Foreign relations of Greece
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Prominent issues in Greek foreign policy include the enduring Cyprus problem, Greek-Turkish differences over the Aegean, a dispute over the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and relations with the United States.
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[edit] Relations by Country
[edit] Turkey
After more than a century of strained relations and intercepted fighting Greece and Turkey agreed under the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 to a population exchange as an attempt to reduce tensions between the two countries in the future. A significant 300,000 strong Greek community in Constantinople and a 100,000 Muslim one in Western Thrace were excluded from the transfer, with each one supposed to be working as counter-weights to any anti-minority policy that either Turkey or Greece may sought to apply in the future. The good relations between the two neighbors lasted until mid-1950s when the Cyprus problem surfaced. Up to late 1990s strained relations almost led to an open war in 1974, 1987 and 1996. Since the earthquake diplomacy in 1999 relations have once again began improving.
[edit] Cyprus Dispute
As the island of Cyprus was heading towards independence from the United Kingdom the 82% strong Greek and 18% strong Turkish communities began embroiled to a bitter inter-communal fighting, partly sponsored by the two "motherlands". EOKA-B and TMT were responsible for many atrocities which resulted in cementing tensions and led to total isolation of the communites with Turkish Cypriots withdrawn into enclaves. In 1974 the US-backed Greek junta - in power since 1967 - partly in a move to draw attention away from internal turmoil and partly unsatisfied with Makarios' policy in Cyprus, on 13 July attempted a coup to replace him with Nikos Sampson and declare union with Greece. Seven days later, Turkey launched an invasion of Cyprus allegedly to reinstate the constitution but which resulted in blooded conflict, partition of the island and mass ethnic cleansing. The overwhelming Turkish land, naval and air superiority against island's weak defenses led to the bringing of 37% of the land under Turkish control. 170,000 Greek Cypriots were evicted from their homes in the north with 50,000 Turks following the opposite path concluding the de facto division of Cyprus. In 1983 Turkish Cypriots proclaimed independence unilaterally with only Turkey recognizing them. As of today the north is under an embargo as a measure against the illegal partition of the island.
Ever since both countries along with the two communities of the island are engages into a vicious cycle of negotiations which led to little. In 2004 the Annan Plan for Cyprus was put to vote but whilst it was accepted by the north, it was rejected by the Greek-Cypriots as it meant in their eyes, endorsing a confederal state with a weak central government and considerable local autonomy. The Republic of Cyprus is a constitutional democracy which has reached great levels of prosperity, with a booming economy and good infrastructures, part of the United nations, European Union and several others organizations by whom it's recognized as the sole legitimate government of the whole island.
Greece calls for the removal of Turkish troops from Cyprus and the restoration of a unified state. The Republic of Cyprus is receiving strong support from Greece in international forums with the latter maintaining a military contingent on the island, and Greek officers filling key positions in the Cypriot National Guard.
[edit] Aegean dispute
Other issues dividing Greece and Turkey involve the delimitation of the continental shelf in the Aegean Sea, territorial waters and airspace. In March 1987 a dispute concerning oil drilling rights, almost led to war between the countries with Greece advocating the dispute to be decided by the International Court of Justice. In early 1988, the Turkish and Greek Prime Ministers met at Davos, Switzerland, and later in Brussels. They agreed on various measures to reduce bilateral tensions and to encourage cooperation.
Tensions over the Aegean Sea surfaced again in November 1994, when Greece claimed under the Law of the Sea Treaty states which both countries are signatories, that it reserved the right to declare an expansion of it's continental shelf from 6 to 12 nautical mile around its Aegean islands. Turkey which has itself expanded it's continental shelf in the Black Sea shore, stated that it would consider any such action a cause for war. New technical-level bilateral discussions began in 1994 but soon fizzled-out.
In January 1996, Greece and Turkey came close to an armed confrontation over the question of which country had sovereignty over an islet in the Aegean. In July 1997, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Madrid, Greek and Turkish leaders reached agreement on six principles to govern their bilateral relations. Within a few months, however, the two countries were again at odds over Aegean airspace and sovereignty issues. Tensions remained high for months, although various confidence-building measures were discussed to reduce the risk of military accidents or conflict in the Aegean, under the auspices of the NATO Secretary General.
[edit] Turkey and the EU
Greece has come out in support of Turkey's bid for EU membership, and supports it's full integration to the union when conditions for it's acceptance are met. On May 6, 2004, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan became the first Turkish premier to visit Greece in sixteen years. In 24 January 2008 Greece's premier Costas Karamanlis visited Turkey a full 48 years after the last Greek premier and uncle of his Constantine Karamanlis had visited the neighboring country.
