Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-10-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Foreign ministry, PASOK on Turkey's 'Casus Belli"

[02] Kosovo negotiations neither easy nor painless, Papoulias predicts

[01] Foreign ministry, PASOK on Turkey's 'Casus Belli"

Reiterating the Greek position on the matter, Koumoutsakos stressed that the 'Casus Belli' "is contrary to the spirit and letter of international law but also of the United Nations Charter." He noted that "the manner with which Greece is confronting Turkey's European prospects was never based on the assessment that practices of decades would be transformed on October 4, 2005" with the start of the accession talks.

"The basic concern of the Greek side is for strong foundations to be laid, terms and lines so that the start of the accession negotiations to mean that we are led to a new environment and gradual change," Koumoutsakos said. The foreign ministry spokesman noted that "in Turkey's Negotiating Framework with the European Union, for the first time terms have been set as preconditions for accession which do not only refer to the fulfillment of the political criteria but also concern its international behaviour."

Asked to comment on Turkey's decision not to participate, at least not now, in the SE Energy Community Treaty which was signed in Athens on Tuesday, Koumoutsakos stressed that "the fact concerns the European Commission and not particularly Greece" and noted that the relevant minister of the Turkish government was present at the signing ceremony.

Regarding the visit to Washington of Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, the foreign ministry spokesman stated that the Greek side reserves the right to wait to see the results of the meeting.

"The initiatives and meetings must not be absent when they are in a constructive direction. However, there is no certainty that this meeting will contribute in this direction," he added.

Referring to the issue of 'Casus Belli' on the part of Turkey, on the basis on what has been broadcast from Turkey and which concern the decision of the neighbouring country's National Security Council, main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) Spokesman Nikos Athanassakis stressed on Wednesday that "the National Security Council's decision has not been published in its entirety," adding that "on the basis of experience, the Turkish press, on such matters, never refers to mistakenly."

The PASOK spokesman also said that "all this concludes that Turkey is attempting to start the procedure of the accession negotiations, maintaining to the full its claims at the expense of our country's sovereign rights," and this, as he said, "constitutes yet another proof of the New Democracy's foreign policy success."

[02] Kosovo negotiations neither easy nor painless, Papoulias predicts

Furthermore, he told attendees that negotiations should concern all since their outcome will affect the greater region and reiterated that Greece sincerely supports all Balkan countries' European Union prospects, a strategic choice given the effect this could have on the future of Southeast Europe.

"Our neighbourhood has never been quiet. Threats and dangers lurked sometimes near our northern borders, sometimes near our eastern borders," he said.

"Greece has been and continues to be steadfastly committed to peace, harmonious cooperation and co-existence, based on the rules of international law and the principle of reciprocity," he added.

Regarding Kosovo, Papoulias expressed hope that international law and the UN Charter will remain in effect, that the rights of all groups and the significant cultural Orthodox legacy will be respected, and that the solution reached will be based on European values and principles.

On his part, Tsiartsionis said that Greece is actively sending the message to its Balkan neighbours that cooperation and communication are more productive than discord and conflict, that solidarity and trust are preferable to suspiciousness and intolerance.

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