SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF GREECE DR. KOSTAS KARAMANLIS
"Facing the Challenges of Our Times"
Council on Foreign Relations
Washington DC, May 21, 2004

Mr. Chairperson,
distinguished members and guests,
ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for asking me to join you here this morning. It is with great pleasure that I address this historic institution.

In about a month, the Olympic flame will light in the streets of New York City, in its first, ever, global journey. This is the summer of the Athens Games. It will be a great time to remember; it took fifteen centuries for the Games to revive; it took them another century to return to Athens.

Now, we 're almost there; for all Greeks around the world, this is the summer of pride. And not only due to the Olympics.

Greece celebrates three decades of stable democracy, following the 1967 military junta; in the last two of them, EU membership has contributed in making Greece a more confident nation; the euro has created a stable and freer economic environment; the climate in our relations with Turkey has certainly improved.

Our country, the only EU member in the region, has established itself, as a peaceful, mature, progressive and forward-looking player in Europe, the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The latest EU enlargement has shifted the focus to the East and therefore, even further increased Greece's burden of responsibility in today's reunited Europe. We will rise to that responsibility.

Many challenges lie ahead; a lot more needs to be done;
we remain committed to a strong and fruitful transatlantic relationship, to a strong and effective European Union and to aiding neighboring nations to successfully cross their European path. Among others, we have an invaluable groundwork behind us, Greece and the US the strength and endurance of our nations' relationship. It is a relationship based on common values and interests, dynamic communities on both sides and a powerful vision of order in our complex and oftentimes, chaotic world.

On our close cooperation, for over 5 decades, within the NATO Alliance. Last, but not least, it is based on over 2,5m Americans of Greek descent, who play an important role in all aspects of American society and serve as an additional bridge of friendship and communication between our two countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen 
In our times, new challenges have arisen. Challenges calling for decisiveness and steadfast leadership.

9/11 and the Madrid bombings have awakened our joint responsibility
to work for a safer world.

Europe has successfully completed its most ambitious enlargement ever. And must now meet its citizens' desires for a stronger, better-managed and more democratic EU, one that will continue to inspire its neighbors.

The transatlantic relations came across difficult moments, but now seem back on track; wise leadership on both sides has expanded our perspectives on trade and on enriching our economies.

Our societies are transformed to meet higher expectations, On competitiveness, Integration, Security.

Greece takes in thousands of refugees from the East. By meeting our potential for faster and more balanced growth, we meet the refugees' longing for a place in the sun.

And by fully assuming our responsibilities on security, we fulfill their hopes for a total ban on ethnic prejudice. This is what we have done; and in the coming years, my Government will make significant efforts to catch-up any ground lost in past years; Greece has a great potential ahead, potential that should and will be fulfilled.

Our country is still the ideal location for starting new business ventures in Southeastern Europe, the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean. We work closely and at all levels with our allies in achieving the best possible conditions for the Olympic Games; Athens has spent thirty times the amount Atlanta spent on security; and at least three times that of Sidney, only 4 years ago.

The Games' security budget is well-over $1 billion; my government has added on top more than $180 million and asked for NATO air and sea surveillance. Over 70,000 professionals will ensure the safety of all athletes and visitors this summer; never before have so many worked so hard for so long on the security and success of a single event.

We, the Greeks, but also the Americans and others, experts and workers from seven nations, have put our very best into this.

To some, fear is profitable; but trust, lasts longer:

We want the Athens Games to be the safest and the most inspiring Games in History.

And because of this, the Games offer a unique opportunity for the world to see a changed Southeast Europe.

To millions of people in the region, this new Greece is the horizon of their aspirations for their own homelands.

The completed infrastructure, the rising incomes, the new services offered - all these, spell out the benefits of persistent cooperation, of our distaste for violence, of our rejection of the threat of violence in international relations.

They spell out the benefits of EU membership. These are benefits to share. Greece supports the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the EU, by 2007.
We support the reforms needed so that we can then, close the "Balkan hole" of the enlargement and accelerate the European path of nations in the Western Balkans.

Same with Turkey. Any given country in the world would prefer a stable and prosperous neighbor to an uncertain one.
So does Greece.

Turkey's European orientation has unleashed forces of reform and moderation; it has started to transform Turkish society; and with it, it has put reins to the older establishment.