[edit] Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Refusal to recognize the Republic of Macedonia under it's constitutional name has become an important issue in Greek politics since 1992. Greece was adamantly opposed to any use of the word Macedonia to it's neighboring country's name, claiming that FYROM has an irredentist agenda of a United Macedonia and thus tries to culturally hijack the Ancient Macedonian culture which was undeniably Greek. The dispute led to a Greek trade embargo against FYROM in February 1994 which ended when mediation efforts by the UN, U.S.A., and EU resulted in an interim solution in September 1995.
The republic agreed to be recognised internationally under the name "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" while retaining "Republic of Macedonia" as its constitutional name, until a conclusive deal was to be brokered between the two countries. FYROM also changed its national flag - which used to be the Vergina sun - and constitution to eliminate any irredentist articles. Since the signing of the interim accord, the two governments have concluded agreements designed to facilitate the movement of people and goods across their common border and improve bilateral relations. By 2008 Greece is recognized as the biggest investor in the country with 20,000 jobs being created[5] by Greek businesses alone. Talks on remaining issues are still being held under UN auspices in New York.
Greece accused the government in Skopje of a counter-productive stance during UN talks with the aim to have the name issue solved by simply have other countries recognize it as Republic of Macedonia. Till September 2007 118 countries have done so. On the eve of April NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania where the bid by FYROM was to be discussed Greek urged the neighboring country to come and reach an agreement. Greek foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis said that a Greece was willing to come to the half of the road by accepting a "composite name solution" which would include the word Macedonia for all international purposes and was expecting FYROM to walk the other half. Following FYROM's refusal to compromise Greece vetoed it's accession to NATO.
In the long term, Greece strongly supports the FYROM's integration into NATO and the European Union, as a part of the long-term process of integration of the majority of Balkan states into the EU. However, as of 2008, Greece is determined to veto any application until the name dispute is resolved. Relations between the two states therefore continue to be strained.
[edit] Albania
Greece and Albania - even though diplomatic relations were restored in 1971 - normalized relations only in 1987 as till then both countries were officially - in a cease-fire - but nevertheless under the state of war since Albania along with Italy had declared war on Greece in 28 October 1940. During rule of dictator Enver Hoxha relations were strained because of the part that Albania played during WWII against Greece and also because of the material help that they provided to Greek communists during the Greek civil war. In addition there was controversy about the treatment of the Greek minority in southern Albania and the Cham issue.
After the fall of the Albanian socialist regime in 1991, relations between the two countries got better but soon begun to deteriorate with accusations about mistreatment of minorities vice versa. To the latter problem it was added the widespread phenomenon of waves of illegal immigration from Albania towards Greece. High criminality numbers from one hand and alleged police brutality from the other became familiar subjects on the news of both neighbors, increasing eventually tensions. According to official Greek data around 450,000 Albanian immigrants work in Greece and it is believed the number will almost double if illegal immigrants are accounted too. This is a brand new situation, for both countries as Greece for the first time become a destination country for immigrants and Albanians for the first time got out of their country after the total isolation that the communist regime had imposed.
Today, relations between the two countries are relatively good, and, at the Albanian Government's request, about 250 Greek military personnel are stationed in Albania to assist with the training and restructuring the Albanian Armed Forces. Albania's economy is overdependent to the money immigrants from Greece sent back home while Greece is the second larger trading partner with more than USD $400 million worth of investments. Moreover Greek products account for 21% of Albania's imports with Greece absorbing 12% of it's neighboring country's exports.[6] At the same time low cost labor from Albania propelled Greek economy's growth especially in the construction and agriculture sectors.
[edit] Serbia
Greeks and Serbs share the common heritage of the Eastern Orthodox Church while as states they have fought on the same side in both Balkan Wars as well as in both World Wars. This, as well as Greece's Middle Ages influence during the time of the Byzantine Empire (resulting in what has been called by some a 'Byzantine Commonwealth') has amounted to excellent relations between the two countries.
[edit] Yugoslav wars
During the Yugoslav wars the Greek governments, undertook series of peace-negotiations with Serbia's president, Slobodan Milošević, Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić, and the Bosnian government without results. Meanwhile, in violation of the UN embargo, food, oil, and arms were transfered from Greece to Serbia. Greece was the only EU nation to back the Serbian position that Serbian forces had entered Bosnian territory in response to Bosnian provocations. In early 1994, it incurred the displeasure of its European allies by voting against NATO air strikes on Serbian positions. Greece also refused the use of its NATO air bases at Preveza on the Ionian Sea for such attacks and refused to supply Greek troops to the UN peacekeeping mission in Bosnia.
