We had an excellent meeting with Mr. Hague. We discussed the whole range of issues: from the economic crisis in Greece and the major changes and major sacrifices of the Greek people; the need to stop the mindset of punishment and move ahead as Europe is doing now.
We discussed our whole region, from the Balkans and their EU accession perspective, to the Middle East. Developments in Syria, which are very distressing at this time, of course.
We also discussed Turkey’s European perspective. I had the opportunity to set out in detail the problems created by the recent statements from Mr. Erdogan and Mr. Davutoglu, the importance of the UK’s applying pressure so that a changed, a European Turkey – but a Turkey that will change based on what Europe says, and not based on what Turkey itself wants – that can become a full member of the European Union.
I think that in this sense it was a very creative discussion, in a very friendly climate, and I hope we will be able to continue it soon with a visit from Mr. Hague to Athens in the coming months.
August 1, 2011