Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-03-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus' Christofias meets with Greek leadership in Athens

[01] Cyprus' Christofias meets with Greek leadership in Athens

After his meeting with Karamanlis, Christofias told reporters that the prime minister's views and his own regarding recent developments converged, mirroring the convergence of views between Athens and Nicosia as a whole.

"I was also given the opportunity to thank the prime minister for the Greek government's efforts and its comprehensive cooperation with the Cyprus government so that we move ahead and prevent efforts by Turkey and its friends to take steps backwards, cancelling out steps forward," he said.

Christofias also expressed satisfaction with the Greek government's vigilance in deflecting threats and machinations by Ankara and elsewhere, as he noted.

The Cypriot parliamentarian later met with PASOK leader George Papandreou, the country's former foreign minister

"We're concerned over the latest statements on the part of Turkey, whom we consider as obliged to meet the conditions set out for its European course," Papandreou said, while again criticising the Greek government for not exploiting Helsinki summit decisions over the past two years, as he said.

"In our talks we again confirmed the existence of Turkey's well-known dogma (on the Cyprus issue) - via recent press reports, of course - but I believe that this is a reality, in other works, a tough stance vis-a-vis Greece regarding the Cyprus issue," Christofias said.

"Unfortunately, Turkey's stance up until now has created obstacles, they have not yet clarified their position, and I believe that Mr. Papandreou's help as the president of the Socialist International will be significant," Christofias added.

The Cypriot leader concluded the first portion of his Athens contacts on Wednesday by meeting with Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) leader Alekos Alavanos.

"We believe that there is a new mobility in the Cyprus issue thanks to the proposals set forth by the Republic of Cyprus, and we must all guarantee that an agreement to re-commence talks on substantive issues, as occurred with the UN general secretary, will be adhered to and not undermined by the other side," Alavanos said.

He also stressed that Ankara must be again reminded of its obligations in its course towards EU accession.

Christofias was met with his Greek counterpart, Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki.

Caption: Greek Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki, right, meets with her Cypriot counterpart, House of Represenatives president Demetris Christofias, in Parliament on Wednesday, March 22, 2006. ANA-MPA / P. Saitas.

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