The pace of its progress towards Europe depends primarily on its own achievements. There have been important milestones.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Erdogan and myself had very positive discussions during his official visit to Athens.

And that was not the first, nor the second time we 've met in less than a year.
In fact, never before had the leaders of Greece and Turkey met so many times in such a short period of time.

Last year, I was the first Greek leader to address Mr. Erdogan's First Party Conference, in Ankara.

During his last visit, Tayyip Erdogan became the first Turkish Prime Minister in more than fifty years, to visit Muslim Greeks in Western Thrace, in Greece.
In other times, these steps would have been unthinkable. Now, the willingness is there; the goal is mutual.

Turkey will find Greece by its side, in every one of its efforts to converge with the constitutional, political and economic acquis of the Union.

We have to keep focused in turning our entire neighborhood to an area of stability and cooperation, based on good neighborliness, the inviolability of borders, the peaceful resolution of disputes and the respect of human rights, democratic values and the rule of law.

It's time to turn the entire Southeast Europe to a European neighborhood, where all the citizens will enjoy the same feeling of security and prosperity.
We look forward to an era, in which suspicion and mistrust of the past, will give its place to even more traffic, even more trade, even more tourism, even more trust. And of course, we look forward to when the wall dividing Cyprus, longer than the Berlin wall and the last of that kind in Europe, will finally cease to exist.

We should all respect the outcome of the recent referenda. Instead of being disappointed, we should be inspired for future efforts.
On May the 1st, Cyprus acceded to the ED; this cannot be the end of the road for the Turkish-Cypriot community. It certainly is the beginning of a new effort to reunify the island. We must now find the perseverance to allow for both the Greek-Cypriot and the Turkish-Cypriot communities to continue in their efforts
to build a common future in a reunified island, based on mutual trust and cooperation, in the context of the EU.

The opportunity for a common EU future in Cyprus on the basis of the Annan plan, is still there and should not be missed.
Working for a settlement in Cyprus, lifting a veil of suspicion over Greek-Turkish relations, bringing Turkey closer to a European destiny, proceeding with Romania's and Bulgaria's accession to the EU, encouraging the Western Balkans in their European path - all these will change our neighborhood, for ever.

Let us begin changing it, for good. For that will truly be the strongest message given so far to those who threaten peace with ideologies of hatred and vengeance; a message of peace, cooperation, shared prosperity; living life with "metron", the measure of things, this summer, next fall, the following winter and thereafter. We all have a stake in this. After this Summer's Games, Games strewn with historic symbolism, we hope that the ancient Greek spirit of reason, peace and the rule of law will belong to all.

This is not only my Government's challenge, or solely the Greek people's challenge; but a challenge to all. A challenge we' II be facing together.
Thank you. I 'II be happy to take your questions.

MR. THEROS:  I would like to take my opportunity as presider to ask the first question to you, Mr. Prime Minister.  I spent virtually my entire professional life in the Arab world in the Middle East, and I noted during that time the special relationship, favorable relationship that the Arab world in general had toward GREECE as a state and GREEKs as people.  This gives GREECE a special opportunity to play a role there that I think no other EUROPEan country has an advantage.  What do you see as GREECE's role in the Arab world in the coming years?

PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:  You are right in describing the Middle East and problem as one of the major problems in the entire world, and us being in the broader neighborhood do care very much.  It is one of our priorities.  Now, let us first try to delineate the final goal. We believe that eventually we need a situation where Israel will live in peace and security, and a Palestinian state will be created.  So, we strongly support what is known as the roadmap.  And we are trying by a balanced approach to influence in this direction, and of course we support all the initiatives the EUROPEan Union is taking.  And we will be doing that with even more vigor in the months to come.  But at this point, since you raised this question, I might say, we don't see many signs of great optimism.  So, I think it is a burden and a responsibility for the entire international community to seek and support the voices and forces of moderation in the entire region so as to have a brighter future in -- soon enough, and not in the -- in years far away from now.

QUESTION:   Prime minister, thank you.  This is Tulin Daloglu from TURKEY's Star TV.

You have made a very optimistic remark on TURKEY's relations with the EU, and also for the TURKISH CYPRIOTs.  The State Department has made on the record for many times that they want to ease the isolation for the TURKISH CYPRIOTs dissension.  As you are completing your visit in Washington, what is your understanding that Americans are going to do on that matter, and do you think that there is any likelihood of any challenges for you?
 
