JOURNALIST: How is the situation taking shape in our region, following the events in Egypt, the signing of the Greece-Cyprus-Israel agreement on an electricity link, and the choice of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP)?
D. KOURKOULAS: Greece is at the center of energy development with the recent decision on the TAP – a pipeline will carry Caspian natural gas to the European market – passing through our country, as well as the electricity link-up agreement between Greece, Cyprus and Israel. We are also closely monitoring the discoveries of natural gas deposits in Cyprus and Israel. Greece has repeatedly expressed its readiness to collaborate on the exploitation of quantities of natural gas from these countries. The recent developments strengthen our country’s geopolitical significance. However, we are very concerned at the ongoing turmoil in Egypt and other countries of the wider region.
Greece sees as positive the text of the 21 August EU Foreign Affairs Council conclusions – a Council that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Venizelos participated in. We think that the European position set down is creative and positive, and that it can contribute to the crisis’s being overcome, with peaceful development of the situation in Egypt, which is a key country in the wider region and on major pending international issues.
JOURNALIST: Do you foresee a positive outcome on the EEZ delimitation issue?
D. KOURKOULAS: The declaration of the EEZ is Greece’s inherent right. Exactly how this right will be exercised is exclusively a matter of its own discretion, based always on national priorities. Whatever the case, such initiatives are not announced in advance.
JOURNALIST: Some time ago, you secured some funding from the EU for combating unemployment in Greece, which is taking on startling dimensions.
D. KOURKOULAS: This is an initiative that should have been launched years ago on a pan-European level. Greece has the most serious problem, particularly with regard to youth unemployment, but it is not the only country facing this issue. Unfortunately, the European institutions often move at a hopelessly slow pace, and the political equilibrium in Europe does not always favour the taking of the radical measures required by the criticalness of the situation. For this reason, one of the priorities of the Greek EU Presidency in the first half of 2014 will be the adoption of actions for confronting unemployment, which is one of the major repercussions of the economic crisis.
JOURNALIST: Will the Greek EU Presidency, which starts in January, put emphasis on the accession of Western Balkan countries?
D. KOURKOULAS: Greece is a traditional supporter of the European perspective of the Western Balkans. In fact, Greece is the country that, in 2003, opened Europe’s doors to the countries of the Western Balkans, through the decisions of the Thessaloniki European Council. Right now, there is a process underway for the gradual harmonization of the institutions of Western Balkan states with European standards. A few weeks ago, Croatia became the 28th member state of the Union, having successfully completed its accession process. In January 2014, the start of our presidency will coincide with the opening of Serbia’s accession negotiations. It is my hope that, in the future, the rest of the countries of the region will have the opportunity to become equal members of the European family, on the strict condition that they meet the accession criteria.
JOURNALIST: What is your assessment of how the recent violent episodes in Premeti will affect Albania’s European course?
D. KOURKOULAS: The same rules that are in effect for other countries are also in effect for Albania. Entry into the European family requires harmonization with the letter and spirit of European law. This includes respect for religious, ethnic and cultural minorities, as well as protection of their property. Respect for the basic principles of European legal culture is a self-evident prerequisite. Incidents like the recent episodes in Premeti are unacceptable. We want to deepen our cooperation with Albania, and we believe that the Albanian side wants the same thing. I hope that the Albanian side can isolate those who are bent on undermining our relations.
JOURNALIST: How will the government move ahead, in practical terms, with the matter of German reparations, which Evangelos Venizelos raised in his recent meeting with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle?
D. KOURKOULAS: The relevant dossier is currently with the State Legal Service, which is the competent organ for putting together our arguments. When we have a complete picture of the available data, legal arguments and potentialities, we will be in a position to determine our next moves. In any case, the Greek position is a given: the matter of German reparations remains open and should be dealt with, thus keeping our extremely important and friendly relations from being poisoned.
August 25, 2013