Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-03-24

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greece - FYROM - EU

[01] Greece - FYROM - EU

Athens predicted a normalisation in neighbouring FYROM ?sooner or later? as Greek leadership on Saturday pointed to a ?determined stance? by the European Union and Washington in the face of unprecedented extremist violence in that small, multi-ethnic countrys northwest.

A concerned, but cautious Greek leadership -- led by PM Costas Simitis -- placed the issue of Albanian extremist violence in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) at the top of its agenda going into an EU Summit in Stockholm.

Simitis noted afterwards that the international communitys reaction towards the violence in the Tetovo area of FYROM ?doesnt leave any room for anyone to promote unilateral changes?.

The latest turbulence in the Balkans has brought conflict close to EU and NATO member Greeces borders a infinitely frustrating development for Athens painstaking efforts over the years at building regional cooperation with its neighbours and promoting other Balkan states EU orientation.

Athens solidarity to Skopje was in fact reiterated during a meeting between FYROM President Boris Trajkovski and Simitis on the sidelines of the Stockholm summit.

The Greek PM repeated Athens standing positions regarding FYROMs territorial integrity, security, sovereignty and the inviolability of the land-locked countrys borders, at the same time condemning all acts of violence and terrorism on the part of what he termed 'Albanian gangs'.

Conversely, he praised what he called the ?moderation and realism? exhibited by the leaderships of the predominately ethnic Albanian parties in FYROM, before noting that a Stability Pact between the EU and FYROM -- to be signed on April 9 -- ?sends a clear message to all concerned.?

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