Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Venizelos’ statement following today’s meeting of the National Council on Foreign Policy
E. VENIZELOS: I had the opportunity to brief the National Council on Foreign Policy today on the procedure for the destruction of Syria’s chemical arsenal – an issue that interests Greek public opinion, that interests all of the people on Crete, that interests Greece as a Mediterranean, touristic country with environmental sensitivities.
I presented to the representatives of the parties and the other members of the National Council on Foreign Policy the coordinated and continuous efforts we are making diplomatically, politically and technically to make absolutely sure that there is no risk to the Mediterranean marine environment.
Because there are commitments deriving from international law, because there is responsibility of the UN itself and of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, because we also mobilized the European Union with very great pressure, because there will be observers, because there are many countries that guarantee there will be no problem for the Mediterranean: countries like Germany, the UK, Denmark, Norway and, of course, the U.S., which has the central management of this matter.
We want even greater participation from the other Mediterranean countries, which we would like to have more dynamically by our side. But even alone, Greece is making every necessary effort in the name of the Greek people, and we will have all the necessary guarantees for the precious wealth of the Mediterranean.
The main subject of the meeting of the National Council on Foreign Policy was the recent developments in the Cyprus issue. I had the opportunity to brief the representatives of the parties and the other members of the Council on everything we discussed during President Anastasiades’ recent visit to Athens, regarding the next steps, regarding how the current phase of the Cyprus issue fits into the history of the Cyprus problem, into the regional and international power relations.
Our goal is always to point up the Cyprus problem as a problem of the violation of international law, of invasion, of occupation; to point to the responsibilities that exist, and also for a new prospect to open up for a solution in accordance with international law, in accordance with the Security Council resolutions, with the high-level agreements, with the European acquis.
A solution that protects the international legal personality of the Republic of Cyprus, based on a federal, bizonal, bicommunal state, a member of the UN, a member of the European Union, a federal state that has a single international legal personality, a single sovereignty, a single citizenship.
We are still at the outset. A lot of work has to be done. A lot of effort has to be made. The initiative belongs to President Anastasiades, belongs to the leaders of the two Communities. In no case will Greece or the Republic of Cyprus recognize the Turkish Cypriot pseudo-state.
And of course we all have an obligation to ensure the conditions of broad political consensus and agreement, both in Greece and in Cyprus, because the Cypriot people hold their fate in their hands, because the decision will be taken via a referendum, by the Cypriot citizens themselves. Thus, it is the Cypriot citizens who will determine their future, and we must ensure for them the conditions for a decision that is conscious of its historical weight.
Thank you very much.
JOURNALIST: Mr. Kammenos stated that he will send a letter to the President of the Republic today, proposing the convening of the Council of Political Leaders on the issues of Cyprus and Skopje. Does the government agree with this proposal?
E. VENIZELOS: I told Mr. Kammenos that I will discuss it with the Prime Minister, and we will discuss it with the President of the Republic, to see whether such a process will facilitate anything, because we must ensure that any process essentially builds consensus.
JOURNALIST: Did you have a warm meeting – the first on the Cyprus issue – did you ascertain this consensus among the Greek political parties?
E. VENIZELOS: The climate of the meeting was very, very positive and creative. I had the opportunity to brief the members of the Council in depth on all the aspects of the issue.
We had the opportunity to look again at critical moments in the past, to analyze subtle and difficult concepts of international law and constitutional law, to refer to aspects of regional and international power relations, because neither Greece nor Cyprus is alone in this region.
February 14, 2014