Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos made the following statements on the margins of the Informal “Gymnich” Meeting of EU member-state Foreign Ministers, in Milan:
E. VENIZELOS: The Informal (Gymnich) Meeting of EU member-state Foreign Ministers, here in Milan, is facing a number of issues. The current time is rife with problems in both the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhoods of the European Union. Thus, the issue is very specific here: that we avoid further escalation in Ukraine, that we shape the conditions for a political and institutional solution that responds to all the regions, to all the ethnic groups, to all the religious communities, to all the citizens of Ukraine. Because it is very important that we relieve the tension in the relations between the West and Moscow, and we have to find a solution that is in accordance with international legality, but also in accordance with the needs and concerns of the citizens of Ukraine.
It is also of very great importance that we maintain the ceasefire in Gaza and give dialogue another chance, because there has to be a solution to this problem – a problem that is in a sense the source of all the other problems in the space of the Middle East and North Africa. And at the same time we must at all costs ensure the territorial existence, the territorial integrity and the statehood of Iraq.
The common denominator of all the problems we are facing in the Southern Neighbourhood – in Syria, Iraq and Libya – is that the very existence of states is being questioned; that there is a trend towards the breakup of existing states and the changing of the map. And this, through the transformation of a terrorist organization – ISIL – into an ostensible terrorist state. This means a great deal and forces us to shape a unified, cohesive strategy against this phenomenon. President Obama’s statement that we do not yet have a comprehensive strategy on the jihadist phenomenon is very pointed. We have to get one. Strategy means making our priorities clear with regard to enemies and allies. Allies are not always friends, but they are useful in confronting the dynamic of such a situation, to which we must not allow ourselves to become acclimated. A crisis is a crisis. It is not a simple policy routine that we discuss from time to time.
JOURNALIST: Mr. President, yesterday evening you had the opportunity to talk to the new President of Turkey, Mr. Erdogan, as well as to Mr. Davutoglu …
E. VENIZELOS: As well as to Mr. Cavusoglu, the new Foreign Minister – until now, the European Affairs Minister.
JOURNALIST: Was the picture you got that Turkey wants to resolve the problems between the two countries?
E. VENIZELOS: As I said yesterday, due to its geographical position, Turkey is part of all the problems, and we want it to become part of the solution to those problems. Greek-Turkish relations hinge to a decisive extent on the resolution of the Cyprus issue: a just and viable solution. We will now see whether there is the will and the readiness for the necessary steps to be taken. We are always open to dialogue. There are open channels of communication. Dialogue as a process, in and of itself, has its significance, but of course positions have to be clear. And I believe our objectives are firm, national. I think that this is one of the attainments of post-1974 Greece: We have succeeded, on foreign policy issues, in having a stance that enjoys broad social and political acceptance and support.
August 29, 2014