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Greece

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Last reviewed: 17 November 2009

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Greece’s relations with her neighbours

Greece joined NATO in 1952 and the EC (now the EU) in 1981. The main thrust of Greece’s foreign policy in recent years has been consolidating her position in the EU, although Greece’s relations with her immediate neighbours (the Balkans, Turkey and Cyprus) often dominate her foreign policy.

Turkey

Since Greece won her independence in 1830 from the Turkish Ottoman Empire, there have been problems in the relationship between the two neighbours. Greece and Turkey disagree over rights to the Aegean continental shelf, the extent of Greek airspace and territorial waters in the Aegean sea and regarding sovereignty over certain rocky islets. Bilateral exploratory contacts at official level aimed at reaching an agreement are ongoing. There are also issues concerning the treatment of the Greek minority in Turkey and the Muslim minority in Greece.

However, the situation has significantly improved. From June 1999, the then Greek Foreign Minister, George Papandreou, and his Turkish counterpart, Ismail Cem, pursued an active policy of rapprochement. This led to the signing of nine bilateral agreements covering a range of areas for co-operation e.g. tourism and the environment. This détente was greatly facilitated by the ‘earthquake diplomacy’ of 1999; each country in turn suffered serious earthquakes in late summer, and large mutual aid donations helped to thaw relations. The better relationship between Greece and Turkey was a major factor in enabling EU member states to award candidate status (with a view to eventual EU membership) to Turkey at the Helsinki European Council in December 1999. This put Turkey’s relationship with the EU and Greece on a new footing. Greece supports the European Council decision in December 2004 on opening accession negotiations with Turkey on 3 October 2005, subject to the relevant criteria having been met.

Cyprus

Achieving a political settlement in Cyprus remains a key concern of Greece’s foreign policy. The Greek government supports a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. Negotiations on the island started on 3 September 2008. Following this, the former ND Greek Prime Minister, and Greek Foreign Minister made statements issuing their support to the negotiation process between the two communities. This support continues under PASOK.

The Balkans

Because of geography and traditional trade links, Greece has a special interest in the Balkans area, and is keen to develop her role as a bridge between the EU and the Balkans. Because of a sense of fellowship with Orthodox Serbia, anti-Western sentiment for historic reasons, fear of regional instability and concern at the disruption of economic and political ties with the then Former Republic of Yugoslavia, there was strong popular opposition to NATO action in Kosovo in the first half of 1999. Communist-led demonstrations especially in Thessaloniki, where NATO troops disembarked, produced some violent clashes. But the Greek government at the time steered a skilful path between Greek public opinion and Greece’s commitments as an EU Member State and NATO ally.

Despite continued Greek sensitivities over the use of the name ‘Macedonia’ (which is the name of a region of Northern Greece), relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) have greatly improved over recent years. Greek companies have made major investments in FYROM. Talks under UN auspices to resolve the name dispute are ongoing.

With an Albanian immigrant population of approximately 600,000 now living in Greece, and an indigenous though declining Greek minority in Southern Albania, ties between Greece and Albania are close, although historically difficult. Relations have improved with exchanges of visit by Prime Ministers and government officials. A series of tripartite meetings between the Prime Ministers of Greece, Albania and FYROM, introduced in the summer of 1999, explored the possibilities of regional cooperation and diffusing potential tensions.

At the Thessaloniki European Council in June 2003, under the Greek presidency, EU leaders reiterated their determination to fully support the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries.

Greece’s Relations with the UK

The UK and Greece enjoy a close bilateral relationship. There is much common ground between our two countries, and a long historical association dating back to the Greek War of Independence. The EU is the chief forum for co-operation; the UK and Greece are also NATO allies. Among our shared EU goals is a common determination to implement job-creating economic reform, under the Lisbon agenda. In addition to these political ties, around three million British tourists visit Greece each year, while there are approximately 23,000 Greek students currently in higher education in the UK.

The Greek and British Governments co-operated in the pursuit of the killers of Brigadier Stephen Saunders, the former UK Defence Attaché in Athens who was murdered by the November 17 terrorist group on his way to work on 8 June 2000. A breakthrough against the group occurred in July 2002, and in December 2003, 15 members of the group were sentenced to imprisonment, including all those found guilty of murdering Brigadier Saunders.

The Parthenon Sculptures ('Elgin Marbles')

The sculptures from the Parthenon Temple in Athens were brought to England in the 19th century by Lord Elgin with the permission of the Ottoman authorities, the recognised legitimate authorities at the time. They are housed on public display in the British Museum in London. Successive British Governments have considered the issue of their return to Greece but have determined that it was not within their role to intervene.

In October 2002, Mr Simitis, the then Greek Prime Minister, handed the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair a proposal for a long-term loan of the sculptures. Shortly afterwards, the Greek Culture Minister met Museum officials to discuss the issue. They explained that they were unable to agree to any such loan, but were willing to consider loans of other items. The Greek Culture Minister also met the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who confirmed that the British Museum was independent of the Government, that the matter was for the Trustees of the Museum, and that the Museum's legal position was sound.

Mr Blair subsequently replied to Mr Simitis' proposal confirming that the issue of a loan of the sculptures was for the Trustees of the British Museum.

Bilateral Meetings

The Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues regularly meet their Greek counterparts at multilateral EU meetings. In addition, Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, hosted the Greek Prime Minister in a meeting on 31 October 2009, where they discussed issues such as Cyprus, Turkey, the Western Balkans and EU issues.The Foreign Secretary also met the Greek Prime Minister and alternate Foreign Minister in October and visited Greece in May and June 2009.

Cultural Relations with the UK

British Council: Greece 

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