E. VENIZELOS: Dear colleague, Mr. Zarif, first of all, thank you very much for your kind invitation, for your very warm hospitality, for this excellent opportunity to discuss directly with you and with your delegation various bilateral and global issues.
This is our second meeting, after the first one, last autumn, during the UN General Assembly. And this official meeting, here in Tehran, is an excellent opportunity for me, on behalf of the Greek government and the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union, to underline our strong historical ties.
We represent – both of us – two historical civilizations and cultures, and this common historical background is an excellent and joint basis not only for the past, but also for the present and the future.
On the main global issue of the nuclear programme, for us the interim accord is a very important achievement. But now our commitment, our vision and our determination is the finalization of the talks and the achievement of a comprehensive agreement for the definitive solution of this problem, and also for the lifting of sanctions.
But also during this transitional period, within the phase of the interim agreement, we have the opportunity to prepare and collaborate on some joint initiatives in different fields.
On the bilateral pitch, we have the potential to accelerate our economic and financial cooperation on different issues. And this meeting was the political precondition for some new initiatives, on a business-to-business basis, always within the framework of the international legal order and the relevant decisions of the UN Security Council.
As you understand, Greece – as the current Presidency of the European Union, but also as an old member of the European Union – is always part of the so-called European and occidental mainstream. But, thanks to our strong cultural, sentimental and historical relationships, we have the flexibility and willingness to cultivate on the basis of our bilateral relationships as much as possible. And we have many possibilities.
Our meeting was also an excellent opportunity to discuss various regional problems, after the last trilateral meeting of Minister Zarif with the Azeri and Turkish Ministers of Foreign Affairs, in Van. It was also, for me, a great opportunity to present the Greek positions on different international issues. First of all, on the Cyprus problem – on the problem of Cyprus, on the Cyprus political problem.
Our meeting was also an excellent opportunity to exchange views on the open local issues, like the crisis in Ukraine and the Syrian humanitarian crisis.
Minister Zarif, let me express once again my thanks and my recognition, and also my readiness to continue this type of political contacts with you.
JOURNALIST: [off microphone]
E. VENIZELOS: The duty of the current Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union is to facilitate the smooth implementation of the existing interim agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme.
The full and smooth implementation of this agreement is a political and practical precondition in order to facilitate the talks for the achievement of the final comprehensive agreement.
We need this final agreement, and our European and global duty is to support and facilitate the necessary procedure.
JOURNALIST: [off microphone]
E. VENIZELOS: You give me the opportunity to express my recognition of Mr. Brahimi and our support for the continuation of the necessary efforts towards a political and diplomatic solution in Syria, always within the framework of the Geneva I and Geneva II conferences.
This is something very important not only for political and diplomatic purposes, but, first of all, for humanitarian reasons, because the humanitarian crisis in Syria is an open, global problem. It’s about duty – our global, international duty to deal with this unacceptable humanitarian situation in Syria.
JOURNALIST: [off microphone]E. VENIZELOS: First of all, let me explain that the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the European Union has very concrete duties.
As you know, Lady Ashton, as the High Representative of the European Union, is always the permanent president of the Foreign Affairs Council. But the current Presidency has some additional possibilities, and always the duty and the obligation to implement the European principles: the principles of the European legal, institutional and political culture.
From this point of view, the fight against terrorism is European and global. And in this field we have many things to do together, and this is an excellent opportunity to cultivate and promote and go ahead together, always within the framework of the international legal order.
March 15, 2014