Foreign Minister Kotzias’ interview with the Turkish daily Sabah’s correspondent in Athens, Stelios Berberakis (11 May 2015)

Below is the text of Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias’ interview with the Turkish daily Sabah’s correspondent in Athens, Stelios Berberakis. The interview was published today.

JOURNALIST: This will be your first visit to Ankara as Foreign Minister. But I think you have visited Ankara in the past.

N. KOTZIAS: Thank you for giving me this opportunity to address the friendly Turkish people. In 1999, when George Papandreou was Foreign Minister, I was part of the delegation that paid an official visit to Ankara for the first time in 50 years. Our goal was to open up Turkey’s path to the EU.

JOURNALIST: What is on your agenda now?

N. KOTZIAS: I am the Foreign Minister of a leftist government in Greece; a government emphasizing negotiations. I am very pleased that I will be meeting with Prime Minister Davutoglu, who is, like me, an academic. I have already met Mr. Cavusoglu. He is a very dignified person. I hope we get to know each other better at this meeting.

First of all, we aim to reaffirm once again our intentions with regard to the confidence-building measures. Second, we want to discuss what stage the exploratory talks have reached and to accelerate our goals.

Beyond that, we want to develop the economic relations between the countries even further, and those relations are already moving ahead very well. The prevailing impression is that the number of Turkish tourists who will come to Greece this year will surpass the number of Russian tourists. That is, over 1 million Turks will be visiting Greece. The trade dynamic between Greece and Turkey has quadrupled. Investments have increased.

We will also find the opportunity to look at the issues of stability and security in our region. On these issues, there are areas where we share the same views with Turkey. There are also different views. Our interests often coincide. In cases where they don’t coincide, we will look for a way out.

JOURNALIST: Will there be any new proposal from you with regard to the confidence-building measures between the two countries?

N. KOTZIAS: Representatives of our countries’ Foreign Ministries met on 24 April, in Istanbul. We want the decisions made at that meeting, with regard to the talks on the Aegean – and for some of those decisions, if not all, to be clarified – to move ahead and for the first positive steps to be taken. I hope at least that we will agree on a matter of prevention.

JOURNALIST: The exploratory talks have been going on for years now. In your opinion, will these talks be completed during your term in office?

N. KOTZIAS: There are a number of pending issues for which Greece is not responsible. Beyond the fact that nationalism is reigniting in the Balkans, there are problems that stem from the new manner in which Turkey reads international law and issues like the Aegean. As Minister, my goal is to resolve issues of this kind, which concern Greek-Turkish relations.

JOURNALIST: Will the Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, carry out a visit to Ankara?

N. KOTZIAS: During my visit to Ankara, we will discuss the issue of reciprocal visits of the Prime Ministers of Greece and Turkey, and issues of cooperation between the two governments. It is my opinion that we will proceed to clarifications on these issues.

JOURNALIST: Do you have a message for the Turkish people?

N. KOTZIAS: There is a phrase I use: God rolled the dice and got sixes. One for Turkey and the other for Greece. We need to find a policy that is win-win for the Turkish and Greek peoples.

JOURNALIST: What is the latest situation with regard to the construction of mosques in Athens – which was ratified by Parliament?

N. KOTZIAS: With regard to the construction of mosques, a new provision was added to the law. The only thing I will say on this issue is that the Muslims in our country should have a place of worship. The details, regarding construction, concern the competent Ministry.

JOURNALIST: The minorities in Thrace are facing problems, like the mufti issue. Will you meet with the representatives of the minority?

N. KOTZIAS: Our doors are always open to the minority groups, which characterize themselves as being of Turkish origin, Pomak or Roma.