D. AVRAMOPOULOS: I’ll start by welcoming Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to Athens. We had a very constructive meeting, a friendly and interesting discussion, which of course came after the meeting Mr. Davutoglu had with the Prime Minister.
One of the main subjects we discussed was the course of the preparations for convening the 2nd Greek-Turkish High-Level Cooperation Council. We reaffirmed, with Mr. Davutoglu, the continuation of the process of Greek-Turkish cooperation through promotion of joint policies in critical sectors. Greek-Turkish cooperation holds great potential, as shown by the steps that have been taken in recent decades. In the sectors of economy, trade and investments, Greek and Turkish entrepreneurs have undertaken mutually beneficial initiatives.
Our peoples have now come closer together thanks to the strengthening of tourism by both sides. The pilot programme we implemented this year for visas on the islands had impressive results, and we want to expand on that. And together we can attract hundreds of thousands of new tourists as two of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world. And in the sector of protecting cultural monuments – which are a priceless legacy and must be protected – we can seek fields of cooperation.
Our governments must open paths that will bring our peoples together, because the better our peoples know each other, the more the governments’ initiatives will be supported and encouraged – and all of this at a distance from populism and extremism.
On the vital and sensitive issue of illegal migration, some steps have been taken, but more needs to be done so that we can effectively confront a problem that compromises human dignity and troubles not only our two countries, but the whole of Europe. Greece emphasizes improvement of cooperation with Turkey in this sector, not just bilaterally, but also on the European level.
We agreed with Mr. Davutoglu that the next meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council will take place early next year – in January – so that we have the necessary time to complete the necessary procedures and settle the remaining pending issues. The Council will be yet another step forward for Greek-Turkish relations. There will be other meetings, of course, in the coming time, on the ministerial level, so that when this next Council takes place, we will already have got some positive results.
Understanding between neighbouring states is a precondition for ensuring good communication for creating and consolidating a climate of trust and strengthening the security and stability of our wider region. We need to avoid actions that burden the climate and run the risk of causing an accident or crisis. We agreed to maintain open communication – we’ve had this for some time now, since we had our first meeting – so that we can immediately handle incidents that might lead to tension. All this, of course, may well remain just wishful thinking if they are not based on respect for international law and good neighbourly relations. And Greece is moving steadily based on these two fundamental principles.
We restated our support for Turkey’s perspective of becoming a full member of the European Union, based of course on fulfilment of the necessary criteria and prerequisites that apply to everyone. It is definitely a difficult and necessary process. A Turkey that is modern, democratic, European – that will take, with all of us, steady steps within the European family – also presupposes, of course, the just resolution of the Cyprus issue based on the resolutions of the UN Security Council and on the European acquis. The resolution of the Cyprus issue is the key that will open the door to a new era in relations between our two countries, and it is a prerequisite for regional security and good neighbourly relations; a prerequisite for building trust. That is why we are talking here: to leave behind the past, without forgetting history, and to chart a future of peace for our two peoples.
Naturally, we discussed regional developments, with emphasis on the Middle East and, more specifically, the dramatic situation in Syria and the dangerous escalation we have seen in recent days. Greece has already done this at NATO, but today, as well, we expressed our solidarity with Turkey within the framework of the Alliance.
Our stance is clear: Only a political solution can resolve the Syrian crisis, allowing the Syrian people to express themselves genuinely regarding their future. There needs to be de-escalation, because the risk of the crisis’s spreading is very real, and the escalation of this crisis threatens not only Syria’s neighbouring countries, but also our wider region. We condemn any violation of a state’s sovereignty, whatever the source. We remain dedicated to our stance in favour of the peaceful resolution of disputes, based on the principles of international law and the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.
This was the context of today’s talks and consultation with Mr. Davutoglu and his associates. Such meetings will take place frequently. And if at some time in the past it was a surprise for the Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers to meet, from now on it will be an ongoing process, with full mutual respect and with the sole aim of overcoming the past, resolving the problems that exist, and ushering in a new era of peace, security, cooperation and stability between the two countries, and this will benefit our wider region.
In closing, I once again welcome Ahmet Davutoglu to our homeland, to Greece. I thank him for the frankness that marked our talks, because this was lacking once upon a time. I want to believe that the next steps we take will lead towards the common vision guiding policies for a neighbourhood that will be a model of cooperation and an oasis of security and friendship. We have opened a new channel for helping our two peoples get better acquainted; two peoples that are so close to one another. And I think – and you will agree with me – that the conditions have ripened for their sending messages that the governments need to listen to and convert into policies and diplomatic actions.
Once again, thank you and welcome.
[The following is an unofficial translation of the transcribed Turkish statement]
A. DAVUTOGLU: “I want to thank you, too, my dear friend Dimitris Avramopoulos. First of all, the very warm welcome is an indication of Greek-Turkish friendship. I too would like to express my gratitude for this very warm welcome and the hospitality here in Athens. And having met with the Prime Minister Mr Samaras and the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Meimarakis, I had the honor of meeting with you. It really is extremely satisfying to meet again with a friend, a true friend, whom a lot of people in Turkey do know closely.
I think that our personal relationship and our friendship are of great importance to the positive course of Greek-Turkish relations, which are neighborly relations of friendship. This is our third meeting as Ministers. We had met before in Istanbul in June, in New York in September and now in Athens. These meetings will continue more frequently. I was very happy to see in these meetings that we share a common vision. There might be different views and approaches in two neighboring countries. However, if you share a common vision, you can solve problems easier in light of the common vision. The most important outcome of my meetings today with Mr. Samaras and with my dear friend Dimitris is that there is a common vision that we can move forward hand in hand. We share this vision.
