Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Prime minister briefed on development issues

[02] FM addresses Greek Americans in NY

[01] Prime minister briefed on development issues

The development minister told reporters after the meeting that the new developmental law will enter into in effect in early 2007 and will give a boost to development and the Greek periphery.

Responding to a question on the Competition Commission, Sioufas said that the issue had been discussed at the meeting, and noted that detailed responses on all issues can be found in Wednesdayâs parliament session minutes.

He said that there was nothing wrong at the Public Power Corporation (PPC), and added that he briefed the prime minister on his recent visit to Russia where the twelve ministers of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) process discussed energy cooperation and security issues.

Sioufas also said that he briefed Karamanlis on the meetings he had with the the Russian industry and energy minister and with his Bulgarian counterpart on the next steps concerning the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline.

He also briefed Karamanlis on the Euro-Mediterranean Conference on industry held in Rhodes, the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and the efforts for the creation of a free trade zone in the Mediterranean by 2010.

Sioufas stressed that it is an issue of major importance for the region and Greece, which contributed decisively to the efforts for progress on that matter during the Rhodes meeting.

[02] FM addresses Greek Americans in NY

Bakoyannis conveyed prime minister Costas Karamanlis' best wishes and greetings to the Greek Americans, stressing that they are "an individsible part of Greece and Hellenism and make us all proud".

Speaking on Greece's image today, Bakoyannis said that the country was "moving ahead with development and abilities for its citizens". "We have taken important steps, but we must make still more," she added.

On Greece's foreign policy, the minister said that "we are following a policy of self-confidence...Greece is a country that is a pole of stability. We are a country that has excellent relations with all its neighbours".

Turning to Greece's presidency of the UN Security Council during the month of September, she said that "we are seen as a credible and serious interlocutor, and we are a country that has a say in and knowledge of the problems in the region".

Bakoyannis further referred to the specific problems faced by Hellenism, with the Cyprus issue at the top of the list, stressing that "Greek foreign policy will never tire of fighting for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem".

Greece, she continued, "supports Turkey's European prospect, but we want a neighbouring country that is a modern European democracy".

"Turkey itself, however, must also want to become a European country, it must accept the European criteria, and it must respect the European principles and values," she stressed.

Finally, turning to the FYROM name issue, "which is open also within the framework of the UN", Bakoyannis said that "we will work to find a mutually acceptable solution".

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