An interview with Zoe Karkamani

Today’s visit to Stockholm by George Papandreou is particularly important, given that his Turkish counterpart ismael Cem was here just a few days ago.

Sweden is the only country in the EU which has objected to Turkey’s proposed EU candidacy.

When Cem visited Sweden last Thursday, he gave several Kurdish books to Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindt. Lindt announced that Turkey seemed to acknowledge its human rights problems, and showed a willingness to discuss the issue. Indeed, the two sides discussed issues of legislation for the first time.

We asked Papandreou after his discussions with Lindt, whether he detected a softening of Sweden’s position in the run-up to the EU Summit in Helsinki..

GEORGE A PAPANDREOU: I cannot speak on behalf of the Swedish government. However, my impression after our discussions is that our view of the basic principles and issues which Turkey must confront remains essentially the same. I think turkey’s candidacy will depend heavily on the final text drawn up at Helsinki; in other words, what commitment is the EU prepared to make in relation to Turkey. Of course, nobody expects Turkey to solve all her problems before Helsinki, which is only a couple of weeks away. The Kurdish problem, human rights, military rule, the Cyprus issue, and relations with Greece are just some of the problems Turkey faces. But we expect the EU to ensure that dealing directly with all these issues would be part of Turkey’s entry process. Greece, Sweden, and I believe many other countries will make their final decision about Turkey’s candidacy according to the extent that the EU includes these issues in the criteria for entry.

Zoe Karkamani: Will Greece be satisfied with verbal promises by Turkey in order to lift the veto?

GEORGE A PAPANDREOU: We have repeatedly stated that any gestures are welcome, political assurances are welcome, the statements Turkey has made form time to time – such as Ecevit’s statement that Turkey has no territorial claims in the Aegean - are welcome. But what really counts for us at this stage is not Greece’s negotiations with Turkey. We will not be negotiating with Turkey at Helsinki. We will be negotiating with our European partners on the terms and framework in which Turkey will be able to progress. So the really important commitments have to come from Europe. This will provide guarantees for the day after, it will provide guarantees that Turkey’s verbal promises will be carried out, monitored, adn evaluated continuously by the EU as part of Turkey’s entry process.

Zoe Karkamani: So Greece’s demands are geared more towards her European partners than towards Turkey

GEORGE A PAPANDREOU: Greece’s demands are very simple, and they are directed towards all parties. We demand that justice is practised, that the rule of law is upheld both in Turkey’s international relations and in Turkey’s domestic affairs. In other words, we demand that European principles are put into practice. We want our EU partners, and of course Turkey also, to provide us with this guarantee, particularly in relation to Cyprus.

Zoe Karkamani: Are you satisfied with today’s meeting with Anna Lindt?

GEORGE A PAPANDREOU: It was a very productive meeting. We had the opportunity to evaluate the progress of our discussions with our EU allies, to assess our positions in the run-up to Helsinki, and to discuss our continuing collaboration in the days and weeks to come. Greece and Sweden have excellent relations. I believe our close collaboration will help promote common European values throughout SE Europe, and, we hope, in Turkey also.