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About Us Embassy of Greece in London News FM Venizelos holds talks in London with British counterpart Hague
FM Venizelos holds talks in London with British counterpart Hague
Government Vice President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos, speaking shortly after his meeting with British Foreign Secretary William Hague in London, said that "the meeting and working lunch we had with my British colleague Mr. William Hague was an excellent opportunity to present the priorities of the Greek presidency of the council of the EU".
The two ministers, apart from the Greek presidency, discussed for over an hour and a half a series of issues such as the issue of Cyprus, developments in Syria, Egypt, Iran, Libya, the economic state of Greece, etc.
Venizelos stressed that the priorities of the Greek presidency "are known and the British government declared that it is ready to cooperate and offer whatever help is necessary."
He clarified for the British Foreign secretary that when "Greece speaks of growth, it means the creation of jobs and the protection of the social dimension of the EU."
The two ministers also discussed the course of the Greek economy's adjustment programme, as well as fiscal and corrective achievements.
Replying to a question by the ANA-MPA, Venizelos said that "there are already significant British direct investments in Greece," and pointed to the energy sector and British involvement through British Petrol (BP) in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline project.
As far as Greece-Britain financial cooperation is concerned, the Greek Foreign minister underlined that "given Britain’s decisive role in the financial sector, it was important for the British government to be briefed firsthand on Greece’s economic conditions and on the Greek government’s strategic decisions."
With regard to the European banking union, Venizelos stressed that "the deepening of economic governance in the eurozone and the EU is very important for the banking union." He added that "when we talk about the banking union we mean also the protection of deposits." Among Greece’s immediate priorities was also the issue of migration, Venizelos said.
On the Cyprus problem, the two ministers agreed that decisions were up to the Cyprus people, adding that the government of Great Britain, as one of the guarantor powers, and the Greek government will support all efforts to achieve a viable solution.
More specifically, Venizelos stressed that "the Cyprus issue is an international problem that must be solved justly through a sustainable pattern which would be consistent with the decisions of the UN Security Council and in line with the acquis communautaire. This is because the Republic of Cyprus is a member state of the EU and because a solution should be acceptable by referendum by both communities on the island. Without a referendum and without popular approval, nothing can be done. We support all initiatives by (Cyprus) President (Nicos) Anastasiades, but believe that the starting and end point of the initiatives is the acceptance by the Cypriot people through a referendum."
