Journalist: How do you assess current Greek-Croatian political and economic relations?
Mr. Lambrinidis: Greek-Croatian political relations are excellent. We were proud to support, in words and deeds, Croatia’s accession to the EU from day one. And we are also proud to be Allies in NATO. One of the key messages I would like to deliver during my visit in Zagreb is that, with Croatia’s accession to the EU nearing, new areas of cooperation are opening up, not just bilaterally, but also multilaterally. It’s time for us to work together to become the staunchest supporters of the European aspirations of our other Western Balkan neighbours. We share the same vision for the future of our region: stability, security, peace, respect for international law, development and prosperity within Euroatlantic structures. Croatia's accession sends a very positive signal to all countries in the region: the EU stands ready to fulfil its commitments if candidate countries do their homework and meet the criteria. Your success should be emulated.
Journalist: Where do you see areas of future economic cooperation with Croatia?
Mr. Lambrinidis: The level of our economic ties does not reflect the excellent level of our political relations and I will be noting this in Zagreb. There are lots of areas where we can focus our efforts. Both countries are leaders in the tourist industry in the Mediterranean, and we can develop very productive synergies in that sector. This also goes for the transport sector. The Zagreb-Dubrovnik/Athens air link has been a success during summer. The next step is to extend it year round, while also looking at the potential for a ferry link between a Greek and a Croatian port. There is much room for cooperation in the fields of shipping, energy and infrastructure, as well as huge potential to increase our trade volume. Major Greek companies are leaders in these fields and, together with equivalent Croatian companies, we should also explore ways to act jointly in major infrastructure projects throughout the region. It is very promising that last year, though in the midst of a crisis, we managed to reverse the negative trend and to improve Greek-Croatian trade by almost 40%.
Journalist: The Greek Parliament passed debt crisis measures. Where does implementation stand?
Mr. Lambrinidis: We have already achieved a great deal in Greece, thanks in large part to the sacrifices of the Greek people. In 2010, in just one year, we reduced the deficit by 5%. No other eurozone country has every reduced its deficit so dramatically in just one year. Also in 2010, over 83,000 Greek civil servants left the Greek civil service without being replaced. That’s 10% of the Greek civil service. We overhauled the pension system, we reduced the number of municipalities from about 1300 to just 300, and all of this brings savings and greater efficiency. We still have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us. We know that this extremely painful change is not over. But the Greek government and people are determined to keep implementing the necessary measures. Our top priorities are a new tax law aimed at combating tax evasion, major privatizations and further structural changes to invest in Greece’s growth and comparative advantages.
Journalist: Some EU member states have suggested that a member who can not meet its financial obligations must be prepared for loss of sovereignty or even be prepared to sell ports, islands. Are you afraid of this possibility? Did you consider exiting the eurozone as part of a solution?
Mr. Lambrinidis: Two months ago, the Greek Parliament passed the midterm programme: a five-year package of €28.4 billion in spending cuts, tax hikes, sales of state assets. On 21 July, the European Union decided to grant Greece a longer period over which to repay its loans, along with significantly lower interest rates. This gave us the necessary breathing space to ensure the success of all these major adjustments. The 21 July decisions also re-emphasized the importance of completing the monetary and economic union of the EU, and of focusing on growth in Greece and other countries. In other words, our partners showed their solidarity with Greece, and solidarity is not a threat to sovereignty. What’s more, Greece isn’t receiving handouts from anyone. Greece’s European partners are providing loans, every last cent of which will be repaid. Exiting the eurozone has never been and is not an option, neither for Greece nor for the stability in Europe.
Journalist: What is Greece’s stance on the Kosovo issue?
Mr. Lambrinidis: Our policy in the region is based on our vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous environment for all the peoples living in this neighbourhood. Good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation are essential. Greece has made these principles a cornerstone of its Balkan policy, and they naturally hold for Kosovo. The EU-brokered dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is of primary importance. We have encouraged both sides to continue their efforts and we are hopeful that progress is within reach. It will significantly improve the day-to-day lives of Kosovo residents while furthering the whole region’s European course. The recent positive results in the talks inspire optimism.
Journalist: What is Greece’s stance on the Cyprus issue and relations with Turkey over Cyprus's EU presidency?
Mr. Lambrinidis: Greece supports the ongoing negotiations between President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu. But so far these talks have failed to produce the hoped-for results and I say this with great concern. This is unfortunately mainly due to Turkey’s failure to allow the negotiations to proceed unhindered so a solution can be negotiated that is in line with the relevant UN resolutions and European acquis: a bicommunal and bizonal federation with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship, a single international personality. Instead of showing its support for a negotiated solution by withdrawing its occupation forces, Turkey has recently said it would continue using the clout it derives from its illegal occupation of Northern Cyprus, to block the return of certain occupied cities to the Greek Cypriots. And Turkey also threatened recently that it will actively oppose Cyprus’s right under the Law of the Sea to explore its own economic zone and make full use of its own natural resources. Turkey is a candidate for accession to the EU. So, if it wants its accession course to move ahead, as Greece certainly does, it will have to show its respect for the European Union, of which Cyprus is a full member and Croatia will also be a full member shortly.
Journalist: Is there progress in the dispute over the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia?
Mr. Lambrinidis: Greece’s approach to the negotiations and its willingness to reach a compromise solution on this issue at the UN has been extremely constructive and this has been recognized by all major players in the international scene. But it has not met with a similar response from Skopje. We have developed a crystal clear and solution-oriented position: a name with a geographical qualifier for use in relation to everyone that would once for all remove any hints of irredentism, which is the poison that has historically threatened the whole Western Balkan region. We have inaugurated a policy of high-level bilateral contacts between Prime Ministers Papandreou and Gruevski to improve the political climate in the negotiations at the UN. We have consistently and on many occasions proven our sincere commitment to the Euroatlantic perspective of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, supporting their status as candidate country and the abolition of visa requirements. Nevertheless, the government in Skopje keeps resorting to acts of provocation, such as the recent erection of statues of figures from Greek history in central Skopje. Besides offending public sentiment in Greece, this casts doubts on their true intentions with regard to the ongoing negotiation process. This behaviour violates the principle of good neighbourly relations and the EU and NATO have made it clear that a negotiated and mutually acceptable solution to the name issue, is essential to any further progress of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia towards Euroatlantic institutions. Instead of attempting to rewrite history, there is a real chance to make history. I hope we will.
September 6, 2011