[The text is a translation of a transcript of the Greek interpretation from Arabic.]
M. ABDEL AZIZ: First of all, I would like to welcome you. All of our visitors from Greece. On behalf of the Libyan government I would like to welcome our high-ranking visitor the Foreign Minister of Greece. This visit is taking place in the midst of a transitional phase, from revolution to reconstruction. And it is taking place at the right time. More specifically, following the elections held in Libya to elect the National Assembly and the election of the new government, which will lead the country for at least 15 months from now. This visit is taking place in the context of the traditional, historical relations between the two countries. Libyan-Greek relations began over 3,000 years ago, and the ancient cities of Cyrenaica reflect this historical and excellent framework of the relations between the two peoples.
This solid relationship between the two friendly peoples will provide the foundation for the relations of cooperation between the two countries. This morning, the Greek Foreign Minister had meetings with the President of the National Assembly and the President of the transitional government. Before those meetings, I had the opportunity to exchange views with him on the prospects for and promotion of cooperation in all sectors. There are a few specific issues on which we exchanged views.
First, investment cooperation. There are a number of memoranda and agreements that were signed in the past. These agreements and memoranda need to be updated so as to meet the new needs and the new reality in Libya. Because Greece has a great deal of experience in the tourism sector, we exchanged views on the potential for promoting cooperation in this sector. More specifically, Libya is a country that is appropriate for the development of tourism, both on the Mediterranean coast and in the Sahara.
We also exchanged views on the reconstruction of Libya, so that Greek enterprises can take part in both the public and private sector. And because Libya puts special emphasis on the security sector, we exchanged views on that sector and on the defence sector, bearing in mind the major role Greece played during the NATO operations. I would like to take this opportunity to express warm thanks and gratitude, both as a country, and even more so as the Libyan people, to Greece for the political support and humanitarian assistance provided, as well as the support provided for NATO operations and the facilitations provided by Greece for the implementation of the Security Council resolutions for the protection of the Libyan people. Of course, Greece’s stance is part of the framework of friendship and partnership that exists between the two peoples.
We also exchanged views on cooperation on issues concerning the sea, so that we can benefit from Greece’s experience in managing ports. We also discussed cooperation in the health sector, as Greece hosted over 6,000 Libyan wounded, and this will serve as the foundation of our cooperation in the health sector and the pharmaceutical sector, which needs to be included in the broader framework of our bilateral cooperation.
We discussed other sectors for cooperation, such as the renewable energy sources sector. We exchanged views on the potential for training in Greece – and I stress this – because as we rebuild our state, we will need competent personnel. I think that Libyans training in Greece would be a good step.
Finally, we agreed on a roadmap, so that we can draw up an agreement on our future cooperation – for promoting cooperation between the two countries, while at the same time providing the opportunity for meetings between enterprises from the two countries, both in Greece and in Libya. As a country, we do not want to depend solely on petroleum. We want to develop other sectors as well. That is why we need to emphasize cooperation between the enterprises of the two countries.
On the political level we exchanged views on consultation on political issues. On the regional and international level, specifically, given that Greece plays a leading role in the EU and is a member of other regional organizations in Europe. We are particularly pleased that Greece will have the EU Presidency in 2014. We congratulated Greece and believe that this will contribute toward the strengthening of bilateral relations. Finally, I would like to thank the Minister for his promise to help Libya receive the money that is frozen abroad.
Once again, I welcome our visitors. I also want to thank the Greek Ambassador for his tireless efforts, during the short time he has been here, to promote our relations.
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: First of all I want to thank Mr. Abdel Aziz for his warm welcome and hospitality, and of course extend those thanks to the government of Libya, President Magarief and Prime Minister Zeidan.
As my colleague said earlier, the relations between our two peoples go back over 3,000 years. Today, here in Libya, two dynamic Greek communities are contributing to the country’s recovery and creating strong bonds between our two peoples.
The dynamic in our relations is excellent, with vast potential for further development. We are immediate neighbours. We are joined by the Mediterranean. The fact is, we see each other’s shores. Our strategic proximity was reaffirmed in the most indisputable manner during the revolution against the Gaddafi regime.
We were there then, close to the embattled Libyan people, and we continue to be at their side. I remind you of the major humanitarian contribution of Greece, with the provision of drinking water during that difficult period, as well as the provision of healthcare to 6,000 of those wounded in the uprising.
The Greek people are proud of the assistance they provided, of their contribution to the Libyan people’s struggle for freedom and democracy. And we are even prouder now, as we watch Libya building a democratic state with rule of law, which was reaffirmed in the recent elections. We are neither blind to nor underestimate the challenges of the new era. We are aware that the problems are many, large and intractable. That is why, during this visit, I reassured my collocutors that Greece – on the bilateral level as well as within the framework of the EU – will contribute toward the resolution of these problems.
Greece and Libya have been political, economic and trade partners for many decades now. Hundreds of Libyan officers have studied at Greece’s military academies, and there are currently 53 Libyans studying at those schools. And there is also the large number of Greek enterprises that have been active in Libya during these decades. We have close commercial ties and there is great potential as the new Libya rebuilds its state, its structures and its infrastructure.
So we agreed to close out all the pending issues of the past and look at the prospects opening up before us. Prospects for cooperation in all sectors, and particularly the provision of services and know-how, which is so useful and necessary at this critical time in Libya. I will agree with what my colleague said earlier regarding the roadmap. This will start with the organization of a business conference early next year, and culminate in a programme for intergovernmental cooperation. We will then have the signing of the agreements. Mutual will is a given. Instructions have been given to our Ministries, and we will move ahead at a fast pace. At the same time, we realise the importance of not saying too much. Instead, we need to do more and prove our will in action.
