JOURNALIST: When will the next steps be taken for the extension of the territorial waters to 12 miles, and why was the choice made for it to be done through a legislative initiative instead of a presidential decree? Wouldn’t it have been better to have proceed right away than have the departing Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kotzias, announce it this past Saturday?G. KATROUGALOS: Nikos Kotzias referred to this issue in the context of summing up his work at the handover ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Greek people as well as the political powers must be further informed about the systematic work that has been done, and the Prime Minister, in his capacity as Prime Minister as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs, will undertake relevant initiatives in the near future. The legislative initiative and the discussion in Parliament serves just that need, for essential dialogue to exist, as well as transparency, with regard to an issue of national importance. In contrast to the defamatory allegations of secret diplomacy, this was always our main choice in foreign policy. Do I need to point out that the common line of action in the past was contrary to that? Did the Interim Accord with Skopje ever come to Parliament for debate and ratification?JOURNALIST: What do you think of the reaction by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and re-invoking a casus belli? Perhaps they are right, those who claim that, through gradual expansion, Greece is admitting that the Aegean possesses a special sea status.G. KATROUGALOS: As we stated clearly and immediately, reiterating the long-standing national position, extending territorial waters constitutes a legal and inalienable sovereign right of Greece, in accordance with International Law. The relevant decision for extension is solely for Greece to make, which has the right to extend its territorial waters whenever and in whatever manner it sees fit. This right applies consistently and shall not be challenged, nor shall it be up for negotiation with third parties. Arbitrary interpretations of International Law and threats of violence on the part of Turkey, as well as challenging the legal rights of our country, neither alters this fact nor contributes to good neighbourly relations. Clearly, this applies to all Greek territory. Gradual expansion indeed confirms and does not weaken Greece's sovereign competence. Moreover, this was the unanimous opinion of the Foreign Ministry’s Scientific Council, which was convened on Wednesday by the Prime Minister in order to provide its opinion in this regard. With this topic also, as with the Prespa Agreement, we prove that we are not a power of inertia but rather that we positively promote, for the country, issues that have been pending for decades.JOURNALIST: What is your opinion about the decision made by FYROM’s Parliament, and what is your estimate as to when the Prespa Agreement will come to Greece in order to be ratified?G. KATROUGALOS: This represents an especially positive development which proves that the Prespa Agreement holds on to its momentum. For our two peoples, the latter represents the end of a bitter rivalry which could have ended positively as early as the 90’s. But it also represents a significant step towards peace and stability in a region which has always been a hot spot for Europe. Until March 2019, and provided that the revisionist process is completed in Skopje, as all things indicate, the agreement will come to Parliament in order to be ratified. I have no doubt that it will be passed. In the meantime, in the days to come, Aegean Airlines is going to inaugurate a direct flight between Athens and Skopje. This is an especially positive development which will significantly contribute to deepening contacts between our peoples, as well as to promoting our cooperation in the sectors of tourism, trade and business. It is also indicative of how much closer our people have grown in recent years, building trust and understanding.JOURNALIST: Can you make sense of Kotzias’ resignation? What is your opinion about the doubts that have arisen with regard to the secret funds of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?G. KATROUGALOS: In recent days, the Minister has explained his positions. It is clear that his resignation in no way represents a shift in our foreign policy. As far as the secret funds, despite the deplorable grey propaganda by the main opposition party, the truth is that, during the time that Kotzias served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, a mechanism was created, for the first time, which provides for approval of the secret funds by Parliament.JOURNALIST: As the competent minister, do you believe that abroad, the mixed messages sent by the Government create a significant problem in conducting foreign policy or not?G. KATROUGALOS: I believe that the Prime Minister's statement that he will not tolerate any doublespeak or personal strategic planning to be included in the country’s policy brought an end to any related discussion once and for all.JOURNALIST: Based on everything that Mr. Kotzias announced recently, the agreement with Albania is ready. Will it proceed soon?G. KATROUGALOS: The negotiations have indeed advanced significantly, but there are still aspects that require more work. From the Albanian side, moreover, there is still the pending issue of full staffing the Constitutional Court, the opinion of which is deemed necessary by the political world of the neighbouring country for completion of the process.JOURNALIST: Which do you believe to be the imperative constitutional amendments that must be made? G. KATROUGALOS: Amendment of the constitution represents the pinnacle of our progressive reform work, which has two main objectives: First of all, to structurally reform the clientelist State established following the fall of the military junta towards its democratisation, through strengthening of the Parliament and the introduction of institutional counterweights which will not be the property of the elite but will be activated through participation on the part of the people. And secondly, to strengthen the protection of personal and political freedoms and social rights, as well as the mechanisms of the social State as a levee against an attack of the latter by neoliberalism. In this context, overripe issues must also be settled, such as the distinct roles of Church and State and abolition of the unacceptable status of parliamentary immunity.
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