The Alternate Minister of National Defence Fotis Kouvelis, in the context of an interview to ‘’EFIMERIDA TON SINTAKTON’’ newspaper (10-11/2/2018) with journalist Dimitris Koukloumperis, stated the following:
On the developments in respect to the two officers
We have to consider the incident in its real dimensions. The case is pending before the Turkish judicial authorities. So far, the offense for which they are imputed is the illegal entry to a prohibited area. The circumstances under which the incident took place show that there was no intention to enter this area and more specifically in their uniform, bearing their equipment. Specific conditions resulted in being unable to find the right direction and they got lost due to snow and low cloudiness. It is a fact that in other times, not facing tense relationships on behalf of Turkey, the issue would have been handled with the extremely simple way of the direct consultation that certainly our country asked for from the first moment. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in charge of the issue, through diplomatic and other relevant actions.
Will we have a happy ending?
We try hard and struggle for it so that our two officers will soon return to our homeland.
On the exacerbation of the situation on behalf of Turkey and its evaluation
Turkey would like to inflame the situation, although I think that its activities are going to stop there. This is the result of its overall attitude demonstrated both in the area of the Aegean Sea and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in Cyprus.
Should Greece review its stand towards its neighbours? Is the tactic concerning their European perspective and good neighbourly relations justified?
Greece is in favour of the European perspective of Turkey. We state that a necessary prerequisite for Turkey’s European perspective is the respect and the compliance with the European acquis. A prerequisite, among other things, is its peaceful stand. It is a matter of its own whether it would like to follow this course or not. In my point of view Turkey is not opting for this. We do not accept, in any case, actions setting in dispute our sovereignty rights.
On his becoming a minister and whether it was easy or not to accept
The Prime Minister proposed me for the Ministry of National Defence. I thought it was my obligation to accept, since the matter is to be able to contribute to the positive outcome that has to come up from the work of the government.
As an Alternate Minister are you accountable to the Prime Minister?
Yes, each Alternate Minister refers to the Prime Minister himself.
The Opposition Party, however, your former comrades, exercised scalding criticism, being taunting on your selection. They stated that you refused to become President of the Republic and that now you turned out to be Mr. Kammenos’ minister. What is your reply?
I am not Mr. Kammenos’ minister. Indeed, I cooperate with Mr. Kammenos, this cooperation, however, as the one between SIRIZA and ANEL, does not in any case mean that I relinquish neither my political nor my ideological identity. Neither mine, nor the one of SIRIZA, or Mr. Kammenos’. We struggle for what is profitable and useful for the effort our country makes. Concerning the reproach you express, I would like to repeat that the refusal of DIMAR as well as mine to contribute to the election of the President of the Republic was not an unplanned incident. It was a deepmost political choice outvoted in the conference of DIMAR with a huge majority, not to cooperate in the President’s election. We wished for the country to change page, and it did change page. Therefore, I do not realize, I simply interpret this ‘’passion’’ expressed by some against my becoming a minister.
In 2012 though you stated in public that you reject an Alliance between a Left-wing Party and Mr. Kammenos and now you cohabit in the same ministry.
I would like to repeat that Mr. Kammenos and I cooperate and coexist having as a common goal to ensure the best results for the country. DIMAR Party had supported a government with N.D. and PASOK parties. We did not relinquish our political and ideological identity in that case too. The same goes for this case concerning anything said about my coexistence with Mr. Kammenos in the same ministry.
Your participation in the government has been seen as an opening of SIRIZA to the Center- Left Parties. Do you perceive a dialogue or even a cooperation?
The establishment of a progressive pole is necessary for the country. The formation of the two poles is given. On the one hand there is the new -liberal conservative pole and on the other hand the progressive one. I do not speak about a by-partisanship, but about the existence of two poles. The progressive powers should certainly converge in shaping political goals of cooperation of the wider progressive space in Greece and in Europe.
On the Macedonian issue you supported the compound name solution a few years ago. Is a solution going to come up and which one?
I insist on the same view which I support over the years. It is certainly possible to find a commonly accepted name having the word Macedonia as a geographical term, and at the same time a common platform for all the other issues related to the removal of any irredentisms from the Constitution of FYROM, whereas an international treaty of respect and cooperation can be signed between the two countries. It must be clear that our national interests are not served perpetuating this issue. Good neighbourly relations and cooperation constitute our national interest for our economic growth, as well as the growth of the wider area. The solution of the Macedonian issue is dynamically supported by the fact that Turkey does not wish any progress on this issue seeking to form its own arc in the area. The desire for the establishment of a Great Albania is also known.
On the economic scandals, e.g. Novartis, commissions for the metro, the financial matters of the parties following on the list. The government forwards the investigation of ‘’sinful’’ cases from the past. Is this a will for catharsis or is it scandalmongering and talking in order to lead the country to elections in the middle of mudslinging and polarity?
It is necessary to investigate these cases handling them as provided by the law and the institutions. Nothing more, nothing less. The government does not choose the scandalmongering, whereas it does not try to shape polarity conditions. The Novartis case has the aspects related to state money spoilage and I think that the society demands the investigation of all these cases.