And, as an attachment to that question, you said that the Annan plan is still there.  Is it the same thing that you hear from the Americans?  Thank you.

 PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:  Let me be very frank.  I believe that the new effort should be undertaken, because it is to nobody's interest to have a solidified status quo separation.

I believe that the GREEK CYPRIOTs, despite the outcome of the referendum, which to my understanding has a lot to do with prejudices and fears and some second thoughts of whether the full application of the treaty would be in time -- of the agreement would be in time. But, nonetheless, I believe that the willingness to share a reunified island is there.  And, of course that is true in my understanding for the TURKISH CYPRIOT side, because I very strongly support financial and economic assistance for the TURKISH CYPRIOT citizens.  But, nonetheless, they will be outside the union as long as we don't have a solution.  That's the reality.  And regardless of the assistance, economic, which as I said first of all myself supports, nonetheless they will not be recognized.  So in my understanding, renewing their hope to get to the final political solution and the reunification of the island is a win-win situation for everybody involved.

QUESTION:    Mr. Prime Minister, Jim Hoagland of the Washington Post.  I wanted to go back to your generous words of encouragement for TURKEY in terms of the positive trends you see and the EUROPEan path.  Could you give us some insight into your thinking about how GREEK security policy, and specifically the structure of your military forces, should reflect this positive trend?  And what reciprocal or perhaps commensurate steps should be taken by TURKEY?

PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:  I think that TURKEY's choice to follow a EUROPEan course is a deeply strategic choice.  And I also see that it is a wise decision on the part of GREECE to support that choice, because it has many and deep positive implications in the near and the long-run future.

 Let me put it in a very simple manner:  Does one prefer, in quote/unquote a  "EUROPEanized neighbor" -- not only in terms of democracy or economic development, but also in terms of adopting EUROPEan standards of behavior?  B, I believe that the choice by the TURKISH government to follow steadily the course has also to do with the willingness to promote reform and democratization within TURKEY. As TURKEY's moves closer to its EUROPEan destiny, the so-called forces of the establishment of the deep state or an exaggerated role for the military, which was the reality for many, many years, will subside. So let me again use the expression -- I think this is a win-win situation, and that's why we support that.

Now, you mention security considerations.  I wouldn't take advantage of this meeting to get into numbers, but I would say always remember that GREECE is the NATO country with the highest percentage of defense expenditures in the entire Western alliance, of course proportionately speaking.  But, nonetheless, it is a  very big burden on the GREEK economy, on the GREEK taxpayer, and on an ability to invest that money in other alternative directions and causes, such as better social services.  So of course this cannot happen overnight. We still have quite a way to go.  We are pursuing our goals with very careful steps.  But I think that the parameter of defense expenditures is also a very strong argument in favor of the policy we have chosen to follow.  There are some good signs on the horizon, but it takes, as you know, two to tango, and persistence, rationality and good work. So that's the policy we are following.  And we think that there is good grounds to believe that we are at the point of a new starting, a new era in GREEK-TURKISH relations.

QUESTION:    This is Umit Enginsoy with TURKEY's NTV television. I have a follow-up to the previous CYPRUS question.  Locally speaking this morning, the U.S. ambassador in CYPRUS, Michael Klosson, visited Mr. Calat (ph) at  the prime ministry of a state that is not recognized by the United States.  Any comments on this?  And could you openly say that you support an EU date for TURKEY in December?  Thank you.

PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:  I don't want to get back on the CYPRUS question.  I told you what I believe about that, and it's only what I believe.  That's a reality.  These are the givens, and nobody can change it.  And it's not my duty to comment on comments of others, clearly said.

Now, on TURKEY, as I've said many times before, we do support, strongly support, TURKEY's EUROPEan course.  That's clear.  That's a very basic decision we have made.  Of course it takes also for TURKEY to show its political will to reform -- A, to reform; and, B, to fully implement the legislative reforms which it has already instituted.

QUESTION:     Nik Larigakis with the American Hellenic Institute. Mr. Prime Minister, not withstanding the Herculean appropriations by your government for the preparation of the OLYMPICs, almost on a daily basis we see articles in the United States which are critical of the OLYMPICs security and so forth.  Not -- of course yesterday there was one good article, Sally Jenkins's in the Washington Post.

