Vienna (ANA-MPA/D. Dimitrakoudis) -- The Greek government's intention to make use of the Greek initiative for a direct channel of communication between the leaders of Greece and Turkey was stressed by alternate foreign minister Dimitris Droutsas on Friday in Vienna, ahead of his meeting with Austrian federal president Dr. Heinz Fischer.

   Droutsas also said that the government will reply to a letter addressed by Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to his Greek counterpart George Papandreou in the next few days, in statements to ANA-MPA.

   The alternate minister said that a responsible attitude was required by all sides and by everyone "because haste makes waste". Good preparation was necessary so that "the opportunity opening up before us will not be wasted".

   Droutsas further noted the meeting n Athens on Thursday between visiting Turkish minister of state and chief negotiator for the EU Egemen Bagis and prime minister Papandreou, during which Bagis briefed Papandreou on "Mr. Erdogan's desire to accept prime minister George Papandreou's call".

   He said that Thursday's meeting had been "useful" in view of the "crucial decisions on Turkey's accession course" in December when the EU will review Anara's progress in meeting EU requirements. "Greece clearly supports Turkey's European prospect. It equally clearly stressed that there will be no 'discounts' in the evaluation of Turkey," he added.

   On foreign policy, Droutsas noted that the government has, from the beginning, declared that it wants to change page in the way foreign policy is exercised. "We want aggressive diplomacy, active political initiatives, but this does not alter the fundamental targets we week, the fundamental principles and values we serve," he explained.

   Droutsas said that he was in Vienna "to take the next step in the Greek government's policy", taking the opportunity of the event being organised by Greece's Chairmanship-in-Office (CiO) of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) marking the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Wall.

   While in Vienna, Droutsas said, he will seek two things.

   First, he will have a series of meetings with the Austrian leadership. Greece, Droutsas said, wants the contribution of Austria, "an important country for the Balkans" to the effort to advance the political goal of the European integration of Greece's entire neighborhood by 2014.

   Second, at a special session of the OSCE permanent council, he will present the vision for the ministerial meeting in Athens. "As we prepare the biggest international event after the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, we want to set out clear-cut policy goals. More than 50 foreign ministers have responded to our invitation. When they come to Athens, we want agreement on an ambitious framework for dialogue that will render the Corfu Process a basic forum for the security issues of the Europe of the 21st century," Droutsas explained.

   "We are satisfied because the developments affirm our choices. We have a plan and a strategy. We are stirring up the waters. We are promoting dialogue. We are seeking solutions," the alternate foreign minister stressed.

   Apart from his meeting with President Fischer, Droutsas is also scheduled to meet on Friday with the Speaker of the Austrian Parliament, Dr. Barbara Prammer, Foreign Minister Dr. Michael Spindelegger, and the Secretary General of the OSCE, Ambassador Marc Perrin de Brichambaut.

   Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Alternate FM Dimitris Droutsas