According to University of Amsterdam professor 'C. Wiebes', the Hellenic National Intelligence Service systematically sabotaged NATO operations in Bosnia in the mid-1990s, in an attempt to aid Bosnian Serbs. In his report for the Dutch government, entitled Intelligence en de oorlog in Bosnie 1992-1995, Wiebes claims that EYP leaked classified NATO military plans to Serb-Bosnian leadership. Since the start of the war, about 100 Greeks have fought in a "guard of volunteers" based in Vlasenica, in central Bosnia.[7]
Following the outbreak of war in the Balkans, Serbs in Republika Srpska, the Republic of Serb Krajina, and Serbia proper received more than 12,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid from Greece and Cyprus. This aid came from all sectors of Greek society: from the state, from the Church, from various organizations, and from the public.
[edit] Kosovo war
During the Kosovo war against Serbia, Greece was obliged to agree to the passage of NATO troops through its territory but refused to send troops or to allow the use of its airports as attacking bases. At the same time the Greek Team of Médecins Sans Frontières visited Serbia without receiving the permission from MSF. As of May 2008, Greece has not recognized Kosovo as an independent state.[8]
[edit] Armenia
Greece was one of the first countries to recognize Armenia's independence on 21 September 1991 and one of those that have officially recognised the Armenian Genocide. Since the independence of Armenia the two countries have been partners within the framework of international organizations (United Nations, OSCE, Council of Europe, BSEC), whilst Greece firmly supports the community programs aimed at further developing relations between the EU and Armenia.
Continuous visits of the highest level have shown that both countries want to continue to improve the levels of friendship and cooperation (Visit by the President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossian to Greece in 1996, visit by the President of the Hellenic Republic Costis Stephanopoulos in 1999, visit by the President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan to Greece in 2000 and 2005 and visit by Greek president Karolos Papoulias to Armenia in June 2007).
Greece is, after Russia, the major military partner of Armenia. Armenian officers are trained in Greek military academies, and various technical assistance is supplied by Greece. Since 2003, an Armenian platoon has been deployed in Kosovo as part of KFOR where they operate as a part of the Greek battalion of KFOR.
[edit] United States of America
The United States and Greece have long-standing historical, political, and cultural ties based on the shared democratic values, history of Greek immigration to the States and participation as Allies during World War II, the Korean conflict, and the Cold War. The U.S. is the largest foreign investor in Greece and has helped the reconstruction of post-war Greece through the Marshall plan and various other aids culminating at about $11.1 billion in economic and security assistance since 1946. The current mutual defense cooperation agreement (MDCA) provides for continued U.S. military assistance to Greece and the operation by the U.S. of a military facility at Souda Bay, Crete.
About 3 million Americans are of Greek ancestry.[9] Greek-Americans are an established, well-organized community in the U.S. (several notable politicians, including former Vice-President Spiro Agnew, and Senators Olympia Snowe and Paul Sarbanes are of Greek ancestry), and they help cultivate close political and cultural ties with Greece. Greece has the seventh-largest population of U.S. Social Security beneficiaries in the world.
However, there is also a strong sentiment against USA policies towards Greece and the Balkans in general. Critics also charge the United States for supporting the 1967-1974 military junta in Greece a fact that was acknowledged by Bill Clinton in his visit to Athens “When the junta took over in 1967 here, the United States allowed its interests in prosecuting the Cold War to prevail over its interests - I should say its obligation - to support democracy, which was, after all, the cause for which we fought the Cold War. It is important that we acknowledge that.”
This American support for the military regime led to left-wing terrorist groups, most notably 17 November, attacking US targets such as the killing of the CIA's station chief in Athens, Richard Welch in 1975. The populist PASOK leader Andreas Papandreou had also a very strong anti-Western rhetoric, fueling the negative sentiments towards USA, even though it wasn't followed by actions.
The backing of Turkish invasion of Cyprus by Henry Kissinger, Kosovo war and the invasion of Iraq [10] as well as the strong support of president George W Bush towards FYROM in the naming dispute, evident in his recognition of FYROM as Macedonia in 2004 and in his full backing to the country's accession to NATO didn't do USA image in the country any good.
