Athens News Agency: News in English, 01-06-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece - EU summit - Cyprus - FYROM

[01] Greece - EU summit - Cyprus - FYROM

GOTEBORG (ANA) Greek leadership expressed satisfaction with the results of this weeks EU summit here, especially over the complex issue of the blocs projected expansion vis-a-vis the divided island republic of Cyprus.

In a press briefing, Prime Minister Costas Simitis reiterated that the European Councils decisions regarding expansion are ?irreversible? and that candidate-countries which have completed accession negotiations by late 2002 will participate in the 2004 Euro-elections.

In reference to Turkey, the Greek premier said of the neighbouring country that it must make greater progress in certain critical areas, such as human rights, while also fully meeting the terms laid out by the IMF for economic reform.

FYROM

Regarding the worrying situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Simitis praised the EUs devotion to the policy of maintaining recognised borders in the Balkans and the territorial integrity of the beleaguered land-locked state to Greeces north.

Asked about the possibility of establishing an international force to intervene in FYROM and the possibility that Washington will not commit troops to such a force Simitis said that if European countries commit forces then Greece would also follow suit.

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