Mr. President,

Ladies and Gentlemen MPs,

We are halfway through the year; a very crucial year for Greece and the rest of the world. The great tectonic plates of the global system have been set in motion. The framework that has been shaped after the fall of the Berlin Wall is changing under the burden of the global financial crisis and we are now looking for a new equilibrium. It is a time of challenges and opportunities. It is also a time of risks that require great care.

We need a clear vision and clear goals. We need dedication and we need to improve ourselves continuously and strengthen our comparative position; refrain from the temporary advantages of creating short-lived impressions for the 8 o’clock news and using easy catchwords and clichés.

Every day we fight – believing firmly in the principles and values of Greece’s foreign policy – for a country that stands firm on its feet, protects the interests of its people around the world and constitutes a power in favour of peace and development.

2009 will be a crucial year for Europe.In the fall, Ireland will vote again on the Reform Treaty.The Irish people will decide on the pace that they want the European Union to follow.

The EU needs the changes provided for in the Treaty.We need them in order to be able to play the role that we want to have in the world.There is no doubt that a strengthened role for Europe means more “soft power”.It means more dialogue and more consensus.It means the democratization of international relations.

We need this change also within Europe.We need it in order to become more efficient.In order to touch the citizens that feel cut off from what they consider as the bureaucratic construction of Brussels.

In the recent European Council, we reached an agreement with Ireland that I think will play a catalyst role towards the completion of the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty.We also agreed on the person that should lead the European Commission in this crucial transitional period.I hope that straight after the summer, the European Parliament will support this choice in order for Europe to avoid a new period of introversion and doubt.

Europe – and we, Europeans know that very well – is not the only pole in this changing, uncertain global system.Another – always strong and key – pole is the United States of America.

2009 saw major changes in Washington:new government, new philosophy, new approach to international relations.Emphasis was laid on cooperation and dialogue.

The Obama Administration’s opening towards the Arab world and Asia, Europe and Moscow’s willingness to discuss, cooperation on the issue of managing the global financial crisis, are all indications that the U.S. wishes and is willing to form a new relationship with the rest of the world.

This change is visible at the bilateral level, at the level of everyday cooperation.A few days ago, I signed two agreements with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, which constitute a decisive step on Greece’s course towards joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.

The bureaucratic and political hurdles of the past are now behind us.In the next few months, Greek nationals will be able to travel visa-free to the United States.And this will bring the societies of the two countries closer.It will strengthen the bonds between the oldest and the strongest democracy of the world.

I would now like to turn to another region, neighbouring to our country.Not long ago, the special relationship that Greece had forged with the Muslim world was received with caution by some of our partners within the European Union.It is a traditional, historic relationship that we have systematically preserved through regular contacts and through the expansion of our cooperation fields.

Today, our position is confirmed and strengthened.Now the West is looking for points of contact and communication with Islam.The policy in Iraq is changing, the resolution of the Palestinian issue is being placed at the top of the agenda and we are now seeking dialogue with Iran.Greece’s moderate and balanced stance is now becoming the norm.

But good intentions are not enough.We need tangible results.The necessary prerequisite for a true, substantial and unclouded cooperation between the West and the Islamic world is a comprehensive solution to the Middle East conflict;a solution of two states, Israel and Palestine, living peacefully side by side;a solution accepted by the entire international community.The conditions might not be ideal but the stakes are high.There is no room for failure.

Greece will continue to play an active part in efforts towards peace, by preserving its distinct stance, by facilitating communication and making sure that the positions that have been shaped on the community level will have a beneficial impact on the peace process.

This willingness to change is reflected in the relations between the U.S. and Russia.It is a structural change that is reflected in every aspect of the relations and the equilibria in the region of the Atlantic and Eurasia, and it is inevitably being taken into account in our planning.

Here I would like to make a brief reference to the preliminary agreement between Russia and the United States on nuclear weapons.I would like to welcome the role played by Presidents Obama and Medvedev, two leaders with a vision and a clear political will. They were able in the space of a few months to guide rigid bureaucratic mechanisms towards the conclusion of a strategic compromise, which went against old reflexes on security.This compromise has in essence made our world a safer place as a whole.

Greece – which has preserved a privileged relationship based on trust with Moscow but at the same time, was strategically incorporated in the West – firmly supported, even in tough times, the need for continuous cooperation between the two sides.

Cooperation across the board: from energy issues to the economy, defense and international relations.We are faced with common challenges.Together we can be more effective, more determined and more powerful.It is only through cooperation that we will be able to rise to these challenges.

The best example of the change that we have been witnessing in Eurasia and of the role that a country such as Greece can play in order to change things around the world is the “Corfu Process”.

When we took over the OSCE Chairmanship we said that we would be an honest broker;a country that would exercise the Presidency based on relations of trust and clear principles.

We took a risk when we asked our partners to take part in the informal meeting of Corfu.First of all, because nothing like that had been done before.And secondly and most importantly, because those who had misgivings about the whole effort seemed to outnumber those who believed in efforts towards substantial dialogue on the future of European security.

