Below are Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos’ statements and responses to journalists’ questions following his meeting in Ankara today with Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu:
E. VENIZELOS: I thank Mr. Cavusoglu for the invitation and for the opportunity to be here in Ankara today for our talks, following on from the talks we had a few months ago in New York and the High-Level Meeting that took place on the margins of the Cardiff NATO Summit Meeting.
At a time of multiple crises in the wider Middle East and Mediterranean region, Greek-Turkish relations are of the greatest importance, because Greece and Turkey can function as a pole of stability, peace and prosperity in the wider region.
But for this to happen to its full extent, we must confront the major pending matter of the Cyprus issue. The solution of the Cyprus problem is the key to accelerating Greek-Turkish bilateral relations, to our playing the role we are being called upon to play as two countries with a long presence in NATO, dating to the early 1950s. Greece, moreover, as a member state of the EU, and Turkey, as a candidate country for accession to the EU.
As you know, Greece has from the very outset supported Turkey’s European perspective, but this perspective is directly linked to the solution of the Cyprus problem. It really is of very great importance, as my colleague said, for the talks between the two communities, on the resolution of the Cyprus issue, to reopen within the framework of the 11 February 2014 Joint Communiqué, within the framework of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, within the framework of the High-Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979, and, naturally, within the framework of the European acquis, because Cyprus is a member state of the European Union.
The talks were unfortunately broken off because a violation of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus is underway in the Eastern Mediterranean, and therefore we all have the duty to take the necessary joint initiatives to support the talks. But this presupposes respect for the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and the ceasing of the violation that is in progress.
I would like to believe that there is always room for avoiding escalation, for avoiding the extension of the problems. Naturally, our goal – and we discussed this with Mr. Cavusoglu – is to contribute as quickly and as effectively as possible to shaping the climate that will allow for the reopening of the talks.
The resolution of the Cyprus issue will also enable us to take many, many other initiatives in the economic sector, in the energy sector, and in the sector of foreign policy and security and defence policy.
We also talked about matters relating to the other major crises in the region – mainly the issues of illegal migration, of confronting terrorism and, more specifically, the influx of so-called foreign fighters backing ISIS, the so-called Islamic State. It is our obligation, within the framework of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, to work together to combat every form of terrorism, to confront the phenomenon of so-called foreign fighters. And we know how critical and fundamental Turkey’s role is in the international community’s battle against the threat and barbarity of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
In a few days we will have the opportunity to be at the third High-Level Cooperation Council between our two governments. This Council will convene in Athens. This is a very important opportunity, because it allows us to talk about the critical political issues at the highest level, between the two Prime Ministers, in the presence of the Foreign Ministers. But it will also enable us to continue our cooperation in very many sectors that concern the day-to-day lives of our citizens, their prosperity, the prospects of the two economies.
We already had a very successful business forum a few days ago, in Izmir. On the occasion of the High-Level Cooperation Council, we will be organizing a very important business forum next week, on Friday, in Athens. This forum will facilitate our cooperation in all of the critical sectors. Tourism is the first, but not the only, sector. We have huge potential in tourism. It is a heavy industry we have in common; an industry that concerns both countries. We are prepared to take all of the initiatives we can, within the framework of the European Union and the Schengen Treaty, to facilitate the issuing of visas to Turkish citizens who wish to visit Greece. It is our pleasure to welcome Turkish visitors to Greece, just as Greek visitors have Turkey among their preferences.
We have huge potential in the sector of engineering projects, construction, cooperation of engineering firms. Not just within the territory of our two countries, but in third countries as well, and we already have very important examples of successful cooperation. We have the potential for even closer cooperation in the financial and banking sector. We have the potential to work together in the agriculture and food sectors. And, of course, the private sector, entrepreneurship is what will find new ideas and respond to the new challenges. Our common will is to politically encourage the cooperation of businesses, cooperation between the two countries’ private sectors.
We also had the opportunity to talk about all of the major issues that concern our bilateral relations, that concern the situation in the Aegean and in the Eastern Mediterranean. We are continuing our exploratory talks and we are prepared to move ahead – always within the framework of International Law and, more specifically, the International Law of the Sea, which is the common reference and common basis for everything. And it is the common foundation for the cooperation of all of the countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Also of very great importance is the exchange of views between the two sides regarding the situation on the open fronts in the European Union’s Eastern and Southern Neighbourhoods. We had the opportunity to discuss – and we will continue this discussion during the working luncheon – the situation in Syria, in Iraq, in Libya. We always proceed within the framework of the European policies, the EU’s common foreign policy and Common Security and Defence Policy, and I believe that this line, the line of European policy, is what brings the two countries close together on these issues.
Once again, I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Cavusoglu, for this opportunity and for the talks we had. And it is with pleasure that we await Prime Minister Davutoglu and the Turkish government delegation in Athens, in a few days.
