Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-02-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM Dora Bakoyiannis reveals her plans in newspaper interview

[01] FM Dora Bakoyiannis reveals her plans in newspaper interview

The foreign minister said in her interview that immediately after her participation in the European Union's Council of General Affairs, she will begin a tour of the Balkan region with visits to Sarajevo, Pristina and Belgrade, while she will also be visiting Skopje, Sofia and Bucharest soon.

Referring to FYROM's position on the issue of the neighbouring country's name, Bakoyiannis said "insistence on the absolute refusal of any mutually acceptable solution on their part is a political mistake. Skopje must seek, just like Athens, a mutually acceptable solution."

Bakoyiannis pointed out that the country's foreign policy will not change, while referring to Greek-Turkish relations she said Greek interests are served by a European Turkey.

Commenting on her Turkish counterpart's visit to Athens, she said Greece's support for Turkey's European prospects is clear but "it is not unconditional and terms have already been set both by us and the rest of our partners."

Asked what the Greek government will do if Turkey has not fulfilled criteria set for it by the EU by the end of the year, Bakoyiannis said "when the time comes we know very well what we shall do in every case."

As regards efforts to solve the issue of Cyprus, the foreign minister said "we cannot stand another failure", adding that "whatever is prepared must be a plan of such a kind that both communities will accept it. There can be no solutions without the knowledge of the people."

Bakoyiannis also said in her interview that she had never asked for the foreign ministry, given to her in the recent government reshuffle, and pointed out that the government is also a victim of the phone-tapping issue.

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