We took a risk and we were proven right.The 56 members of the Organisation supported the Corfu Process.They recognised the usefulness of an informal, free and open dialogue and the need for this dialogue to take on specific dimensions and to be held in a structured framework;to be developed on solid foundations within the OSCE and with the prospect of the Athens Ministerial Summit.

The dynamic that was developed on the eve of the Corfu meeting laid the foundations for an even more significant development.For the first time since the crisis in Georgia, NATO and Russia met at a high political level.At this meeting, we reached political decisions to resume and look into further strengthening military cooperation between the two sides and shaping a framework text that would redefine the NATO-Russia Council.

These positive developments covered a gap that had become obvious.For years, we have been discussing about security in Europe.International organisations with a significant acquis on the issues of security and defense such as the EU and NATO are active around the world.But there is a sense that instead of seeing the woods – i.e., a comprehensive, clear and global perspective on European security – we see the tree, that is, managing each individual crisis alone.

A long time has passed since Helsinki.Things have changed dramatically.But the given fact of European security is always topical and urgent.In Corfu, we took the first and, perhaps most decisive, step.Corfu was the beginning.

And it was our duty to do it because, as last year’s crisis in the Caucasus showed, the war is still a real threat for stability in Europe.

The Greek Chairmanship is called upon to play a crucial and sensitive role in managing three issues that require delicate handling:Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria.They were once called frozen conflicts.Last August, the myth of frozen conflicts fell apart.Technocrats and experts looked for a new concept:protracted conflicts.The Greek OSCE Chairmanship and me personally believe that this issue is not all about which words we use to describe these conflicts, but how we are going to resolve them.

I just came back from Azerbaijan and Armenia.These contacts were not easy, but they were substantial.The foundations for progress on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue have been laid, but we also need clear political will – we need courage – from both sides.The meeting in Moscow on 17 August between the two Presidents will be decisive.

I visited Georgia not long ago.We made great efforts on this issue;efforts that were recognised by all sides.We sought a compromise that would not offend any side’s stances;a compromise that would be neutral with regard to the regime.

I believe we made substantial progress in bringing the two sides closer.Unfortunately, the distance that separated them was great – their positions are diametrically opposed – and the mission of the OSCE in Georgia is discontinued.But the work we have made will not go to waste.Our proposal is still on the table.If there is a will, we are ready to support a new round of negotiations.

Thanks to our systematic work and our clear goals we will prove that even in the limited space of the one-year OSCE Chairmanship, a country can change things for the better.

And this is the position based on which we will pursue our efforts in another region vital to Greece’s foreign policy:, the Balkans.

Greece’s strategic objective is stability, development and the region’s accession into Euro-Atlantic structures.We have made intensive efforts on all levels in order for the region’s countries to come closer to the European family.

Romania and Bulgaria are already our partners within the EU and NATO, and the other countries of the Balkans are taking firm steps in the right direction.

We believe that it is crucial for the stability of the region that a clear European perspective is formulated vis-a-vis Serbia.The European Union should respond in a substantial manner to the positive steps that this country has made lately.

Even in the case of Kosovo, violence is slowly fading away, like a bad dream that could become a reality with a bit of effort.All sides exclusively talk about diplomatic solutions.

Not all the problems have been solved.There are serious issues with regard to democratisation, reforms and the implementation of the rule of law.There are issues regarding the protection of human and minority rights.There are bilateral pending issues such as the one we recently settled with Albania on the delimitation of the continental shelf and other maritime zones.The progress made is undisputable.

Greece has a strong economic, political and cultural presence in the Balkans.At times of global financial crisis, HiPERB is still a vital development tool.Greece is one of the top foreign investors and employers in the region.

There are increasing contacts on all levels and a continuous dialogue.Greece has been tangibly supporting the modernisation and European perspective of the Western Balkans.I would like to remind you the Thessaloniki Agenda, our 5-point proposal of 2007, the visa liberalization process.The Balkans belong in Europe and Greece is their best ally in this effort.

The only dissonance in this positive direction that I just described is unfortunately our neighbouring country, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.It seems to be going in the opposite direction.

Our analysis is simple:The conclusions are clear.Following successive elections in Skopje, there is one person dominating the domestic political scene.Mr. Gruevski chose to bring the negotiations to a standstill in order to dominate domestically, in which he succeeded in the end.

FYROM’s fate is in the hands of its Prime Minister.Its Euroatlantic course is in his hands.Greece has tangibly proven its willingness to find a mutually acceptable solution.For our part, we took the steps needed. We are ready for a mutually acceptable solution:a compound name with a clear geographical qualifier, valid for everyone.

It was the first time that our positions were so clearly understood by our allies and partners.This is also reflected in the decisions of NATO and the European Union and the analyses of foreign diplomats.

Just yesterday, I had a meeting with the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for the Greece-FYROM talks, following his visit to Skopje.Mr. Nimetz brought certain changes to the proposal he had submitted in October 2008. Following a period of inaction due to the elections in Skopje and Athens, the process is continuing.

