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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-08-25Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Foreign ministry cites heightened diplomatic activity ahead of crucial EU-Turkey meetingsAthens on Thursday reiterated its standing position of "no shadow" being cast vis-a-vis Turkey's absolute application of a customs union protocol with the European Union, weeks after the EU candidate-state signed an extension of the protocol while simultaneously claiming that its signature doesn't constitute recognition of EU member Cyprus.The statement came amid heightened diplomatic activity by Greece and Cyprus' diplomatic services ahead of a COREPER meeting on Aug. 31 in Brussels, a meeting expected to focus on Turkey's signing of the protocol, as well as an informal council (Gymnich) assigned the task of processing the negotiation framework for EU-Turkey relations. A foreign ministry spokesman made the statement on Thursday, while noting that both Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis and Deputy FM Yiannis Valinakis plan to communicate with their counterparts in Italy and Spain over the next few days, as well as with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn. Moreover, spokesman George Koumoutsakos said Molyviatis is set to speak with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in the next 24 hours, whereas Turkish Deputy Undersecretary Ertugrul Apakan is scheduled to arrive in Athens for talks on Aug. 31. Similar contacts by Greece's permanent representation in Brussels with the EU presidency, Commission and in other EU capitals are underway, the foreign ministry stated. "The end result of Turkey's European course is a European Turkey, not the opposite," sources at the foreign ministry added. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |