JOURNALIST: What are the prospects for development of cooperation networks (for example, in the sectors of energy, transport) between Greece and Bulgaria, and what impact will these have on a bilateral and wider regional level?
N. KOTZIAS: It is my conviction that networks facilitate the development of stable relations among states and on the level of whole regions. I stress, they facilitate – they do not guarantee. There also needs to be strong political will.
Today we, Bulgaria and Greece, are working to develop such networks in a number of sectors, such as energy, with the vertical interconnector, hopefully also eventually using LNG. There is also a great deal of interest in creating road and rail axes between the two countries, which will facilitate not only our own joint development, but also the incorporation of the whole region into networks that will link North Africa and regions of Asia with Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, the promotion of major projects has to happen in combination with local joint projects between our countries.
The two countries look forward to the inclusion of Romania, as well as other EU member states that are geographically in Central and Eastern Europe.
JOURNALIST: What might be the role of countries of Southeast Europe that are also members of the EU? Could they coordinate their actions within the EU to achieve better results with regard to issues of interest to the states themselves and to the wider region?
N. KOTZIAS: In the 1990s, the region developed its internal networking, particularly in the banking sector and in investments. Since the turn of the century, all of the Balkan states have shifted focus onto their European courses, on which they have redoubled their efforts. Bulgaria and Greece support the European perspectives of all those who want join the EU, as long as they also want to overcome everything that is holding them “prisoners of history.”
Today we are trying to promote policies that combine the positive aspects of these two different decades. That is, to combine the region’s European course with the strengthening of multifaceted policies among the neighbouring states. The goal is for the whole of the Balkans to join the EU, and at the same time for their presence to be strong as a whole. This should happen based on a policy that will contribute to the strengthening of the EU itself, its economy, its social policy, its democratic functioning, and its global role.
In contrast to what is happening in certain regions within the EU, we want regional cooperation to contribute to European unification and not to the strengthening of trends toward renationalization and fragmentation.
JOURNALIST: Greece and Bulgaria are two countries that fought each other in the past, but they have now managed to be allies, partners and friends. Could the friendship between the two countries create a new narrative for the Balkan region, which was in the past known as the powder keg of Europe?
N. KOTZIAS: In history books on Europe, the Franco-German friendship is pointed to as an example of transcendence of historical prejudices and conflicts. Rightly so, as the two countries are also the strongest countries in the EU. But, from the point of view of history, the overcoming of the differences between Bulgaria and Greece is of much more importance. And this is because these differences first appeared at least 1,200 years before those between France and Germany. Our relations reached the point where kings and emperors on both sides were described or even named according to whether or not they were victorious in battle against the other side.
In my opinion, Greece and Bulgaria are the best example of how two peoples can – despite the difficulties, the tensions and the passions of history – become friends, partners and allies. And I would like to publicly thank Daniel Mitov for our cooperation on making our countries anchors of stability for the whole region. We also want to extend this cooperation to the Eastern Mediterranean, a region Greece has great experience of, and where we have real friendships.
JOURNALIST: And what else are you pursuing?
N. KOTZIAS: Together with Daniel, we are also trying to develop special and more systematic relations with the states of our region that are in the EU. Don’t forget that it was none other than Greece that worked for everyone’s accession to the EU.
None of these collaborations I have described is aimed exclusively at serving the interest of the two countries, much less against third countries. Quite the opposite. They are aimed at policies and practices from which all the states in the region stand to gain.
In other words, the policy we are following is based on including everyone and excluding no one.
JOURNALIST: How does Greece intend to proceed in managing the migration crisis?
N. KOTZIAS: Allow me to make the reminder that the main causes of the new major refugee flows do not stem from us, but from wars and poverty, terrorism and fanaticism, the loss of hope and prospects for millions of honest people. We, our region, are paying the consequences of the decisions and practices of third countries.
Our basic orientation, as Greece, is that the problem of the new migration and refugee flows is international and European, and that corresponding measures and solutions are needed. Greece and Bulgaria are working together in this direction. We are supporting the EU-Turkey agreement. We hope these wars stop, and we are contributing to this end. There is certainly also a need for rational cooperation among the other states of our region as well. No one is allowed to forget that, after every crisis, we will all of us remain in the region, and we shouldn’t let third parties disrupt our relations.
JOURNALIST: Is the cooperation with Turkey and Bulgaria in this field satisfactory?
N. KOTZIAS: I’ve already talked to you about Bulgaria. There is good cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, as well as between other ministries. With Turkey we are pursuing the most effective and substantial cooperation possible. Of course, nothing happens automatically, and it takes two careful dancers to tango. Finally, I think that the trilateral cooperation we have established between our countries on the triangle of our borders is also a great help in our relations.
June 1, 2016