for our region, and we agreed on the great need for stability and security in this. The special role of our country, it is a role of responsibility,” said the minister of Foreign affairs Nikos Kotzias, after the meeting with the National Security Advisor of the President of the united states, lieutenant general Herbert Raymond Macmaster, in Washington, dc. A meeting scheduled for 40 minutes, which lasted for eventually an hour and a half.
The role of Greece in a fragile geopolitical context and within a regional triangle of instability, as well as security issues in the Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans were in the focus of the debate of the two men.
Mr. Kotzias referred to the special role of our country in the region and the initiatives taken by the usa to stabilize the environment. “We have set up a series of institutions, such as the triangular relationships that we have with countries such as Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine. We have the quadrilateral in the Balkans and the Border, we’re in a process with Georgia and Armenia to set up a new quartet and all of them show the features and the special role played by Greece in the region”, he stressed.
Answering questions of journalists, the Foreign minister said that the Cyprus problem has not been addressed in particular in the debate apart from the fact that he explained himself, “who is the term, to achieve a negotiation that the terms of the definition of the cyprus problem, namely, the exemption of Cyprus by foreign troops and the understanding on the part of Turkey that can not asking for special privileges, such as the operational privileges it wants”
On how he sees the priorities of the new american government in our area, mr. Kotzias expressed the view that “the american administration seek the roads which would be upgraded to the role and the importance of american foreign policy, in collaboration, in a different way than in the past more intensively and on an equal footing with states with which they have friendly relations”. While in question about the support of the US to Greece mr. Kotzias expressed the view that “it will continue to exist and perhaps to be more great”.
With regard to the confrontation of Turkey with the countries of Europe reiterated that “Turkey is exporting the νευÏικότητάς,” pointing out that “maybe some circles in Turkey believe that such a conflict in words to help the election campaign of mr Erdogan”. What is the position of Greece in relation with possible visits of Turkish politicians in our country before the Turkish referendum mr. Kotzias replied that “the position of Foreign minister is not talking before the set of specific requests and procedures”.
Mr. Kotzias at the briefing of the journalists did not hide his satisfaction for the results of contacts he had in the american capital. “The two-day visit to the USA was very successful,” he said, to complement: “we Met the minister of Foreign affairs, met the National Security Advisor, as well as the understudy, we saw the personnel manager of the White House and a number of other executives who deal with foreign policy, we had meetings with senators as well as with journalistic team, I’d say the most interesting was this morning with Reuters”.
Indeed, before the meeting with mr. Macmaster, the Greek Foreign minister had a meeting with the Senator, the Democratic Party, Chris Van Χόλεν, during which were discussed the refugee and migration issue, the Cyprus problem and issues of eastern Mediterranean. Emphasis was given to the bilateral cooperation of Greece and USA, and cooperation in security matters. In this context, mr. Kotzias underlined the fact that Greece is a reliable and stable ally of the united states.
Earlier, mr. Kotzias had met with the senator of the Democratic Party, Bob Menendez, in which he expressed his gratitude for the support of a number of national issues. She stressed the role of Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean and how the country with the initiatives it has taken, contributes to the stability of the whole region in a very fragile geopolitical situation. The two men were reported also in matters of economy, the role of the IMF, and the Cypriot issue, Greek-Turkish, but also issues of energy security and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Of particular importance was the meeting of the minister of Foreign affairs senator of the Republican Party Ron Johnson, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Subcommittee on Europe and the Cooperation for Regional Security (Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee & the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation), which discussed issues of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, the issue of refugees and migration, the bilateral cooperation between Greece and the United States as well as the relationship between the European Union and America.
Also, yesterday, mr. Kotzias had meetings with Greek organizations, where it raised the issues of cooperation and coordination for better promotion of Greek positions and cooperation with other lobby. The Foreign minister briefed the expats on the contacts he had with the American Minister of Foreign affairs Rex ΤίλεÏσον, but also contacts, more generally, of the Greek government with the us while, in the end, agreed steps to better cooperation and coordination between the Greek government and Greek organizations.
Kotzias: The USA understood the particular geo-strategic analysis that we do for our region
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