Joint statement of Foreign Minister Kotzias and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov (Moscow, 11 February 2015)

Following their meeting today in Moscow, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, made the following statements to the news media.

S. LAVROV: My dear ladies and gentlemen, my Greek counterpart and I had very good talks, and we spoke sincerely and substantially about the issues on our bilateral agenda. The new Greek government confirmed not only the continuation of our relations, but also the desire to develop them at a faster pace. We are ready on that count.

We noted that the fundamental agreements, which were reached during the recent telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, give us serious guidelines, particularly on trade and economic issues. Bearing in mind the elections that were carried out in Greece, we agreed to readjust the Joint Intergovernmental Committee at the soonest possible time, to hold a meeting of the Committee co-chairs, and, in the immediate future, without delay, to start preparing for a meeting of the plenary.

We talked about bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, bearing in mind the interest the Greek government has shown in the plans for the construction of a natural gas pipeline from Russia towards Turkey and the Greek border. We believe that this plan has very good prospects.

We focused a lot of attention on the further deepening of our cultural and humanitarian ties. 2016 will be the Year of Greece in Russia and the Year of Russia in Greece. We agreed to plan a rich programme of events. There is already a bilateral mechanism which is dealing with the preparations for these important events, which, I am certain, will once again underscore the age-old traditional friendship and cooperation between our peoples and their spiritual affinity.

In this context I will note that, in 2016, there will be another important anniversary: 1,000 years of a Russian monastic presence on Mount Athos – commemorative events have been planned. Together with our Greek friends, we traditionally maintain the sacred memory of the heroes and victims of World War II. Greek leaders are traditionally present for the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. We hope that this will be the case this time and that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will participate in the celebration of 9 May, at Moscow’s Red Square.

We discussed current international and regional issues. We also talked about the situation in Ukraine. Our shared view is that there cannot be a military solution, but a direct dialogue amongst the leaders of Kiev and of the southeastern region. And we should defend the rights of the people who reside in Ukraine.

The Minister made a reminder of the Greek presence, mainly in the region of Mariupol and also in Ukraine in general. There must be certainty that the process in Ukraine will be completed in a political fashion that takes into account the interests of the Ukrainians themselves. Of course, this can be achieved within the framework of reform; reform that has been agreed on for some time, but that has been delayed.

We discussed the relations between Russia and the European Union. We appreciate the constructive stance Greece is maintaining in this process. I am in favor of our strategic cooperation, without attempts to politicize, ideologize or sacrifice some geopolitical ambitions of third countries.

We reiterated our focus on promoting the idea of creating a common economic and humanitarian space from the Atlantic to the Pacific, building on equal and indivisible security in the region.

Regarding the settlement of the Cyprus issue, we, the Russian side, reaffirmed our support for the efforts to implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the implementation of the agreements reached earlier between the Cypriot communities. And of course the final decision must be taken only by those communities, and all of the external players should help them to agree, based on their mutual interests.

We and the Greek side are concerned about the fate of the Christian population of the Middle East and North Africa. We will promote actions that further focus the international community’s attention on the issue of their plight; actions aimed at stopping the exodus of Christians from the countries where they have lived for thousands of years now, and we will proceed to similar actions, among others, within the framework of the OSCE as well.

These were, in brief, the issues we discussed. I think that we had a useful meeting and we ensured the continuation of cooperation on the level of the Foreign Ministries of Russia and Greece.

I thank my counterpart and I give him the floor.

N. KOTZIAS: Good morning and thank you for coming. I thank Minister Lavrov, who responded directly to our request to come today, in response to the invitation extended to me some days ago. My thanks, also, for the substantial and productive talks we had, and I hope that there will be a substantial decision that restores peace and security in Ukraine.

What I said to the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation is that we have a principle in confronting Russia: the principle that Europe and we should always show respect for a major power that can and always played, when possible, a peaceful role in Europe. It is the deeply held belief of the Greek government that the solution of the major crisis in Ukraine lies in diplomacy. Foreign Ministers, after all, believe that diplomacy is more important than anything else – though their profession is important – and we don’t want there to be thoughts or delusions that there can be military solutions in a conflict like Ukraine’s.

If someone tries to increase the tension in Ukraine, the results will be anything but those being pursued. Within the framework of the diplomatic handling of the crisis, we briefed the Minister on the major problems of the Greek community in Mariupol and the surrounding villages, on the measures the Greek government has taken to ensure the flow of food and pharmaceuticals, and the request that all measures be taken for their protection from the fighting taking place in the area.

