GEORGE A. PAPANDREOU
DISCUSSES GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS
IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
WITH TA NEA
Monday, 27 September 1999
“IMPROVEMENT IN GREEK-TURKISH
RELATIONS
CAN ONLY HAVE A POSITIVE
IMPACT ON CYPRUS”
GEORGE A. PAPANDREOU
DISCUSSES GREEK-TURKISH RELATIONS
IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
WITH TA NEA
Monday, 27 September 1999
“IMPROVEMENT IN GREEK-TURKISH
RELATIONS
CAN ONLY HAVE A POSITIVE
IMPACT ON CYPRUS”
By Notis Papadopoulos
Greek Minister for Foreign
Affairs George A. Papandreou returned from the UN General Assembly in New
York without great expectations about the resolution of the Cyprus issue.
However, in an interview with TA NEA, Mr. Papandreou underlines the fact
that a unique opportunity has arisen to allow progress on the Cyprus issue,
and believes that the US will actively pursue this possibility. Mr. Papandreou
makes clear that the future entry of Turkey into the EU is in Greece’s
long-term interests. However, he notes that Greece’s position on Turkey’s
candidate status at the EU summit in December will depend on Turkish policy
regarding Greek-Turkish relations and Cyprus, as well as the benefits the
EU will offer Greece in exchange for Greek support.
Mr. Papandreou emphasizes
that improvement in Greek-Turkish relations can only have a positive impact
on Cyprus, and that the broadening of the Greek-Turkish dialogue to other
‘soft’ political issues, despite Turkish intransigence on Cyprus, does
not mean that Greece is sidelining the Cyprus question in any way. As evidence,
he cites the Cypriot government’s full support of Greece’s recent efforts
at rapprochement with Turkey.
The Greek Minister for
Foreign Affairs states that if Greece and Turkey reach agreements on soft
issues, Greece is willing to proceed to high-level political talks, as
long as Turkey accepts that these issues must be dealt with within a legal
framework.
In response to former Foreign
Minister Theodoros Pangalos’ recent accusations, Mr. Papandreou argues
that political labels merely create obstacles to a creative approach to
foreign policy, at a time when bold initiatives are required to make Greece’s
voice heard in the international arena.
TA NEA : After your meetings with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and your Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem, do you have any evidence that Turkey might back down on Cyprus?
George A. Papandreou : All Turkey’s statements so far suggest that the Turkish position has not changed. But with Kofi Annan’s imminent invitation to both sides to begin negotiations, it is too early to draw any final conclusions at this stage. We must wait and see how Mr. Denktash will respond and what real steps he will take if he agrees to negotiate.
TA NEA : Aren’t you worried that Denktash might accept Annan’s invitation simply to gain time? In other words, Denktash might participate in talks until December, without making any real moves to resolve the issue, and then withdraw as soon as Turkey receives candidate status from the EU.
George A. Papandreou : We have emphasized in every way possible that if negotiations do begin they must be serious. If Denktash agrees to participate in talks, we will have to wait and see whether he is prepared to play a constructive role, and not simply make empty gestures as he has done many times in the past.
TA NEA : So what you are saying is that a pre-condition for Turkey to receive EU candidacy status is some real progress on Cyprus?
George A. Papandreou : As far as Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue are concerned, we are not going to be satisfied by mere gestures: we are asking for a demonstration of political will that will determine important developments on these issues. At the same time, we are engaged in negotiations within the EU. We have succeeded in bringing Greek-Turkish relations and Cyprus back into the proper context of the EU framework. As a result, not only Greece, but also the EU as a whole, is demanding fundamental progress on these issues, which will shape the final decisions reached at the Helsinki summit.
TA NEA : Are you claiming that an improvement in Greek-Turkish relations is a prerequisite for Turkey’s candidate status?
George A. Papandreou : We will welcome any genuine move by Turkey that would contribute to a decrease in Greek-Turkish tensions, and would allow our relations to be normalized in the context of international law and international treaties, which are the basis of sincere and constructive cooperation. Developments in this direction will unquestionably have a positive impact on the decisions we make at Helsinki. We believe that Turkey’s candidacy status should be linked to a ‘road map’ whose conditions Turkey must meet from initial candidacy status to more substantive negotiations towards entry into the EU.
TA NEA : Can you be more specific?
