In the next six months, all the major issues in Greek foreign policy will come to major turning points, Greek foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis said.
 
These included the dispute with Skopje about the use of the name Macedonia, Cyprus and Greece’s relations with Turkey.
 
Bakoyannis, speaking in Thessaloniki on September 6, said that United Nations-brokered negotiations on the Macedonia name dispute were "entering a new phase".
 
"We have to do everything in our power to achieve the best possible result," she said.
 
"The (Macedonian prime minister Nikola) Gruevski government – with its grand openings and attempts to pick history’s pocket – thinks that it can rewrite the past," according to Bakoyannis
 
"It is pushing the people of our neighbouring country towards fanaticism and bigotry, and this is increasing the distance between them and their Euroatlantic perspective. Greece is participating in the negotiations in a constructive spirit and for the purpose of achieving a mutually acceptable solution without winners or losers," she said.
 
She said that the Greek government headed by Costas Karamanlis – which will face a snap election on October 4 2009 – had succeeded in making this the message that the international community, the European Union and Nato also were sending to Skopje.
 
"Our red lines are and will remain inviolable," Bakoyannis said.
 
"A solution with a compound name, with a geographical qualifier, for use by everyone. A solution that benefits everyone. A solution towards a future of co-operation and security for our region and our peoples," she said.
 
On the Cyprus issue, negotiations were entering a critical stage, Bakoyannis said.
 
"Despite the difficulties and obstacles, the talks are moving ahead. This is a difficult process. The negotiations are meeting with obstacles."
 
But the conditions were there for a solution, she said. "This solution – a bizonal, bicommunal federation – will have to be just, viable and functional, without obsolete systems of guarantees".
 
Bakoyannis said that Turkey – which she described as "a basic factor in shaping the conduct of the Turkish Cypriots" – still had time to show that its declarations regarding zero problems with its neighbours were not mere words.
 
"Turkey has to bring its policy into line with the fact that honouring its commitments – behaving in a truly European manner – is the only road that can take Turkey to Europe. A prospect that we look forward to," Bakoyannis said.