The Greek government is very concerned at the fact that there a number of conflict hotspots in the region around Greece; conflicts that can destabilize Europe as whole. There is the crisis in Ukraine, at the top of a triangle. There is the crisis in Libya, which is another side of the triangle, and there is the major crisis in the Middle East, which is the third side of the triangle of destabilization. We all need to contribute, so that what Greece is doing – trying to send waves of stabilization to the outer sides of the triangle – can impact those who want to destabilize the whole Middle East triangle.

In this context we briefed Minister Lavrov on something that interests both Russia and the Russian people: the proposal we made to the EU for the protection of the Christian communities of the Middle East; communities that also express an outlook that we have regarding life and society: coexistence with and tolerance of differences, multifaith societies, multiculturalism and appreciation for a culture that has existed for 2,000 years now in the region.

Greece is a member state of the EU. We have made it clear for a fortnight now, since the government changed in Athens, that we are not a second-class state, but a state with proactive foreign policy, with proposals and structured negotiations.

I told the Minister that Greece is always available, if such a request is made, to contribute to mediation between the EU and Russia. To contribute to mediation on problems that exist in the region, because we are a European state, but at the same time we are a state that has major and firm cultural, historical continuity and ties with a state like Russia.

At the latest meeting of EU Foreign Ministers we also proposed that we should depart from the constant discussion of Ukraine, and that we should draw up a positive agenda from a perspective of the whole of Europe, and with specific positive proposals toward Russia.

Hoping that there will soon be stabilization and peace in the region, the implementation and promotion of such an agenda could begin the very next day.

We also talked in detail with the Minister about the action programmes, the cooperation protocols and joint committees that we want to see upgraded in the future. And we thank him for his thoughts, just as we thank him for the stance Russia maintains on Cyprus and on the Cyprus problem, which imparts a sense of security to the Cypriot people and the soul of Greeks.

We thank him and we thank Russia for maintaining this stance.

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY: A question for both Ministers. It is a fact that, from the moment the new government took office, we have seen increased criticism within the EU of the sanctions on Russia. Apparently, there are many in the EU who disagree (with the sanctions). Whether you discussed the issue of the sanctions. More specifically, whether there is potential for some kind of partial or gradual lifting of these sanctions, for a few countries or a group of countries, like Greece, which disagree strongly with these. And, naturally, whether you discussed the issue raised in yesterday’s announcement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, regarding the possible discussion of financial cooperation between the two countries.

S. LAVROV: The question on the sanctions is not a question for me. Regarding the question on those who imposed them, I can say only that we will appreciate the position of the Greek government, which understands the completely counterproductive efforts of those who spoke to Russia in this manner – and not just to Russia, but to any country.

They should speak with respect and seek mutual approaches. They should be angry that there was a coup in Ukraine; a coup with which southeast Ukraine did not agree. And subsequently the Ukrainian authorities attacked – the southeast region of Ukraine did not attack Kiev. And our Western partners forgot that they signed an agreement on 21 February. Saying that the situation had changed, they supported the coup, and then Kiev’s attack on the southeast region did not have a positive outcome: the militia was strengthened and defended its territory. I don’t know – are they blaming us for that?

They imposed sanctions on Russia. This is on the conscience of those who dealt with this. The Greek government is not among those.

With regard to the economic issues of our cooperation, we talked today about the economic situation in Greece, but we ourselves are not in an easy situation, due to the line of our Western partners. But as our Finance Minister said, if a request is submitted by the Greek government, then obviously it will be considered.

N. KOTZIAS: A day after the Greek government was sworn in, on 29 January, I was at a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers, and the main issue, for the thirteenth consecutive meeting of the Council, was the issue of the sanctions. We underscored – in my opinion, I say this as a politician as well as academically – that the sanctions have never produced the results pursued by those who decided on them. We believe that we have to find other tools of understanding if we are to contribute to peace in Ukraine. And in any case we stress in every direction that war is not the solution.

With regard to economic cooperation, today a discussion was prepared with very serious proposals, with the consideration of a great number of practices, such as a number of protocols and action plans. But because in Greek-Russian relations – particularly on the part of Athens – many promises are often made, or we have many visions for cooperation, I would prefer, rather than giving you a list of this cooperation, to start the implementation of these thoughts and understandings – in consultation with the Finance Minister, who will be at the Summit Meeting with the Prime Minister – as of tomorrow. And the next time we meet in Russia or in Athens, Mr. Minister, we will be able to say that we have taken serious steps to the benefit of the two states and to the benefit of the two peoples, but also to the benefit of peace and stability throughout Europe.

REUTERS: It was just announced that the Russia President will go to Minsk to participate in the Meeting. Could you tell us what the likelihood is of success, in your opinion, and what are the most controversial questions? Your French counterpart told us today that it is control on the borders between Russia and Donbass and the status of Donbass.