Mr. Prime Minister, if right now in front of you was the MBA dream team, the American athletes and Americans, what would you tell them specifically to ease any aspiration -- any fears they might have of coming to GREECE this summer?

PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:  The first thing I would tell them is don't miss that opportunity, because it does not care to anybody's life to have the opportunity to be part of such a great event of historic weight, tremendous symbolism -- an event which is not only sports, athletics, but also a great event of culture and spirit and peace.

Now, as I said before, let me get into a couple of more details. It is true that we live in a world with great challenges, and that's why we are trying our best.  We are doing everything humanly possible to secure the safety, to ensure the safety of the games.  And I'm confident to say that we've done a very good job in close cooperation with our allies.  We have established an OLYMPIC advisory group in which people from seven countries participate -- first and foremost people from the U.S., and then the U.K., France, Germany, Australia, Spain, Israel -- people with high expertise and experience in national security.  And we have been working very closely with them together.

NATO has come into the picture by an official invitation of our government, and we have, as I said before, spent a lot of money in this direction.

So we feel very, very confident that the job has been done well.

Final comment.  I think that seen from an ATHENS perspective, nobody would miss the OLYMPIC Games in its place of birth. And I would invite not only athletes, but the spectators and possible visitors to participate.  Let me just give you another number here.  We are close in breaking all records in participation.  As of April 13th -- that is four months before the first day of the games, opening ceremony, we have close to two million tickets sold, which if you care for comparisons is approximately 22 percent higher than what the situation was in Sydney four years ago.  So a tremendous amount of work has been accomplished.  That doesn't mean that we're sitting back.  We know that the weeks and months ahead need even more effort, even more vigilance.  But I can look you in your eyes and say in confidence, yes, we are confident that we'll have good, successful and safe OLYMPIC Games this summer.

QUESTION:  security policies towards TURKEY and towards your Balkan neighbors, especially improved GREEK-TURKISH relations and advancing Balkan integration into EUROPEan institutions.  I'd like to ask you, Mr. Prime Minister, about new security threats that have emerged in recent years in the region, the so-called asymmetrical threat -- regional terrorism, illegal migration from Southwest Asia, and trafficking in human beings, narcotics and arms in the Balkans. What steps is GREECE taking to address these new threats, and what's the level of cooperation between your government and those of other governments in the region?

PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:  Improving -- that's the basic -- rather the catch word. to make a long story short.  We are working closely with our allies.  We are working very closely with our EUROPEan partners.  Now, as you know, the region GREEKs like in is a region which traditionally is characterized by instability -- not to have at some historical periods worse.  So nonetheless we are getting closer in working with our neighbors on these aspects of the asymmetrical challenges and threats as well.

 There are still things to be done better.  Let me give you one example.  We have an agreement in that we would like to see illegal passage through the AEGEAN Sea and our islands be better controlled by all our neighbors.   Nonetheless, there is some progress.  The situation is much better than it used to be three or five years ago. Still, we think even closer cooperation is needed to improve, to heighten our efficiency level.  And of course I think that by promoting a policy of trust and closer cooperation with all our neighbors, we are getting closer to that target.

Let me give you one example.  We had very recently a visit, a meeting, of the GREEK minister of public order with his Albanian counterpart.  This was a very problematic frontier as you know -- not in terms of bad relations between the two countries, the two states, but in terms of the questions you have raised.  So this was a major step forward.  Again, the situation is better.  We need to work harder and closer together.

QUESTION:      Mr. Prime Minister, Bill Jones from Executive Intelligence Review.  I was wondering if you could say anything about your discussions here in Washington -- with the president, with others -- if the issue Iraq I am sure had come up, given the interests of GREECE in the Middle East, and if you have received any assurances with regard to an ultimate resolution of the problems that exist there, and if you had any ideas yourself that you expressed as to what the EUROPEan Commission could do in trying to assist in creating stability in that country.

PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:  Well, sir, in all the meetings the question came up, and there was an analysis, a description on the part of our -- the U.S. American administration, our interlocutors.  But on the other hand let me just say that we very strongly believe that the transition process has to be kept to move as soon as possible towards full normalization, democratization, handing over power to the Iraqis, and of course the reconstruction of the country.

