Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-05-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens outlines its concerns to Iran's top nuclear negotiator

[02] Glezos book on 1940-1945 National Resistance

[01] Athens outlines its concerns to Iran's top nuclear negotiator

Larijani, who is also the secretary of Iran's powerful Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), arrived in Athens from Ankara, Turkey, where he held talks with Turkish leadership a day earlier.

On her part, Bakoyannis stressed that Greece -- which is currently a non-permanent member of the United Nations' Security Council -- backs both the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Security Council's processes to defuse the ongoing crisis.

Larijani, conversely, again repeated Tehran's leitmotif of keeping the issue firmly away from the UNSC domain and instead resolving it within the IAEA framework.

"We also believe that the Russian plan (for Iran's uranium enrichment programme to take place at Russian facilities) can proceed, but more time is needed," he told reporters at the Greek foreign ministry, adding that some UNSC permanent members have more 'realistic' positions than others, a clear reference to Washington.

Bakoyannis nevertheless initially emphasised what she called the Greek government's "sincere expression of its positions" during the meeting, positions revolving around the need for nuclear and WMD non-proliferation to insure a stable and secure world. She also said Athens shares the international community's concern over Iran's nuclear programme and believes the UNSC and IAEA have a "crucial role" to play in the matter, while underlining that the Greek government is aligned with the positions of its partners.

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[02] Glezos book on 1940-1945 National Resistance

Addressing the event, President Papoulias said of the two-volume work that "I am here to honour Manolis Glezos. A historic personality", adding that the book is a great contribution to young people to learn the truth about the resistance struggle, to be taught and be given as an example.

Karamanlis said in a statement that "Greek resistance was written with capital letters in world history. It was written with acts of heroism, with acts of freedom such as of Manolis Glezos and, of course, with the blood of thousands of Greeks, both known and unknown heroes."

He further pointed out that "ideals, freedom and justice remain topical as bright examples for the younger Greeks."

Speaking during the presentation of the book, Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said that "history is Ianos which refers us to the past and shows us the future".

Referring to the book, he said that the two volumes show us how a people were struggling, saying that the method followed by Manolis Glezos to register the National Resistance era is of great importance.

Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party leader Alekos Alavanos said that the book by Manolis Glezos "will continue to be written since it illuminates the National Resistance and present day, touching on issues which are also topical today and preoccupy, such as local administration, relations between the church and the state and the great value of the unity of the people."

Glezos thanked those present at the event and stressed that "your presence here constitutes confirmation that our people do not forget to be 'present' always when it is necessary to struggle" and underlined that "all who are present at the presentation of his literary work are holding the torch of vigilance lighted."

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