Briefing of diplomatic correspondents by Foreign Ministry spokesman Gregory Delavekouras

Albania.....

Another bilateral relations issue concerns Foreign Minster Lambrinidis’s visit, with the Italian Foreign Minister, to Tirana, where he supported Albania’s European perspective. Has Athens seen any progress in the deepening of democratic institutions by Albania and a change in the respect for the Greek national minority, and thus proceeded to this policy? Thank you very much.

MR. DELAVEKOURAS: Regarding your first question, Greece’s decision to deepen its relationship with Israel was a decision designed to remedy an unjustified void in our relations. Greek-Israeli relations have great potential, and we needed to capitalize on that. From the very outset, we made it clear that this is not directed against any third country. At the same time, we made it clear that this enhanced relationship of cooperation and trust with Israel can also contribute decisively to the efforts being made to resolve the Middle East issue, because Greece has certain characteristics that make it a catalyst in this effort. The fact that we have longstanding, traditional relations of friendship and trust with the Arab world, and in particular with the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority. But Greece can also talk openly with Israel so that we can help in the search for consensus and the reopening of the peace process. This is the spirit with regard to the Middle East issue, and we hope in the coming time to be able to contribute decisively to the reopening of the negotiations, always within the framework of the well known principles that – as Greece has declared – remain firm.

With regard to Mr. Lambrinidis’s visit to Albania, I would like to note first that this was a Greek initiative. It was a proposal presented by Mr. Lambrinidis to the EU Council of Foreign Ministers in June. The two Foreign Minister – of Greece and Italy – conveyed a very strong message to the political leadership and to Albanian public opinion. It was a positive message: That Albania can move ahead on its European course. But at the same time it was a message that underscored the responsibilities everyone has for Albania’s taking the necessary steps: moving ahead with the reforms and implementing the twelve points presented by the Commission so that Albania’s European process can start moving again.

There was and is real concern, because the domestic political crisis in Albania was essentially undermining this effort. And that is why the message sent by the two Ministers was so important, as they represented the whole of the EU, which embraced this initiative. We hope this really contributes toward jumpstarting the process so that we can see progress, because this is very important not just for Albania itself, but also for Greece, Albania’s next-door neighbour. It is important that Albania move ahead with these reforms, precisely because they also contain important elements for the Greek minority – elements that interest us very much, as you can understand. The Albanian side is well aware that the barometer in Greek-Albanian relations is the situation of the minority and the defence of the minority’s rights, and we hope to see this in the coming time.