I believe that the soonest and the broadest possible umbrella of the U.N. in the picture is to the benefit of all, and I would very strongly support this policy and this perspective.

Finally, as far as reconstruction is concerned, I think we all share a responsibility to participate.  On our behalf, we already have invested $6 million, and have earmarked another three or three and a half million dollars in that direction. So I think for a country the size of GREECE, $10 million invested in the prospect of reconstructing Iraq is already a very serious investment.

QUESTION:      Jim Moody, Morgan Stanley.  Mr. Prime Minister, thank you very much.  You mentioned the region extensively, and I think all of us are extremely impressed by your comments.  You mention specifically your immediate neighbors on all sides, including Albania and including TURKEY.  But there's one group of neighbors that you haven't mentioned about and I'd like to know more about your relations; namely, the former republics of Yugoslavia, most specifically the one immediately to your north, the former Republic of Macedonia.  What are your relations with them?  What future do you see?  Are you also supporting their entry into the EUROPEanization process with them as well?

PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:  I could start by saying maybe this is the closest neighbor we have -- not geographically speaking -- but if one takes into consideration that only two or three years ago they went through a very, in a period of intense destabilization, internal problems, riots, it was essentially us who supported and stood by them.  This on a political level.

On an economic level, GREECE is the number one investor in FYROM. So our relations are not just good, but very close.   And of course when I'm talking about filling in the Balkan hole, which is indirectly insinuating the EUROPEan path for the countries of the western Balkans, we don't make exceptions.  Yes, of course I include in this vision FYROM.  As you know, there still remains a problem to be dealt with, to be solved -- ongoing negotiations under the auspices of the U.N. continue.  We hope to have a result.  But, as you know, in international relations it takes two to tango.  (Laughter.)

PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:  -- the entire region of Eastern EUROPE, which is further from the new borders of the EUROPEan Union, if I may use that terminology, offer vast opportunities for growth, vast opportunities for investment.  And I think both on a level -- on a EUROPEan level, but also on the level of the GREEK business community a lot can be done.  (Very big ?)  distance has been covered. The perspective is amazing.

Now, not to get carried away by exaggerated optimism let me say there is still a problem less than it was years ago, but there is still a problem with the feeling of security as far as the legal system, the bureaucracy, transparency is concerned.  This is in my understanding the only real obstacle to envisaging a future -- a near future -- where an explosion of growth and economic government development to the benefit of all involved.

QUESTION:      Mr. Prime Minister, Roger Ream of the Fund for American Studies.  We have built -- I appreciate your mention of bridges.  We built one bridge with GREEK partners to bring the young people of the Balkans and the Middle East to GREECE each summer to study democracy and reconciliation.
 
My question is I'd like your thoughts on the draft EUROPEan constitution and the process of GREEK membership and ratification of the constitution -- what your thoughts are in terms of the balance of power between Brussels and GREECE.

PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:   Well, I believe that the prospects are good.  After a long period of initial bickering and strifing, which is very common in EUROPEan affairs, you see when you have a system and a mentality of successive ongoing compromises, or compromise building, that's the way it works.  And sometimes it takes time.  So what failed in December during the Italian presidency, mostly I'm quite optimistic will succeed in June, the next weeks, under the Irish presidency.  And in my thinking it is very important to get that success, because EUROPE, particularly at this point of a new era with the great enlargement, needs the success and needs a deepening of its institutions.

 Now, if your question entails what our position is on every aspect of the proposed constitutional treaty, first of all, we could go on and on.  We have some points which we consider very sensitive; for example, that the constitution should comprise of one -- excuse me -- the commission should comprise of one commissioner from each member state.  We believe, for example, that this is a very, very important thing.  But there are other questions which have become very hot items, such as the qualified majority system, et cetera, et cetera.

I would say, instead of getting into numbers, that the strategic goal is to get to a result.  To have that, one has to view the philosophy of approaching the EUROPEan question.  I'm a very strong believer of the path towards political integration of EUROPE, and I believe that I am of the majority of EUROPEans.  Now of course there are other voices within the union -- respected voices.  That's why the steps can't be dramatic, revolutionary.  It moves, but it moves not with the decisiveness of one actor decision-making system.  It's a 25- actors decision-making system which needs consensus.  This sometimes makes is nerve-breaking in terms of the effectiveness one would like to see.  But, on the other hand, it is an unprecedented historical experiment.  Nation-states with deep-rooted histories, identities, traditions, sometimes even enmities and friction among them, move and have moved for the last 43 years in a very impressive road towards unification.  Now, one may look at it as the glass half full or half empty.  But I say and I would argue that there has been a  lot of progress.  On my behalf I would say this should be used as a motivation to move further towards the path of integration.

