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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-04-23Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Condoleezza Rice for talks in Athens TuesdayUS Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to pay a working visit to Athens on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said.Rice will be received by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, and hold talks with Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The US official was also scheduled to visit Ankara and Sofia, where she will take part in a NATO foreign ministers meeting on April 24-28, the State Department announced last week. Talks with Greek officials were expected to cover Iran's nuclear programme, on the agenda for discussion on April 28 by the UN Security Council, where Greece is a non-permanent member. Other items on the agenda were the next steps in the Cyprus issue; the future of Kosovo; the situation in the Balkans; Turkey's bid for EU entry and the policies of Greece and Cyprus in the matter; Greece's role in the rapprochement effort with Muslim countries; and Greece's role in the transfer of energy to the West. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. [02] Greece urges policy-shift for TurkeyTurkey needs to change foreign policy and overhaul its domestic scene for relations with Greece to attain full normalisation, the president of the republic, Karolos Papoulias, said on Sunday."Greece is optimistic that Turkey's course towards Europe will also end in a full normalistion of our bilateral relations, but for this course to be completed, Ankara has to revise standing positions in its foreign policy and effect a real revolution in its domestic affairs," the president said in an Orthodox Easter address to army officers. "We hope that the required will exists. If it does not, then this course will stop in the middle. The European Union has a responsibility towards its citizens not to accept entry by states that fail fully to adapt to the (bloc's) system of principles and values," Papoulias told a reception at the Soufli army officers' club in the border prefecture of Evros. The president noted that the country was looking forward to the day when it would no longer have to spend so much on armaments, allowing defence funds to be spent on helping people in need. "When that day will come does not depend exclusively on Greece, which is a force for peace and stability in the wider region," he added. The president also congratulated troops in Evros for their assistance in natural disasters, including rescue and repair work when the Evros river broke its banks. Papoulias celebrated Easter Sunday with officers, NCOs and servicemen of the 50th mechanised brigade near the border with Turkey after attending a resurrection service at Aghios Georgios Church on Saturday, followed by the officers' club reception. The president visited a military outpost in Lavara before heading for the brigade's headquarters in Soufli for Easter lunch with troops. Cypriot president backs Papoulias' statements In Nicosia, Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos said that Papoulias' statements were in line with the island republic's position on Turkey. "Turkey must fully meet its obligations to Cyprus with no exchanges, as it is obliged to do, within the framework of its course towards Europe," Papadopoulos told reporters. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. [03] PM says gov't policy starting to pay offPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis said on Sunday that the government's policy was starting to pay off, despite difficulties still faced by the public."Today, Greeks are in the middle of a great, difficult and painful endeavour, which, however, is already bearing fruit and tangible results. Resolute and united, we can claim the future we deserve for a better Greece," Karamanlis told crew aboard the "Kanaris", a Hellenic Navy frigate in Tinos. On Good Friday, the prime minister and his wife Natasha attended a service at the island's cathedral, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary; and on Saturday a resurrection service at Kechrovounio Monastery. The prime minister returns to Athens on Tuesday to chair an inner cabinet meeting on a bill by the ministry of state on share ownership in media companies, and nationwide broadcasting licenses. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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