JOURNALIST: We’d like to learn about your meeting with the Egyptian Ambassador.
E. VENIZELOS: The Egyptian Ambassador came to say goodbye to me, because he is leaving for Cairo, where he will assume new, important duties. But naturally it was not a courtesy meeting – it was a substantial meeting ahead of my visit next week, next Thursday, to Cairo. Egypt’s stability is a global issue, and because Greece and Egypt are linked by close historical ties – we have the Patriarchate of Alexandria there, the Greek communities, Greek enterprises – there is additional interest in the situation’s evolving in the best possible manner.
We want the transitional government in Cairo to be assisted so as to ensure the implementation of the roadmap, and thus for Egypt to live peacefully, for the democratic institutions to return to full functioning, for every Egyptian citizen to have the right to prospects, in the future, in a peaceful arrangement of his life. And because the whole region – the wider region of the Middle East and North Africa – is in turmoil, we must invest in stability in Egypt.
JOURNALIST: But the situation is also critical in Syria. What is the Greek government’s stance?
E. VENIZELOS: I had the opportunity to talk to Mrs. Ashton today. We exchanged views on this issue, and I also had an extensive conversation with my French colleague. We want the unequivocal condemnation of the use of chemical weapons, which is a heinous crime, flouting every humanitarian ideal and international law. The reaction has to be clear and absolute. Of course, the prospect of a political process has to be safeguarded. Also to be safeguarded is the Geneva II prospect, through which a definitive and viable solution can be found for the problem of Syria, which is also a country that is decisive for the wider region. We are preparing from every perspective, and we are in contact with all the European and other countries, because we also have very close cooperation and contact in this direction with the countries of the Arab world.
JOURNALIST: What is the reason for your visit to Egypt on Thursday, 5 September?
E. VENIZELOS: We want to point up our bilateral relations, our special interest in stability and the peaceful development of the situation in Egypt. It is a message of friendship to the Egyptian people. We’ll say the rest in Cairo.
August 27, 2013