‘Greece, as an EU member, is a long-term reliable partner of Iraq’: Greek Ambassador

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Greek Ambassador to Iraq Leonidas Contovounesios discussed the next Iraqi government, relations between Greek and Kurdish leaders, the Kurdish Peshmerga’s role in the fight against ISIS, Greek-Turkish relations, and several other topics in this exclusive interview with Kurdistan 24.

“There are at least 20 Greek shipping companies carrying Iraqi oil to China, Greece, and other destinations, and more than 20 Greek pharmaceutical industries supplying medicines to Iraq.”

Q: The Greek Foreign Minister Mr. Nikos Dendias and his Iraqi counterpart signed two memorandums of understanding for developing relations between the two countries in 2020. What is the current status of these agreements? Has there been any progress in implementing them?

A: The two Memoranda signed by the Foreign Ministers are for developing relations between the two Foreign Ministries primarily, one being on Political Consultations and the other one on Cooperation in the field of Diplomatic Training. More important for the tangible bilateral economic relations is the third MoU signed on the same day (14 October 2020) by the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Kostas Fragogiannis and Ms. Suha Dawood Najar, in charge of Enterprise Greece and the National Investment Commission of Iraq respectively, regarding the Promotion and Encouragement of Investments between the two countries. All three Memoranda have entered into full force and are being implemented by both sides, producing concrete results. 

In the same signing ceremony, the Greek Foreign Minister said that the signing of the two MOUs is evidence of the development of relations, especially in the field of trade and investment. How many Greek companies are currently operating in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region? What sectors are they working in?

My informed guess would be over 200 companies, as it is hard to keep track of all of them. There are at least 20 Greek shipping companies carrying Iraqi oil to China, Greece, and other destinations, more than 20 Greek pharmaceutical industries supplying medicines to Iraq, other Greek companies selling health and beauty – personal care – cleaning supplies- baby-related products, more than 10 exporting ouzo and other beverages to Iraq, more than 10 construction companies building offices, ports, hotels, hospitals, natural gas power plants, factories, etc, other furnishing ice cream, yogurt, feta cheese, olives, and olive oil, canned fruit, chocolate, cookies, and snacks. In addition, there are Greek companies supplying the Iraqi market with solar energy and energy storage equipment, building materials, oil products, and lubricants, polyurethane, pumps, steel pipes and hollow sections for the energy and construction sectors, anti-corrosives, marble, even kitchens including the proverbial kitchen sink. I think you get the picture: Greece is not an unknown country to the Iraqi consumer. The feedback I have from Iraqi business persons is that Greek firms are very competitive and reliable in delivery time, quality control, and prices.   

“There is plenty of room and many plans for expansion of our economic relations, therefore. We are currently looking into the opportunities for increased cooperation in fields such as renewable energy sources, agribusiness, construction, health services, air transport, and banking.”

How substantial is bilateral trade between Greece and the Kurdistan Region? Are there presently any plans to expand it in certain areas or into new areas?

Bilateral trade is substantial both for Iraq and Greece. My country imports more than half of its oil from Iraq and it is the 5th largest market for Iraqi exports, after India, China, the USA, and South Korea, and before other European states. I am sorry I do not have separate figures for the Kurdistan Region. Our balance of trade is heavily skewed in Iraq’s favor. There is plenty of room and many plans for expansion of our economic relations, therefore. We are currently looking into the opportunities for increased cooperation in fields such as renewable energy sources, agribusiness, construction, health services, air transport, and banking. The pandemic has aggravated already existing economic, social, and political challenges to all of us. At the same time, it provides a unique momentum for accompanying the immediate crisis response with serious economic effort on our part to explore all possibilities mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation, of enabling the private sector and investment. This is a time of big needs and expectations.  

“Only two months ago, Greece, bilaterally, contributed $ 60,000 to UNDP’s Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS), which implements fast track initiatives to stabilize areas of Iraq liberated from Daesh.”

Greece participates in the international community’s efforts to stabilize Iraq and supports EU initiatives that seek to assist Iraq. What role Greece has played or sought to play in these efforts?

Greece is a member of the International Coalition to Defeat Daesh, a donor country to Iraq as a member of the EU, a member of the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) in Iraq, and a member of the NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI). Only two months ago, Greece, bilaterally, contributed $60,000 to UNDP’s Funding Facility for Stabilization (FFS), which implements fast track initiatives to stabilize areas of Iraq liberated from Daesh. Greece, as an EU member, is a long-term reliable partner of Iraq. We support its territorial integrity, political unity, and sovereignty and consider that its welfare and security constitute a necessity for regional peace. We all have an interest in a stable and prosperous Iraq. The fight against terrorism, however, is not over yet, as we witness every day. Other strategic priorities for us involve cooperation on migration and on the protection of the natural and cultural heritage from climate change. 

“I hope that very soon a new chapter of multidimensional cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and Greece will be opened. Our leaders have discovered a lot of common ground and we have been given our marching orders.”

What are the main areas of cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and Greece’s mission in Iraq? Are there any particular areas of cooperation that you hope to expand upon with the Kurdistan Region in the coming months and years?

