GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER’S OFFICIAL VISIT TO MADRID

GEORGE A. PAPANDREOU HOLDS JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
WITH SPANISH MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MR. ABEL MATUTES

Madrid 19 October 1999


Abel Matutes : I wish to welcome my good friend and colleague George Papandreou on his first official visit to Spain as Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs. He carried out his duties as Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs with great success for several years, until recently becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs. This visit is part of a tour of various European capitals to exchange views with his European counterparts on issues related to the important EU Summit in Helsinki. We also discussed bilateral relations. I accompanied the Spanish King and Queen on their recent official visit to Greece, where we received an exceptionally warm reception from the Greek government, and in particular from Mr. George Papandreou.

Our bilateral relations are developing in a most satisfactory way in all fields – political and financial relations, investment, trade, and cultural activities. In addition, we agree on principle on all the major EU issues that were set out at the latest Inter-Governmental Council meeting, and subsequently crystallized at the so-called Agenda 2000 in Berlin. Once again, Greece and Spain coordinated our efforts this summit, with extremely satisfactory results. We had the opportunity to discuss all these issues today, including prospects for European enlargement, negotiations with EU candidate countries, and EU relations with Turkey.

In conclusion, I would like to stress that even if our positions are not always identical, they are always convergent. It is a pleasure for us to have the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs with us today, and we wish him a very pleasant stay.

George A. Papandreou : First of all, thank you for finding the time to receive me despite your busy schedule. Our relations are indeed very close, and I am sorry I was unable to attend the reception for Queen Sophia of Spain in Athens yesterday. I understand the opening of the El Greco exhibition at the National Gallery in Athens was a great success. As you said, Greece and Spain have been working together very closely on the Inter- Governmental Council, negotiating with the EU in important areas such as the Agenda 2000, which recently concluded very successfully. Today, we discussed specific issues that are of interest to Spain that will take place shortly in the IGC framework. We will work together on these issues, because we understand and wish to further Spain’s interests.

The main purpose of this visit was to discuss the conclusions we will reach at the Helsinki summit. I was pleased to note that our views on this matter are more or less convergent, if not identical.  I believe this concurrence will send a positive message that will encourage all parties to make the compromises needed to ensure that the Helsinki summit is a success.
Of course, we represent only two of the total 15 countries whose voices will be heard at Helsinki, but I hope all of them will demonstrate the political will that will make the summit a positive one for everyone.

Journalist :  What should the EU do at Helsinki regarding Turkey’s membership aspirations?

George A. Papandreou : I do not want to go into details about what is planned for Helsinki. However, in the context of the EU, I would like the Greek position to be understood and adopted in a constructive way. I hope the EU will show Greece solidarity on this issue, so that we can deal with it through a European strategy, and from a European perspective. If Turkey is accepted as a candidate country – an issue that has yet to be decided – we want her candidacy to be a real one and not a virtual one, as this will further regional stability. A real candidacy means a real commitment, an acceptance of responsibility on both sides. It means both rights and obligations. The EU must help Turkey to follow her European trajectory, while Turkey must carry out all the necessary reforms and changes and accept the procedure that all candidate countries have to follow. Secondly - and this is extremely important for the security of Cyprus - we need an assurance that the EU wants to see a united Cyprus, a Cyprus that has overcome its political problems, as a member of the EU. If, for reasons beyond our control, this is impossible and a political solution cannot be found, this should not be used against Cyprus. Cyprus should not be excluded from the EU because of the political problem. I think these two issues are very important and will be a major factor in the final decisions we make at Helsinki.

Journalist :  Minister Matutes, you said earlier that you discussed Turkey’s EU candidacy with Mr. Papandreou and that your views were convergent, though not identical. Could you be more specific?

Abel Matutes : I will not go into a whole treatise on international law, but as Mr. Papandreou rightly pointed out, Greece is treating Turkey as a real EU candidate, not a virtual one. As a loyal friend and ally of Turkey, Spain agrees with this position. As you know, Spain has always supported the idea that Turkey should be a candidate. I hope that at Helsinki both sides – both the EU and Turkey – can make the necessary progress so that Turkey can be included on the list of potential candidate countries.

Journalist :  Mr. Papandreou, does Greece expect Turkey to make some political gesture before Helsinki so that it can be considered a real candidate?

George A. Papandreou : In a few weeks, we hope that talks between the two communities on Cyprus will begin. As you know, the G-8 countries support this initiative and the UN Security Council has passed a resolution to this effect. In all likelihood, the Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan will invite both sides to engage in talks soon. This will probably happen before the Helsinki summit. It would be extremely useful for the bilateral climate and would help bring about a positive outcome at Helsinki if real dialogue begins. We do not want to see this invitation used as a means to impose procedural obstacles that will only hamper progress. Both sides must proceed to substantive negotiations to resolve the Cyprus issue. A positive outcome could have an extremely favourable impact on the Helsinki summit, while a negative response would have a negative influence on the Helsinki summit.

Abel Matutes : We hope membership negotiations with all candidate countries will conclude favourably as soon as possible, including Cyprus. It is not absolutely essential that the political division of the island is resolved before membership negotiations with Cyprus can be finalised, although of course this would be in everyone’s interests.

As far as Turkey and the other candidate countries such as Bulgaria and Romania are concerned, Spain has always supported the so-called ‘regatta’ plan - that is the substantive and essential pre-conditions for any nation to become a member with full rights and representation, following the fulfillment of certain conditions such as respect of freedom and human rights, and the adoption and implementation of European law. Any country that fulfills these conditions has the right to become a full member of the EU. So long as Turkey meets these conditions, I do not see why negotiations with Turkey should not begin, although we all know that Turkey must make serious progress in certain areas.

Journalist :  Mr. Matutes, do you agree with the idea of a ‘road map’ for Turkey, after candidacy is accepted and before entry negotiations begin?

Abel Matutes : I never like to adhere to ready-made formulas whose actual content is unclear. However, it is quite clear that in order to become a member, any country must fulfill a series of preconditions in terms of democratic government, civil liberty, respect for human rights and minorities, free competitive markets and social freedom, that meet EU standards, and to follow the policies set down within the EU framework. These demands apply to all member states. As long as any member is prepared to fulfill these conditions from the outset, I do not think any additional obligations are required. So let us leave this idea of a ‘road map’, let them explain exactly what its purpose is,  and let us move on to practical matters which are none other than the fulfillment of all political, economic, and social preconditions set down before membership negotiations can begin.

Journalist :  Mr. Matutes, what do you think is the best procedure for Cyprus’ entry into the EU?

Abel Matutes : I believe that Cyprus is ready, Cyprus had made significant progress in negotiations, and I very much hope that along with the other candidate countries currently in negotiation, Cyprus can fulfill this process successfully. If you are asking whether the present divided status of the island is an obstacle to Cyprus’ entry, I would say that while it definitely makes things difficult, under no circumstances does it constitute an obstacle to the fulfillment of negotiations for membership.
 

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