S. LAVROV: You obviously don’t mean control of the border between Russia and Donbass, but between Russia and Ukraine. Yes, Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate in today’s meeting in Minsk, under the so-called “Normandy configuration”. From the outset of the consideration of this idea, we said that we want this meeting to take place, provided that it is prepared and that the experts agree on all the necessary issues. Obviously, the leaders will have the final say.

The experts are working and there is significant progress. I wouldn’t want to go into details at this time regarding the negotiation process. I don’t think it is right, with regard to the participants in the Meeting and those who are preparing it, but as you touched on the issue of borders and the matter of the status of Donbass, I will say the following.

Of course, now that there are hostilities, there is a willingness for the matter of the Ukrainian authorities’ regaining control of the borders between Russia and Ukraine to top the list of issues. Regarding the areas controlled by the militia, there needs to be an agreement with the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. I think that this is one obvious thing. Additionally, these [Republics] are cooperating rather constructively with the OSCE mission, which, with the consent of the two People’s Republics, paid a number of visits to regions controlled by the militia.

But I repeat that there needs to be an agreement with representatives of the People’s Republics, and I very much doubt that, with the eruption of hostilities, when there are efforts on the part of the Ukrainian authorities to improve their military position, to use this at the Minsk meeting – I don’t see how the representatives of Donetsk and Lugansk can agree that control of the borders will be set as the most important point and that it will be a precondition for the rest. Unfortunately, we are seeing this particular effort now from the representatives of the Ukrainian authorities: for there to be control on the Russia-Ukraine border. As long as the hostilities continue and as long as some other issues remain unresolved, this will not be realistic.

The most important thing, in our opinion, is the implementation of the Minsk agreements, in which there is reference to the need to ensure the special status of these regions in Donbass, the need for security for the organs of power that are elected there, and for amnesty and a stop to surveillance of all the participants in the events in southeast Ukraine.

The Minsk agreements note the need to re-establish Donbass’s economic ties with the rest of Ukraine. Instead, we now see the implementation of economic isolation and control of transactions, as well as control of the Donbass borders with the rest of Ukraine. We can refer to an economic and social isolation, in parallel with the effort towards military pressure in these regions.

So, under such conditions, if we give the Russian section of the borders, this will mean isolation from humanitarian aid. So there needs to be a sequence of actions, and first of all the establishment of peace and the withdrawal of heavy arms, and the opening of a political dialogue and the carrying out of municipal elections in the southeast, in agreement with Kiev. Just as there also needs to be progress on matters of a more general political nature; matters contained in the Minsk agreements and in the Geneva announcement of 17 April. And of course the issue of the reopening of economic talks and the reopening of the banks. When all of this happens, then the issue of control of the borders will be resolved much more easily, as all of the residents of Donbass will know that the financial and social services are ensured, that they are secure and that there are guarantees that enable them to live without fear for their lives.

RUSSIA TODAY: Mr. Kotzias, Greece, Russian and Ukraine are linked by historical relations. Please tell us what the Greek government’s position is on the events in Ukraine.

N. KOTZIAS: Greek-Russian relations are age-old historical and cultural relations. We have to develop this relationship creatively in the 21st century. You know that the current government is promoting a proactive foreign policy, a policy of proposals, configurations and reconfigurations. We believe that the Ukraine problem must be resolved quickly, by diplomatic means, and we do not want Ukraine and the Ukrainian crisis to contribute to a destabilization of the triangle I described, in the middle of which is Greece. The Ukraine-Libya-Middle East triangle, that is.

We hope and believe that the right decisions will be made in Minsk; that the necessary compromises will be made, to impart momentum to the solution of the Ukraine issue. Personally, I always believe in democratic solutions and that in countries with diverse populations and historical and cultural identities, federal systems should be promoted, as we have seen them in the Federal Republic of Germany, in the U.S. And I am also a fan of the democratization of a federal republic of Ukraine. But we will respect any decisions taken in Minsk. We will support them and we will also respect the choices of the Ukrainian leadership itself. But we are not afraid of Democracy or federation.

SPUTNIK RADIO: Can Russia and Greece impart fresh momentum to military and military-technical cooperation?

S. LAVROV: They can. We have longstanding relations in all sectors, including the military-technical sector. We see these relations as being maintained. We are preparing additional agreements that will enhance the legal framework in this sector, and we have mutually friendly military contacts. I haven’t heard anything yet from the new Greek government, whether this situation will change in some way, or that this line will be severed. We are interested in such an interaction, which will help us to collaborate on a number of very important matters that require the participation of the armed forces – matters such as piracy, emergency situations and many others.