As Ambassador to Iraq, I have met with the leadership of the Kurdistan Region more than once. Since 2011, we have had an Economic and Commercial Affairs Office in Erbil and since August 2018, we have had a Consulate General. The Consulate and the Office handle the everyday business and contacts in the Region. The most important contacts, however, are directly between our leaders. The Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, met the President of the KRI, Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, in the World Economic Forum of Davos last year. This year, the Prime Minister of the KRI, Mr. Masrour Barzani, met the Greek Prime Minister in Athens on 11th June. The two Prime Ministers had also a telephone conversation on 20 July 2021. The most recent high-level meeting was between Mr. Masrour Barzani and the Greek Foreign Minister, Mr. Nikos Dendias, in Bahrain, a month ago. I hope that very soon a new chapter of multidimensional cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and Greece will be opened. There is great potential for cooperation also outside the economic field, for example in the cultural one. Our leaders have discovered a lot of common ground and we have been given our marching orders.

“As a member of the International Coalition, we recognize the significant contribution of the Peshmerga in the fight against Daesh. In the recent past, wounded Peshmerga have been hospitalized in Greece.”

Could you please tell us about the cooperation between Greece and the Kurdistan Region on matters of security, including counter-terrorism?

We don’t have separate arrangements with the KRI on sovereignty issues. All cooperation in the security field can take place only through Baghdad or with the consent of the Federal Government. As a member of the International Coalition, we recognize the significant contribution of the Peshmerga in the fight against Daesh. In the recent past, wounded Peshmerga have been hospitalized in Greece. We can always examine the possibilities for cooperation in fields such as medical evacuation, upgrading the security standards of critical infrastructure, and response/ civil protection to cases of emergency, especially natural disasters.    

“The new Government will also have to continue the efforts and its cooperation with the International Community in confronting terrorism, which is an existential threat not only to the countries of this region but to the whole world.”

What does Greece expect, hope to see, from the next Iraqi government?

Our priority is to consolidate recovery gains and boost reconstruction in Iraq to meet its citizens’ demands. The creation of jobs for the young ones, the promotion of good governance, and the fight against corruption are essential for the development of Iraq. The reform process must be Iraqi-led and benefit from full Iraqi ownership. The new Government will also have to continue the efforts and its cooperation with the International Community in confronting terrorism, which is an existential threat not only to the countries of this region but to the whole world. Moreover, Iraq’s stability and prospects for economic regeneration and prosperity are a common interest in the wider region. Iraq’s geopolitics which have been a tough issue for so long can be turned around and serve as a bridge between its neighbors. Regardless of the form, the next Iraqi government will take, what is most important for its interlocutors is to see a continuity of government in Iraq in general.

“Turkey, unfortunately, refuses to accept the fundamental rules of international conduct and is developing confrontational rhetoric that goes far beyond what could be diplomatically acceptable. But Greece will not fall into the trap of responding spasmodically to these provocations.”

Speaking alongside his visiting Slovenian counterpart Anze Logar, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias claimed last November that Turkey is escalating tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Could you please tell us about Greece’s point of view on this issue?

I must stress here that as a journalist, you should be aware of the fact that Turkey’s escalation of tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean is neither recent nor a matter of Greek claims. If it were so, then the issue of sanctions against Turkey would not have been on the agenda of European and Foreign Affairs Councils for over two years now. The European Council condemned “Turkey’s continuing illegal drilling activities related to hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean” and adopted a framework for restrictive measures as far back as November 2019. There would also not have been so many articles in the press across Europe and across the whole world since then criticizing President Erdogan’s tactics. We must always remember that the borders of Greece are the borders of the European Union and there are numerous border police and coastguard officers from 21 other European states serving near the Greek- Turkish border. As our Foreign Minister has repeatedly stated, our strategic goals towards our neighboring country can be summarized in one phrase: we do not want escalation, but we are not going to accept any attempt to impinge on our sovereignty and sovereign rights. At the same time, we want the settlement of the only dispute we have, that is the delimitation of the Continental Shelf and the Exclusive Economic Zone in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean on the basis of international law and especially the international law of the sea. We do not harbor any illusions, however. Turkey, unfortunately, refuses to accept the fundamental rules of international conduct and is developing confrontational rhetoric that goes far beyond what could be diplomatically acceptable. But Greece will not fall into the trap of responding spasmodically to these provocations. Greece is constantly vigilant, building alliances with friends and partners and strengthening its deterrent power. At the same time, if Turkey embraces international law, we are prepared for sincere dialogue. 

“Greece seeks a constructive dialogue with Turkey, seeks dialogue with Turkish society, because it believes that a large part of Turkish society still hopes for European integration, still hopes for a different state of affairs in Turkey.”

Turkey has officially been a candidate for EU membership since 1999. Ankara has charged that Athens and the Greek Cypriot administration are blocking the opening of accession chapters for political reasons. Does Greece support Turkey becoming a member of the EU? If not, under what circumstances would Athens support Ankara’s accession?

First, I have to underline that what you called in your question “the Greek Cypriot Administration” DOES NOT EXIST. There is of course, the Republic of Cyprus, an independent state since 1960, a full member of the United Nations and the European Union. Second, if you read through Mr. Dendias’ statements after his meeting you quoted in your previous question, you have your answer to this question. I quote: “I want to reiterate here today what we always say, that Greece does not have any punitive attitude towards Turkey. Greece does not have any punitive attitude towards Turkish society. On the contrary, Greece seeks a constructive dialogue with Turkey, seeks dialogue with Turkish society, because it believes that a large part of Turkish society still hopes for European integration, still hopes for a different state of affairs in Turkey. But the EU needs to send a clear signal that the countries of the region, and especially those that aspire to join the EU, must respect the fundamental rules of international law, the fundamental rules of the European Acquis”, especially in the areas of rule of law, democracy, solidarity, protection of human rights, good neighborly relations and peaceful resolution of disputes.