Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek PM holds talks with British counterpart in London

[02] Athens, Ankara sign multi-faceted trade cooperation memorandum

[03] Greek Civil Aviation Authority upgraded to first category in flight safety by FAA

[01] Greek PM holds talks with British counterpart in London

These are the issues that the British EU presidency, due to begin on Friday, will address and promote.

Speaking after his talks with Blair, Karamanlis said "we had a very useful meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and we discussed a wide spectrum of international, European and bilateral issues. Our talks, as was natural, focused on recent developments in the European Union and I had the opportunity of presenting to Tony Blair our positions and views, our proposals on these developments."

Karamanlis further said that "in parallel, we listened to Mr. Blair presenting the priorities of the British presidency on these issues and primarily, of course, on the ratification process for the Constitutional Treaty, as well as fiscal policies for the 2007-2013 period."

The prime minister added that relations between the EU and the western Balkans, relations with Turkey and the issue of Cyprus were also discussed.

"On a bilateral level, we had the opportunity with the British prime minister of confirming once again the excellent climate in our bilateral relations. I must stress as well that the meeting and the discussion took place in a very constructive climate and on this occasion I wished the British prime minister every success in the British presidency, which he is assuming now, and in the difficult task in the six-month period that is beginning," Karamanlis said.

[02] Athens, Ankara sign multi-faceted trade cooperation memorandum

An agreement on patent and standardisation between the relevant Greek and Turkish agencies was also signed on the sidelines of the meeting, a pact that foresees the exchange of know-how, among others.

On his part, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Evripides Stylianidis called for a decrease in the trade gap between the two neighbours, as Turkey still enjoys a 2-1 advantage in the bilateral trade balance, a motion that reportedly met with acceptance by the Turkish side.

Athens also proposed the creation of a second bridge at the Kipi border crossing on the two countriesâ land frontier, a border separated by the Evros River.

Both sides also agreed, in principle, to ferry boat routes in the northeast Aegean linking the ports of Ainos, Alexandroupolis, Maroneia, the island of Samothrace and the island of Imvros.

The memorandum also cited a reference to an agreement between state-run Greek telephony provider OTE and the corresponding utility Turk Telecom, as well as one between Hellenic Railways and Turkish Rail for upgrading the Thessaloniki-Istanbul route.

The Turkish delegation was headed by Foreign Trade Undersecretary Tuncer Kayalar.

[03] Greek Civil Aviation Authority upgraded to first category in flight safety by FAA

The announcement was made by Greek Transport and Communications Minister Mihalis Liapis during a visit to the Athens International Airport on Thursday.

This development is of great significance to the Greek aviation, since it will expand the country's aviation market, facilitating Greek airlines' flights to the US, with more flights and destinations in the American market, while at the same it will ease aircraft inspections.

US ambassador to Athens, Charles Ries, announced FAA's decision in a meeting with the Greek minister on Wednesday and said the US aviation authority acknowledged Greece's efforts to upgrade infrastructure, legislation and general aviation conditions in the country.

Speaking to reporters, Liapis expressed his satisfaction over this development and called it "a national success" since FAA's decision not only added more status to the Greek aviation sector but offer many advantages as well, such as more tourism.

The Greek minister announced that a Presidential Decree on airport safety would be ready in the next few days, an issue pending since 2003.

Liapis said the Athens International Airport was one of the two rapidly growing airports in Europe and noted that passenger traffic rose 12 percent in the first five months of 2005.

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