What is this vision? First we need to share this. When we share a common vision other problematic fields will become less important and easy to resolve. That is what we believe. This common vision is to improve the relations and communications between the Turkish and Greek people who had lived side by side during the pace of history and to get ready to a common future in a common geography and to link together Turkey and Greece in terms of trade and cultural relations, transportation links, energy pipelines.
We believe that Greece and Turkey really should join their forces, their dynamism, so that we can create a new synergy in this region. This was essentially our perception when we established two years ago the High-Level Cooperation Council between Greece and Turkey. Today we are talking through the details for the second meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council. We completed some of the preparations to a large extent. The first steps towards reaching an agreement were already made. Most probably, under the co-chairmanship of the two Prime Ministers this meeting will take place in Turkey in January. Until then we will finalize our efforts to carry this common vision that I have just mentioned into effect.
The volume of trade between the two countries has reached $4.1 billion, and we are happy that for the first time, 700 million Euros were in favor of Greece. I think that the goal of $10 billion is not unfeasible. I think we have very major prospects in the field of East-West energy corridors between Greece and Turkey, taking into account Turkey’s proximity with the energy producer areas. Regarding the issue of transports, we want to improve the existing fast sea lines, fast railway, as well as air transports. In this framework, we certainly believe that the Aegean will turn into a sea of friendship, peace and prosperity. And in the sectors of culture and tourism we have drawn up some joint plans and facilitations that were carried out this past summer, with the implementation of the pilot programme for visas grated to tourists from Turkey who wished to visit certain Greek islands. The outcome was beneficial, and I think that we should expand this policy. We wish that Greece and Turkey mobilize their common potential in the field of tourism to the benefit of both their economies.
This is a visionary approach and in accordance to this I would also like to convey a very friendly message regarding the economic crisis Greece is going through right now. We also experienced economic crisis in 2000- 2001 and had rough times. The Greeks are proud and hardworking people. We are certain that Greece will overcome these difficulties, and when it does, Turkey and Greece, side by side with strong economies and in a spirit of solidarity, will contribute more to the European history, to Europe, as well as to the Mediterranean and to their common areas. What I told to Mr. Samaras and to my good friend, Dimitris, is that the crisis Greece is experiencing right now is like an earthquake – an economic quake – and we would like to convey the message to the Greek people that as we had closely witnessed Greece’s friendship in the aftermath of the earthquake in Turkey and we will never forget this, today Turkey as a friend and neighbor country is in solidarity with Greece, supporting the efforts Greece is making, and we are certain that you will overcome the difficulties you are going through. We believe that when we materialize together all these projects, they will contribute to the revival of the Greek economy and to the reinvigoration of its dynamism.
There are of course some issues, on which we have different opinions, such as the problems in the Aegean Sea, the issues related to the minorities, the Cyprus issue. I am happy to see the first signs of how we will display a joint effort with my dear friend to handle those problems that fall into this framework. I fully believe that we will mutually resolve Aegean issues positively. We have also agreed on accelerating our efforts on this issue. My dear friend has expressed that he welcomes steps taken in Turkey pertaining to the minorities. We are thankful that those steps have been acknowledged. We took very serious steps. We consider the minorities as a bridge of friendship. The Greek-Orthodox minority in Turkey and the Turkish-Muslim minority in Greece constitute a bridge of friendship between us. One of the most original moments of my visit will be the meeting which we shall have today with our Greek Orthodox friends who have migrated from Turkey, some who have Turkish citizenship. I will meet with them today, and this meeting will symbolize that we want these two peoples, who were separated either through the exchange of populations or by other means, to be further integrated. We consider that we both of them are part of a common history, of a shared geography. And I think that within the framework of this perspective, when modern and global values are applied, we would really be able in the future to resolve many of our differences. And I feel very happy that we share this visionary approach with my dear friend and that we will work together towards this goal.
We have had some talks on the issue of the European Union and the visa waiver, and we thank Greece in particular for its efforts both to get us the visa waiver and for its support in the process of our integration with the European Union. We believe that among the most significant gains from Turkey’s integration with the EU will be for Greece. Together, we can contribute much more to Europe. What unfortunately many circles and leaders were not able to understand was very well understood by Greece, and it supports Turkey in its process with the European Union. On this issue, we are grateful to Greece, we thank Greece and we believe that together we can contribute very much to Europe.
Regarding the recent developments with Syria, we thank Greece for extending its support in NATO. This sign between allies is also a sign of friendship. We believe that the unanimous support provided by NATO to Turkey on the issue of disputes with Syria is due in part to the efforts and support of Greece.
We touched upon issues concerning the Balkans. We share a common objective for peace and stability to be established in the Balkans. In the 100th anniversary since the Balkan Wars, together we will continue to make every effort in order for war not to happen again in our region and for peace to be established in a permanent way. We are in consultation and we have a mutual understanding on issues of the Middle East, the developments in Syria and in North Africa because this is our region, Greece and Turkey are countries of the Mediterranean, the eastern Mediterranean. Developments in Syria, in Egypt and in Libya are affecting us both. We, as democratic countries, support the calls for democracy made by the peoples of the Arab countries. In summary, what I wish to say is that today in Athens and in Ankara there are two governments that have a very similar perspective either in bilateral relations, or in the framework of the European Union, or in regional policies. There are two Foreign Ministers, Greek and Turkish, who are linked by a friendship. I will never forget his sincerity. The last time we talked by phone was during my visit to the Greek-Turkish border, after a meeting in Edirne, when he was a Defense Minister. We talked on the phone and we exchanged warm messages, sending out a great message of friendship. May this friendship last forever. I would like to thank him again for the hospitality and I wish that we will host him in our country in the near future.
Thank you very much.”
October 10, 2012