the migration issue and, yes, it’s not within your competence.
SPOKESPERSON: No, it isn’t.
JOURNALIST:
But correct me if I’m wrong: Returns to countries must be assisted by
the Ministry. Has your assistance been requested since the new framework
was prepared, or not yet?
SPOKESPERSON: I refer you to the
statements that have been made to date by the competent Ministry and the
Government spokesperson.
JOURNALIST: Regarding the Minister’s
meeting with the Saudi Arabian Minister this coming Wednesday, can you
tell us anything more? In particular, how is Greece’s relationship with
Saudi Arabia?
SPOKESPERSON: The relations between Greece and
Saudi Arabia remain friendly and we exchange views on a number of issues
of mutual interest. Beyond that, regarding the meeting you referred to,
I’ll get back to you as soon as the agenda is finalised.
JOURNALIST:
Hello, Mr. Spokesperson. Break a leg! Two questions: First of all,
regarding the Committees on the school books and the brand names,
regardless of whether or not a meeting or meetings have been scheduled,
do you intend to leave the same people on these committees? Have you
decided on any changes? Do you intend to make any changes? That’s the
first question.
And the second question, with regard to Albania, can
you tell us a little about what the next steps are and the Greek side’s
desire to see amendments made to the property law, which has come under
criticism from the Venice Committee? Thank you very much.
SPOKESPERSON:
Regarding the first of these two Committees, the Joint
Interdisciplinary Committee of Experts, we are putting special emphasis
on removing any trace of irredentist or revisionist references or maps
from our neighbour’s syllabus and school books, in accordance with the
letter and spirit of the Prespa Agreement.
Regarding the other
issue, I made a statement earlier regarding support for the Macedonian
“brand”. As you know, regarding the 2nd Committee, the international
group of experts on the commercial names, trademarks and brand names,
this committee is assisting the dialogue between the two countries’
business communities and is made up of distinguished scientists.
Regarding
the other Committee, a new composition has in fact been decided on and
we are at the stage of drawing up the relevant Ministerial Decision. In
the meantime, the committee is continuing its work. The second one is on
the books, and the new composition has been decided on and we are in
the process of drawing up the relevant Ministerial Decision.
With
regard to Albania, you know that the property issue and the issue of
self-identification are issues that we always raise on all levels and in
all of our meetings with the Albanian side. In fact, it was raised at
the highest level in the recent meeting between the Prime Minister and
Edi Rama here in Athens. I don’t have anything new to announce to you at
this time, beyond what was announced following the Prime Minister’s
meeting. What we are asking of Albania is essentially nothing more than
the implementation of the recommendations the competent international
organizations, such as the Council of Europe, have made to Albania. And
we will continue to raise this issue systematically.
JOURNALIST:
Does a new composition of the Committee mean it will continue from
where the previous Committee left off, or will it start from scratch on
the books?
SPOKESPERSON: There is no reason to start over. Four
meetings have already taken place and this committee has already done a
certain amount of work, and it will continue from there.
Thank you very much. I hope I didn’t tire you and that today’s briefing was useful.
November 7, 2019