Now, taking that all into mind, you understand that you have in front of you a strong supporter of the EUROPEan vision.

QUESTION:      Riordan Roette, Johns Hopkins University.  Prime Minister, obviously you were meeting with official Washington while you're here is obviously appropriate.  As you know there is a growing sense in  part of the American community the war in Iraq is lost at many levels -- possibly politically, possibly militarily.  Will your visit give you a chance to meet with people who have a different view of the war than the Bush administration?

PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:  I met with many leaders in Congress and the Senate, so I assimilated.  I received a variety of views on all subjects, including the Iraqi question.

QUESTION:      I'm with the TURKISH public television (TRT).  Mr. Prime Minister --

PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:   Excuse me, could you speak up?

QUESTION:      Okay.  Reha (ph)  with the TURKISH public television.  I'm sorry, Prime Minister --

PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:  I see that I'm becoming very popular with TURKISH journalists.  Thank you very much.  (Laughter.)

QUESTION:    Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, I don't speak any GREEK, but yesterday during your press conference my GREEK colleagues asked lots of questions.  I kind of thought they were talking about TURKEY a lot. The same here I'm sorry, I have to go back to CYPRUS.  You said a bold new initiative has to be taken.  And could you give us a little more stance, because I'm -- it's getting hard for me to understand.  During your talks with President Bush yesterday, did he express only his disappointment with the referendum with that, or did he express expectation from your side to put more effort into this?

PRIME MIN. KARAMANLIS:  Neither nor.  (Laughter.)  I would say President Bush was very interested to hear our analysis of the situation, what happened and what we think should be done in the future.  And I think that he assimilated with great interest what we had to say.

Now, nobody can argue at this point of time that a new initiative is in the wings, although there is something very concrete to negotiate on.  But I start on a very basic strategic consideration: Do we leave it to us?  Is anybody happy with permanent separation? GREEK CYPRIOTs, at least one third of the population, are refugees having been thrown out of their homes, so they have a very strong incentive to return.  Turk CYPRIOTs, to begin with, why did the Turk CYPRIOT community vote in favor of the plan?  Did they like the plan so much?  No.  They knew that this was the way to become citizens of the EUROPEan Union. So unfortunately it didn't work out.  But the incentives, the ingredients of the incentives are there or should be there.  That's my understanding.  So one can take the sterile attitude -- it didn't work out on the 24th of April, so we leave it to us.  Or one might take the other view, in my view a much more productive and fertile one:  Let's find a way to work towards a solution.  It won't be easy.  We all know that.  It hasn't been easy in the past.  And it came not to my, but to some people's surprise.

Final point.  Of course a new effort has to be undertaken on the basis of the Annan plan.  I don't believe that anybody suggests that this should be thrown away and a totally new initiative should be started.  But I think -- and many people share this view -- that one could see certain improvements.

Eventually the question comes down:  Is there the political will to negotiate?  The political will to reach the final goal which is reunification of the island?  I say on my behalf there certainly is. And I say that all rational actors should have it, should share the view, knowing that it is not going to be easy. But I think that today's situation, the prolongation of the situation as it is today, is a lose-lose situation.  And let nobody make any mistakes: financial assistance to the TURKISH CYPRIOT people -- which I support very much -- is far short, either from recognition or from EU participation.  So it's not adequate. It should not suffice.  I say that everybody involved has strong incentive to gather our courage and make a new beginning -- maybe not tomorrow.  Maybe, as Kofi Annan said, we need a phase of reflection -- fine.  But the final question is, And then what?  I haven't heard anybody either from the GREEK side or the TURKISH side or the GREEK CYPRIOT side or the TURKISH CYPRIOT side who openly at least and convincingly supports as it is today is the best-case scenario.  So if it isn't, let's get down to work and find a way to work it through. 

MR. THEROS:  Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister. (Applause.)

Source: Press Office of the Embassy of Greece

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