Visionary, realistic foreign policy
Greece’s foreign policy is one of vision but also realism, and not a policy of impressions, foreign minister Dimitris Droutsas stressed Saturday in an interview on state television.
Questioned on Greek-Turkish relations, Droutsas said that Ankara’s stance has not changed, but stressed that it is in Greece’s interest as well for Turkey’s European course to proceed, adding that “we need to create a different perception in Europe on its (Turkey’s) accession course so that Turkey will realise it is in its interests to become an EU member, and for it to proceed in the right direction”.
On the issue of hydrocarbon exploration and to a question whether Turkey is averting Greece from carrying out explorations in the Aegean, Droutsas said that the Greek government has made all the necessary preparations for the establishment of an authoritative body that will carry out the explorations, beginning with the areas in which older exploration has indicated that “something is there”. He named the areas as the Ionian and Western Greece, in accordance with a briefing by the environment, energy and climate change ministry which is handling those matters.
To a question on the developments in the EU, the euro and Germany’s role, Droutsas emphasised the Greek government’s efforts for stability of the euro, noting that prime minister George Papandreou had been the first leader in Europe to speak of the necessity of a permanent support mechanism. “Now, everyone has ascertained that this need exists, and the determination of the final positions is underway in view of the European Council (EU summit)” later in December, the foreign minister added.
On French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s positions, Droutsas said that the Greek government has close cooperation with the French government, and that Sarkozy personally has a close cooperation with Papandreou.