Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-10-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Nat'l foreign policy council focuses on EU-Turkey ties, 'name issue'

[01] Nat'l foreign policy council focuses on EU-Turkey ties, 'name issue'

Afterwards, Molyviatis told reporters that he touched on Turkey's EU prospects by noting that the "commencement of accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU was achieved under conditions that fully ensure both Greece's and Cyprus' positions and goals".

Regarding last week's proposal by a UN mediator over a possible solution to the "name issue" still plaguing relations between Athens and Skopje, the Greek FM reiterated that the Greek side flatly rejected the proposal, while continuing to view the entire matter "calmly and responsibly".

On his part, former EU Commissioner Christos Papoutsis, a high-ranking main opposition PASOK cadre and deputy, cited what he called a lack of "insight, boldness and decisiveness" on the part of the government vis-?-vis major foreign policy challenges.

Nevertheless, Papoutsis said efforts to find consensus on foreign policy issues was a political choice for PASOK, although he clarified that "we cannot, however, speak of carte blanche or consensus to cover-up responsibilities in specific decisions."

Finally, he reiterated his party's support for Balkan countries' European prospects while again stressing that the "name issue" should be resolved under a mutually acceptable proposal envisioning a unified name, "with respect to cultural, historical and political elements of the region".

Former Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) party leader Nikos Constantopoulos stressed the need to avoid past mistakes in foreign policy issues, as well as to avoid petty partisan political battles on such matters.

He also said proposals envisioning possible referenda and threats to use Greece's veto power were "off-the-mark".

The Council was convened following a request by Synaspismos.

The Council is comprised of senior representatives of political parties represented in Parliament, along with high-ranking diplomats and academics. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has said it will not attend such meetings.

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