Today, here in Tripoli, Libya, two old friends are making a new beginning. A new beginning based on our sincere will and desire to bring our peoples, our countries our business communities, cultural communities close to one another again. The regime of tyranny isolated Libya. This historical people is being called upon to play a new, more dynamic role in the service of the higher principles of democracy, international understanding, stability and security. We wish the Libyan leadership success in their efforts. And both the people and the government of Libya should know that Greece is standing by them to share the optimistic outlook of the new beginning and, mainly, the results that this collective effort of the Libyan people will bring.
Again, I thank the Minister, and, beyond the invitations conveyed to the President and Prime Minister of Libya, I would like to reiterate my invitation for Mr. Abdel Aziz to visit Athens.
JOURNALIST: [Question on the next steps in Greek-Libyan cooperation.]
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: There is a lot of room for expanding our cooperation. Investments, tourism, international cooperation, know-how and experience that can be given to Libya at this time, as it starts to build a new administrative system. Training programmes for diplomats and police, defence cooperation. All these are part of a broader programme that, as I said earlier, is shaping the roadmap that will be completed within the next six months. The phrase that expresses our will and our planning is “Joint plan for strategic cooperation”. A plan that will stand the test of time, be updated and renewed, to the benefit of both countries. Let me note that we renewed our desire to take initiatives for linking Greek and Libyan ports, given that one of the goals we have set is to develop our commercial relations and tourism cooperation.
The first stop on the roadmap is the business forum, with representatives from the sectors of health, culture, industry. We plan for it to take place here, in Tripoli, towards the end of February or early March. And one last important thing: Greece can function, within the framework of Greek-Libyan relations, as one of Libya’s gateways to Europe. And Libya can functions as a gateway for Greece to Africa. During Greece’s EU Presidency in 2014, and in cooperation with the Libyan authorities, we will promote, within the European framework, issues of major importance to Libya.
JOURNALIST: [Question on the economic crisis.]
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: It isn’t just Greece that is currently going through a difficult period due to the economic crisis. Almost all of the European south is. It is a problem for Europe overall. It is a global problem. Even Libya is feeling the repercussions of the economic crisis.
But we are already getting back the first positive messages from a concerted policy adopted by the Greek government. The first message is Europe’s trust in Greece. The second message is the upgrading of the Greek economy by international ratings agencies. The third message comes from Greek society itself. We are a democratic country. Strikes and demonstrations are an inviolable right of the Greek people. But what is most important is the common will of Greek citizens to move ahead dynamically to face the crisis and win this battle. It is the challenge of our time.
These first messages show, at long last, a light at the end of the tunnel. So the day isn’t far off when the economy will find its cohesion, its dynamism, its perspective.
But all of this has not divested Greece of its dynamic, positive role on the international stage. We are one of the most important stable and stabilizing factors in the wider Mediterranean region. And we put this role at the service of the international community whenever requested. And this explains my presence here, in the new Libya’s effort to build new structures and consolidate democracy. And one last thing: When no strikes are taking place in a country, then it’s time to worry about the future of democracy.
JOURNALIST: [Question on the use of military officers trained in Greece and the progress of reforms in Libya.]
M. ABDEL AZIZ: Regarding the first part of your question, on the 53 officers studying in Greece, I want to note that we have urgent need of such personnel. Especially now, when we are starting to reorganize the Interior Ministry, we consider the training provided by Greece in the sector of defence and security to be of a very high level. We started our cooperation in this sector in the 1970s. I just want to give you one example regarding those who received military training in Greece. The Libyans who studied in Greece are now among the leading administrators in Libya. They were very, very well trained in comparison even with those who trained in the U.S. and in other European countries.
Regarding your second question, in the new Libya we are starting with new prospects. Our efforts are directed, in tandem, towards building judicial services and security services, and we want the personnel of our Ministries to be properly trained for this new phase.
We have decided to invite all the foreign enterprises active for many years in Libya to continue the projects they started, while at the same time we welcome new companies that want to become active in Libya for the first time. Libya is a country with a future in investments and infrastructure. Particularly within the framework of Libya’s strategy not to rely solely on petroleum, but to diversify its sources of income. And thus there will be opportunities not just for Greece, but for many other countries. There will be a dynamic in Libya’s relations with these countries, as the Minister said earlier. Europe and Africa will meet via friendly countries.
JOURNALIST: [Question on the delimitation of maritime zones.]
M. ABDEL AZIZ: So far there is no final decision on the issue of the delimitation of maritime zones. There were consultations and talks, and this morning I had the opportunity to talk to my colleague about this issue. Because this issue does not concern just Greece and Libya. We need to move ahead in a framework that includes the countries that have maritime borders with Greece and Libya. We are pursuing a general agreement that will include all the countries concerned in this matter. Because we want to look to the future overall, and not in a piecemeal fashion.
D. AVRAMOPOULOS: First of all, there are no closed issues in our relations with Libya. We did not go into detail In our talks. We are at the outset of a very promising collaboration in all sectors. All the issues that have been on the table for some time now will be evaluated, and some will be revised. That is why I said earlier that we are following a roadmap. We are giving priority to issues that are immediate needs: business cooperation. On the way to our strategic cooperation – which will also be defined in a specific framework to be announced in due time – all the issues that the two countries are close together on will be discussed.
December 21, 2012