We will brief Mr. Nimetz in detail about our views on the latest changes.We hope that the other side will do so too.

What we should understand is that we are talking about a solution that will be implemented in practice.And the only way for this to happen is for it to be implemented vis-a-vis everyone.We are talking about a mutually acceptable solution, a solution that the two sides will agree upon by themselves, without one side imposing it on the other:a win-win solution;without winners and losers.

2009 is indeed a crucial year for all the major issues of our foreign policy.

Talks on the Cyprus issue are moving on despite all the difficulties and obstacles.The initiative by President Christofias and his dedication to the achievement of a truly Cypriot solution have created the best possible conditions for a solution of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.This solution must be just, viable and functional, without outdated guarantee systems.It should be founded on UN Security Council resolutions, respect the principles and values of the European Union, and implement the community acquis.

Greece actively supports, and is coordinating daily with, the Republic of Cyprus, willing to help.We stand by the Republic of Cyprus, but we are also fully aware that the resolution of the Cyprus issue should be forged in Cyprus, by the Cypriots themselves and it should be accepted by everyone.

Some people still mention false timeframes, arbitrations, and interventions by third parties.

This is wrong.

The solution will be the result of the negotiations under way.It will be difficult and it will require compromises.This should be made clear first of all to Turkey, which – through its occupation army – determines the level of flexibility that the Turkish Cypriot side shows in these negotiations.

Within 2009, the European Union will evaluate Turkey’s compliance with the Ankara Protocol.This is indeed a milestone that Turkey should realistically take into account.Agreements must be kept.

Greece is perhaps the most sincere supporter of Turkey’s accession course.But this does not mean that we will allow any procedural concessions.Full compliance means full accession.This is our policy.The Turkish side should help us help them.There are many fields of cooperation.

I am indicatively mentioning illegal migration.We have succeeded in raising awareness among our partners.We created the basis for a common approach and mutual assistance.Turkey now has the opportunity to choose:cooperation or friction.The Greek position is clear:Cooperation.Unfortunately, some interests in Turkey choose to put themselves in the corner.This is not the European way.The European way is dialogue and cooperation.

In Corfu, I had my first meeting with Turkey’s new Foreign Minister.The man who formulated the AKP’s foreign policy and conceived the notion of zero problems with its neighbours.No one could disagree with this principle.But we have yet to see this principle being implemented vis-a-vis Greece.And here I am referring to Turkey’s stance in the Aegean.

I intend to accept Mr. Davutoglu’s invitation and visit Turkey in the near future.I believe in the dialogue between us.This is not a leap of optimism nor is it blind faith in the notion of Greek-Turkish friendship.It is a rational, balanced choice based on the fact that Greece and Turkey should coexist harmoniously.And that they should never stop talking.Friction is first and foremost harmful to ourselves.

We will not become the best of friends all of a sudden.It is with responsibility and realism that we should build mutual trust, recognising that we also disagree on certain things.We should learn the lessons of history and build a joint peaceful future, avoiding the mistakes of the past.

In both countries, some invest in friction and tension.The easiest populism is to attack one’s neighbours.This is a mistake and it is also dangerous because it poisons public opinion.

Our government never thought of the political cost of exercising its foreign policy.It never sought easy political gains to the detriment of the country’s long-term interests.

There is no greater weapon for a Foreign Minister than agreement on common principles and values across the entire political spectrum of a country.The large majority of the Greek people and their Parliament share common principles and values.We know where we want Greece to be.

We want a strong, democratic Greece that promotes stability, security and development;that promotes respect for international law and human rights;that exercises its foreign policy with courage and consistency;that does not see the world in terms of a zero-sum game, looking for success in the failure of others;that is working for its own progress and the progress of its neighbours as well as the dissemination of peace and democracy.

Ladies and Gentlemen MPs,

We are at a crossroads.

One direction leads to extroversion and action.It is the vision of Greece with a global role;a country taking risks and initiatives;forging relations, creating opportunities and shaping its own future;organising events such as the Corfu meeting and producing tangible results.

The other direction leads to introversion and inaction;a country concentrating on its own issues only, afraid to broaden its horizons;avoiding dialogue and entrenching oneself behind theories that have remained frozen for years;closing in on itself and frightened at the sight of change;a country that at the moment of the Corfu meeting only cares about landing permissions.

Ladies and Gentlemen MPs,

Each one of those of you who take part in parliamentary assemblies within international organisations or Parliamentary Friendship Groups with third countries is an ambassador for Greece.

Last week, I participated in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session in Lithuania.I answered questions from colleagues representing all of the OSCE’s participating states.

Here, I would like to congratulate once again Mr. Petros Efthymiou on his election as Vice-President of the OSCE Assembly.I believe in the parliamentary process and the power of our MPs’ contribution to our foreign policy.The proof of that is given by our MPs who defend our national interests every time they go abroad.

Thank you.