George A. Papandreou : For example, judging from recent events, I can say that the initiation of Greek-Turkish talks on six ‘soft’ issues of common interest has played a positive role. Secondly, we welcome positive statements, like Mr. Ecevit’s statement that Turkey has no territorial claims in the Aegean. Naturally, the last 25 years of deadlock over Cyprus, and recent events in the Aegean, have made us all skeptical. But if statements like these are integrated into a new, practical approach to Greek-Turkish relations they can contribute to a decisive improvement in the political climate and our bi-lateral relations.
TA NEA : Nevertheless, judging by Mr. Cem’s address to the UN General Assembly, Turkey continues to speak of two separate states in Cyprus. Many people claim that improvement in Greek-Turkish relations has no real substance. Greece has already agreed to allow EU funding to Turkey - and may agree to Turkey’s candidacy status in December - without gaining anything concrete from Turkey in exchange.
George A. Papandreou : As far as the EU is concerned, we are already engaged in tough negotiations to secure our national interests. If these negotiations succeed, Greece will have a great deal to gain from the Helsinki summit. If they do not, it is unlikely that Greece will take any further steps. We need to address the key issue here: Is it in Greece’s best interests for Turkey to gain candidate status, which will oblige Turkey to act in accordance with the EU principles of democracy and good neighborly relations, allow the EU to monitor Turkey like all other candidate states, and compel Turkey to fulfill its obligations in every respect? Or is it in Greece’s interests for Turkey to remain outside this legal procedure? I believe that, in principle, the former option is in our best interests – though of course with certain preconditions, and the resolution of certain issues in accordance with Greek priorities. If these issues are secured, I think Greece should be positive at Helsinki.
TA NEA : After your meeting with Cem in New York, you mentioned the broadening of Greek-Turkish dialogue to include other ‘soft’ issues. If these talks proceed as planned, and agreements are signed, ae you ready to proceed to discussions on harder political issues?
George A. Papandreou : There have been many attempts to deal with these issues in the past, but without much success, largely because Greece and Turkey’s approach to these issues is fundamentally different. Greece believes that the problem is a legal issue regarding the continental shelf that should be solved through a mutual guarantee in accordance with the International Tribunal of the Hague. On the other hand, Turkey believes there should be a general dialogue, but rejects the legal basis for such issues. So if there is a common acceptance that dialogue must take place within the context of international law and international treaties, our response must be positive. The development of Greek-Turkish relations will benefit from the EU framework. We both have mutual interests at stake. That is why I believe Greece should lead the way for Turkey’s European perspective. This new dimension could also be the catalyst for a new approach to our bi-lateral relations and especially Cyprus.
TA NEA : Some people argue that your decision to broaden dialogue with Turkey despite the fact that you have not achieved any progress on Cyprus amounts to putting Cyprus issue on the shelf. How do you respond?
George A. Papandreou : On the contrary, Cyprus is always our first priority. However, this does not mean that improvement in Greek-Turkish relations will have a negative impact on Cyprus. Indeed, one would hope that a positive climate would have the opposite effect. Recently, the citizens of both countries have wisely demonstrated strong feelings of solidarity and cooperation, which overturns the myth that Greeks and Turks hate one another and cannot live together. This also shatters the Turkish claim that a dividing wall should separate the two communities in Cyprus, supposedly to protect the Turkish Cypriot community. The fact that both our peoples have destroyed this myth further strengthens our insistence that the Cyprus issue must be resolved. The fact that the Cypriot government wholeheartedly supports the rapprochement between Greece and Turkey, because it could have a positive impact on Cyprus, proves my point. Does this mean the Cyprus issue will be resolve immediately? I don’t want to create false expectations, but I do believe that the improved climate will help.
TA NEA : In the light of President Clinton’s forthcoming visit to Greece, what is Greece asking from the US?
George A. Papandreou : The Cyprus issue is certainly much higher on the US foreign policy agenda than it was during the Cold War. It is a thorn in the side of regional cooperation and stability in South Eastern Europe. Of course, we should not delude ourselves that Cyprus is the most important issue for the US. But from my meetings with Madeline Albright and President Clinton’s Special Envoy Walter Moses I came to the conclusion that the US is very willing to actively pursue a new attempt to resolve the Cyprus issue. In fact, President Clinton approached me himself to assure me that he would do everything in his power to help bring about a resolution. The US, the EU, Russia, and the other members of the UN Security Council have all demonstrated serious intentions to contribute to achieving a resolution for Cyprus. During the past 25 years, circumstances to support such a resolution have never been more favorable. Nobody can guarantee that these factors are enough to bring about a resolution. But we should not allow this historic opportunity to go to waste.
