D. AVRAMOPOULOS: I met today Mr. Talat Xhaferi, Defence Minister of FYROM, and a realist statesman of our neighbouring country.
We had the opportunity to exchange views on a series of topics pertinent to the field of defence.
As you may know, FYROM participates in SEEBRIG which operates in the context of the ministerial initiative for the defence of our region’s countries and at this time its HQs are in Larisa. FYROM had assumed its command in September 2011 to August 2013.
FYROM assumed the chairmanship of NATO South-Eastern Europe Group for the year 2014, in the context of its partnership with the Alliance, the “Partnership for Peace”.
As it was expected, we discussed about FYROM’s relations with EU and NATO.
I reiterated to Mr. Xhaferi Greece’s permanent position, underlining that the progress in negotiations and the achievement of a commonly acceptable solution under the auspices of UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative Mr. Nimetz will contribute to the solution of this long pending problem, as well as to the immediate and full restoration of bilateral relations between Greece and FYROM.
Moreover, it will contribute to reinforcing stability in South-Eastern Europe and to creating a new potential for his country in its Euro-atlantic path.
Greece has already taken steps towards solving the name issue and for this purpose it has suggested a realistic and fair settlement framework.
The solution must be sustainable, clear and operational and leave no grounds for claims which cannot be confirmed by history.
I explained to my counterpart that solving the name issue will be to the benefit of FYROM itself and Greece, of course, as well as Europe in general. It will be to the benefit of regional peace and security, especially at a time when our wider region goes through a period of upheavals.
As far as military is concerned, our cooperation, as it is known, started in 1999 and has a steady progress.
Today a Military Cooperation Programme for the year 2014 is signed at the level of General Staffs of National Defence.
This is also a demonstration of our country’s sincere will to promote the relations between us to a new level and this is why I am asking my counterpart to contribute himself – I know that he wants and he can do it – to finding a solution to the name issue.
Minister,
I am sure that you too believe that History has taught us that respecting it, dealing with disputes in an honest and realistic manner has always been the beginning for development, progress and prosperity, while on the contrary nationalism and populism always cause, as it has been proven, isolation, instability and crises.
Personally, my thoughts and actions are always imbued by our commitment towards future generations to ensure for them an environment of security, peace, cooperation and prosperity.
I wish, once more, to thank you personally and the members of your delegation for the talks we conducted earlier aiming at creating a positive atmosphere which will lead us soon to the definite solution of our pending issue and to inaugurating a new chapter in our bilateral relations.
Thank you again and, please, have the floor.
T. XHAFERI: Distinguished Colleague, Mr. Avramopoulos,
Our meeting today has great significance for the relations established between our ministries. It is a demonstration that our institutions have the capacity, regardless of the outstanding issues, to cooperate and to overcome those issues.
Our discussions today at the signing of the bilateral cooperation protocol for 2014 is another indicator that the ministries of the respective Armed Forces are capable of finding the force in order to overcome the obstacles of our countries.
I am convinced the basis for the discussions in terms of finding a solution to the outstanding issue concerning the name and nomination of our country is a topic which in the future should be intensified in terms of the dialogue according to the appropriate institutions and I can conclude that once again we agreed that this will not be an obstacle for us to enhance all the elements of cooperation of our respective ministries of defence.
I would like to convince you that I will send all the messages which you have given me to our citizens, to our institutions and, in that context, I believe that our citizens and institutions will clearly understand everything sincerely in terms of the positions which we have concerning this issue, will support the efforts of the representatives of the United Nations in the communication established with the representatives of our respective governments.
We hope that a commonly acceptable solution to the name issue will be reached in the near future which will open our path towards achieving full membership in the Euroatlantic institutions and find us a place as a full member with all the other members of the alliance, enable us to enhance a cooperation with this institution.
Once again on behalf of the ministry and on behalf of the delegation and in my personal behalf, I would like to thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to meet you at this significant time, when your country is leading the European Union in these six months and send a clear message to everyone who should understand this message, I am referring here primarily to our citizens, to our institutions which should give their support to find a solution to this outstanding issue.
Thank you very much.