Journalist: Greece is dedicated to strategic rapprochement with Turkey, but our neighbouring country has not stopped its provocations, with the result that the government has come in for criticism for appeasement. What is your reply to those making accusations of “secret diplomacy” and decisions on co-exploitation of the Aegean?
Mr. Droutsas: I accept neither conspiracy theories nor nationalistic catchphrases. They’re easy – opportunistic, of course – but they’re of no help to Greece. I’m talking about facts:
1. Greece’s strong weapon is international law.
2. Greece has confronted very serious provocations, particularly from Turkey, which is trying to impose its positions through show of force.
3. We reply to these provocations immediately and effectively, both operationally and diplomatically, fully safeguarding – and I want to stress this – Greece’s sovereign rights. Whoever says otherwise is lying and wants to create cheap impressions, exploiting citizens’ concerns.
What we need to do is stop questioning our own strength, at long last; the ‘Greekness’ of the very last speck of Greek land – as we have seen recently in the case of Kastelorizo – even in Parliament. There are people who need to stop sacrificing Greece’s interests on the altar of sensationalism and petty politicking. National interests are invaluable in such pursuits. What needs to be clear is that the government is exercising its foreign policy with determination, courage and pride; we are defending our sovereign rights effectively, giving back to Greece the position it deserves on the international stage.
Journalist: Greece’s announcement of exclusive economic zones (EEZs) presupposes a complex process. But there is the sense that the government is not working in this direction and that we have “disabled” this particular right unilaterally and willingly, so as not to annoy Turkey. What’s the truth?
Mr. Droutsas: That’s a lie, and I say so outright. Our clear and express objective is the delimitation of the maritime zones with all of our neighbours. We have an agreement with Albania that is under ratification. There is an agreement with Italy, we have begun negotiations with Libya and Egypt, though we now have to look at developments. We are in constant coordination with Cyprus, and we have stepped up our exploratory contacts with Turkey. There is disinformation with regard to the EEZ, and I clarify: Greece’s sovereignty is safeguarded by the continental shelf. The EEZ doesn’t add anything on issues of sovereign rights to the seabed and subsoil; that is, the area of hydrocarbon exploitation. Moreover, due to the geographical characteristics of the Mediterranean, the breadth of the two zones is, in practice, identical. So, the dilemma is artificial, and some people are trying to abuse it in domestic political games. Proof: If the EEZ issue is so important and urgent – as some say it is – why didn’t they themselves touch on it when they were in government in recent years? And why didn’t the people making such a fuss right now say anything back then?
Journalist: You don’t agree with conspiracy theories. But how do you answer to those who argue that the country has found itself in the troika’s yoke so that its negotiating power can be weakened and open fronts in foreign policy – the Cyprus issue, Skopje, the Aegean – can be resolved to Hellenism’s detriment.
Mr. Droutsas: For decades now, there have been those trying to convince us that there are powers working from a secret center to destroy Greece. I’m sorry, but this kind of thinking is one of the reasons we are in this current situation; conspiracy theories and placing the blame on everyone but ourselves. What we had was a wasteful, corrupt and ineffective Greece state that, with the help of a large number of citizens who served and still serve that system, brought the country to its knees. We have to change this. And that’s what we are doing, with drastic proposals, courage and boldness in the face of resistance and practices still used today by that detestable system.
Journalist: Regarding the crisis in Libya, they accuse you of not foreseeing how things would develop for the Qaddafi regime, and the Prime Minister was in fact one of the last Western leaders to meet with Qaddafi. What is your reply, and how do you see this front closing?
Mr. Droutsas: The situation in Libya is very serious and of immediate interest to Greece. It concerns security, the economy, illegal migration. It concerns the stability of our neighbourhood. That is why we are contributing to the efforts towards normalization, so that the civilians can be protected and the Libyan people can be given the chance to decide on their own future. Greece is prepared. The positions we expressed at the outset – for pursuit of a diplomatic solution and immediate humanitarian action – were confirmed by the international community at the Paris and London meetings, in which we participated. You can be sure that Greece will continue to have a strong voice in developments in the Middle East.
We have a duty – given our role, history and relations with the Arab world. Our actions are based on our country’s interests, as well as on our obligations to the international community, of course.
Journalist: Last week we had the conclusion of the public hearings at the ICJ in Skopje’s application against Greece. What are we expecting, and what impact would a decision favouring Skopje have?
Mr. Droutsas: After serious and systematic preparation, Greece set out its strong arguments convincingly and in an excellent, thorough manner. And you can be sure that these have been accepted by everyone. But I will continue to confront the judicial procedure and The Hague with the necessary responsibility and respect and abstain from public statements and comments. We will not stop pressing for a solution on the name issue, within the framework of the negotiations being carried out at the UN. Greece’s positions are clear and well known, and we will not back down in the slightest.
April 4, 2011