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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Thail deputy premier, UN sec. gen. candidate, meets with premier Karamanlis, FM

[01] Thail deputy premier, UN sec. gen. candidate, meets with premier Karamanlis, FM

Foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis also met with Surakiat, shortly before an Inner Cabinet meeting.

In statements after their talks, Bakoyannis noted the good relations between the two countries at both political and economic level, despite the large geographical distance between them, adding that the two sides had agreed that more steps could be taken to strengthen the bilateral cooperation.

Bakoyannis reiterated its position concerning the Thai deputy prime minister's candidacy, noting that Greece was in favour of an Asian candidacy, adding that a detailed discussion would be made at the next UN General Assembly on both the changes to the UN's operation and the candidacies for the post of Secretary General, voting on which was slated for the end of the year.

Surakiat, who is on his third visit to Greece, said he had agreed with both Karamanlis and Bakoyannis that cooperation needed to be strengthened so that the two countries would serve as a hub for each other. Thailand, he added, could become a hub for Greece through the creation of a consortium of 10 Asian countries, in orther that Greece could penetrate other markets as well.

Thailand, he explained, had similar bilateral agreements with several countries, including China and New Zealand. Surakiat noted that he was accompanied on his visit by a representative of the Thai business community, aimed at Greece becoming a hub for Thailand.

Surakiat further said that a tourism cooperation agreement would be signed later in the day (with tourism development minister Fani Palli-Petralia) which would boost the existing agreement in the sector of culture.

On his UN candidacy, Surakiat stressed that there were many areas for close cooperation with Greece in foreign policy, given that Greece plays an important role in external affairs.

Referring to the Cyprus isue, he said that the UN, in cooperation with Greece, could play a role in resolution of the long-standing problem.

Surakiat noted that his candidacy is backed by 10 countries in SE Asia.

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