[edit] The Middle East
Greece has a special interest in the Middle East because of its geographic position and its economic and historic ties to the area. The country cooperated with allied forces during the 1990-1991 Gulf War. Since 1994, Greece has signed defense cooperation agreements with Israel and Egypt and in recent years, Greek leaders have made numerous trips to the region in order to strengthen bilateral ties and encourage the Middle East Peace Process. In July 1997, December 1997, and July 1998 Greece hosted meetings of Israeli and Palestinian politicians to contribute to the peace process. Greece also maintains diplomatic relations with the General Palestinian Delegation while enjoys of cordial relations with Syria.
[edit] Terms
[edit] Northern Epirus
Northern Epirus is the name used generally by Greeks to refer to the southern part of Albania, home to a 266,000 strong Greek minority[11] which after 1989 keeps reducing due to immigration to Greece. The Greek minority was subject to oppression and harassment during Enver Hoxha's communist rule and along with the rest of Albanians was hit hardly by the isolation that the regime imposed and from the economic hardship that followed the fall of communism as well. The treatment of the minority by the Albanian government is strongly linked with the status of Greco-Albanian relations. The Greek minority is organized under the Unity for Human Rights Party which is the continuation of the former banned party called "Omonoia" (Unity in Greek) and has since 1997 joined the Socialist coalition. At the last elections the Greek minority party received 4,1% of the vote and two seats in parliament. The party leader is Vangjel Dule, while party member Vasilis Bolanos is the current mayor of the town of Himara. The party is represented in the ELDR group in the Council of Europe. Strong Greek presence exists in Gjirokastër/Argyrocastro, Korçë/Korytsa, Sarandë/Ag.Saranta, Himara/Xeimara and the nearby areas. The former CIA director George J. Tenet, Pyrros Dimas, Sotiris Ninis and former Greek president Kostis Stefanopoulos have ancestral links to the Greek minority.
[edit] Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
- See also: Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and Halki seminary
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople , protected under the treaty of Lausanne is a point of controversy between Greece and Turkey as the latter refuses to recognize the Ecumenical character of the Patriarchate thus requiring the Patriarch himself to be a Turkish citizen. Moreover the biggest part of the Patriarchate's property - known as Vakoufia - had been confiscated by Turkish authorities and the Theological school of Halki which is the traditional school out of which the Eastern Orthodox Church, draws it's clergy is closed since 1971. To no avail numerous Greek, European Union and USA officials have criticized Turkey's attitude and even president Bill Clinton during his visit in Greece asked for the theological school to open. During Greek prime-minister's Kostas Karamanlis historic visit to Turkey in 2007, Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to reconsider his country stance on the matter.
[edit] Black Sea
Black Sea (Μαύρη Θάλασσα), or Euxine Sea (Εύξεινος Πόντος), is a region heavily colonized by Greeks throughout history and used to have a heavy presence of Greek population up to the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923. Nowadays there is still Greek presence in the shores of Black Sea mainly in Mariupol, Crimea, Russia and Georgia despite immigration to Greece after the dissolution of Soviet Union. Today Greeks in the region are estimated to be around 215,000 according to official Greek diaspora figures. Greece is a founding member of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.
[edit] International organization participation
BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, International Maritime Organization, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, NATO, OECD, OSCE, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, WEU,WHO, WIPO, WMO.
Most recently, Greece was elected by the United Nations General Assembly to the United Nations Security Council, on 15 October 2004, as a non-permanent member for 2005 and 2006.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- BBC News Online (8 May 2004). Turkish PM visits Greek Muslims.
- Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs
[edit] References
- ^ The Greek embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is expected to open in 2007
- ^ Liaison Office in Skopje, FYROM
- ^ Greece is represented in most of the rest states by either parallel accreditation of another Greek embassy or by embassies of other European Union member states
- ^ Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- ^ Interview of FM Ms. Bakoyannis in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, with journalist Michael Martens
- ^ Bilateral Relations Between Greece And Albania
- ^ Greeks Helped Liberate Srebrenica, 14 July 1995
- ^ "Greece will "examine" Kosovo recognition", B92, 20 March 2008. Link accessed on 2008-03-23.
- ^ United States Department of State: Background Note: Greece
- ^ CNN - Greeks angered by NATO strikes clash with riot police - March 26, 1999
- ^ Country Studies US: Greeks and Other Minorities
[edit] Further reading
- Economides, Spyros (March 2005). "The Europeanisation of Greek Foreign Policy". West European Politics 28 (2): 471-491.
[edit] External links
- Greece's foreign policy, via the Greek Ministry of Foreign affairs
- Ethnic groups in Albania, via CIA - The World Factbook
- Greece's Shifting Position on Turkish Accession to the EU Before and After Helsinki (1999)
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