JOURNALIST: […]
E. VENIZELOS: As a member state of the UN and as a member state of the EU, Cyprus has both national sovereignty and national sovereign rights, as provided for by the International Law of the Sea. In this framework, the offshore resources belong to the state, because the sovereign rights belong to the state. But the state guarantees these rights, and mainly the revenues from exploitation of natural resources in favor of all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, in favor of the present generation, but also in favor of the coming generations of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
And, naturally, in favor of the two communities, the Greek Cypriot community and the Turkish Cypriot community, on an equitable basis and a proportionate basis. And it has in fact been agreed that the allotment of the revenues from the exploitation of natural resources be more favorable for the Turkish Cypriot community, until such time as there is a convergence of the GDPs of the two sides. This has been stated repeatedly, and I believe that we have the potential for what I’m saying now and for what President Anastasiades has said – which I am simply repeating – to be set down in such a way as to provide the certainty to all the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus that they are equal from this perspective.
But I repeat, a precondition for this is respect for the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus. When there is an agreed political solution for the Cyprus issue, there will be a federal state and there will be the federal states. The states participating based on the Constitution of the Federation. Thus it is of very great importance for the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus to be respected both before and after the solution.
JOURNALIST (BOTONIS): … in Cyprus, as Mr. Venizelos said, there is violation of the sovereign rights with the presence there of the Barbaros vessel in the Cypriot EEZ. On this, specifically, have you decided something? Have you discussed the issue? And in what framework? Whether you have anything to say on that. Thank you.
E. VENIZELOS: I, too, will respond to that question. There is no doubt that the expectations of all the citizens of Cyprus – Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots – from the natural wealth, from the natural gas, must be safeguarded, and they are safeguarded and respected. This concerns the two communities, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, in accordance with the political status in effect in Cyprus, in accordance with the Constitution of 1960. This will concern both of the federal states within the framework of a political solution of the Cyprus problem, in accordance with everything I said before.
But there is also no question that the State of Cyprus, which is one, and which, in an agreed solution, will have a federal character, based on a federal constitution -- this state is and will be a member of the United Nations and of the European Union. It has its sovereignty and its sovereign rights, which include the natural resources.
Beyond that, the Constitution of Cyprus will guarantee in full the rights to the revenues from the exploitation of natural resources for all the citizens, regardless of whether they belong to the Greek Cypriot or the Turkish Cypriot side. For both entities, which will participate in the federal configuration, within the framework of a federal sovereign Cyprus, which will be, as I said before, as always, a member of the UN and of the EU.
It is thus of very great importance that the violations of the rights of the Republic of Cyprus stop, that the violation of the International Law of the Sea stop, and that the negotiations reopen between the two communities, between the two sides in Cyprus. Provided we go to this solution, provided the negotiations start, provided we arrive at an agreed solution that is accepted by the Cypriot people in a referendum, all of the issues will develop with great ease, to the benefit of the citizens of Cyprus, to the benefit of the coming generations, and, of course, to the benefit of Turkey, of Greece and of the wider region. Water is a very good example, but electrical power is a very good example. It is of very great importance that the benefits be shared, but within the framework of an institutional configuration, which we must respect.
JOURNALIST: [Question regarding the trilateral Greek-Cypriot-Egyptian cooperation]
E. VENIZELOS: It is not of a hostile nature against Turkey, and I had the opportunity to say this in my recent interview with a Turkey news outlet: that the invitation for Turkey to participate is always open, based on respect for international law and, more specifically, for the International Law of the Sea. Because the common denominator of this cooperation is the International Law of the Sea, stability, peace and prosperity for our region.
JOURNALIST: […]
E. VENIZELOS: I’ll start from the end. Regarding the resolution of the Cyprus issue, I said this earlier. Within the framework of the Joint Communiqué of 11 February 2014, the talks can start and must start again, provided international law is respected and the violation of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus stops.
Regarding the mosque in Athens. Of course it is our obligation to safeguard the religious rights, and particularly the right to worship, of the Moslem Greeks or foreigners who are on Greek territory. We have decided to build a large mosque as a public project, as a public institution, in Athens. Because this is our obligation within the framework of respect for religious freedom.
Regarding the Moslem minority of Thrace, as provided for by the Treaty of Lausanne. Respect for minority rights is not based on some relationship of exchange or reciprocity between Greece and Turkey. We have the obligation as a state, within the framework of International Law, to fully respect minority rights and human rights in general. And in the Greek state, in Greek territory, we will do everything so that minority rights are fully respected. And I am certain that the Turkish side, too, will state that there is respect for minority rights, but this has to be apparent in practice. Actions are of very great importance.
The legal personality of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, for example, is of very great importance. The Pope’s visit to Turkey, in its religious aspect, shows what a great, global institution the Ecumenical Patriarchate is.
mfa.gr
29/11/14
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