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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-12-26
CONTENTS
[01] FM on general elections, Cyprus issue
[02] Deputy DM visits Bosnia-Herzegovina
[01] FM on general elections, Cyprus issue
Greece's Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, in an interview she gave to
Sunday's edition of "Eleftherotypia" newspaper, sees recourse to the
polls, at any moment, if there are reactions to the changes which the
ruling New Democracy (ND) party is advancing. However, she views that
the general elections will be conducted normally, at some moment,
towards the end of the four-year tenure. Bakoyannis also announced that
there will be new mobility in the Cyprus issue in 2007, both on a
United Nations level, as well as in the European Union.
Regarding Greek-Turkish relations, the foreign minister assessed that
no major decisions will be taken before the Turkish general elections
next November.
Meanwhile, Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, in an interview he
gave to Cyprus' "Haravghi" newspaper, stressed that Nicosia "is
determined to resist with all the means it possesses, the overturning
which is being advanced by European Union member-states for the
upgrading of the (Turkish Cypriot) pseudo-state."
President Papadopoulos stressed that "the so-called isolation of the
Turkish Cypriots is being used as an alibi by Turkey so as not to
implement its European obligations."
To a question whether he ascertained an identity of positions between
the EU and the Anglo-Americans, Papadopoulos answered negatively. The
Cyprus president added that "a small group of EU member-states "openly
support, even in violation of the principles on which the EU's
existence and operation is based on, Turkey's unimpeded accession."
[02] Deputy DM visits Bosnia-Herzegovina
Greece's Deputy Defence Minister Vassilis Michaloliakos on Monday,
Christmas Day, visited the headquarters of the Multinational Task Force
- North, of the operation "Althea", in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where he met
with the Greek force. Michaloliakos was given a tour of the
headquarters, was briefed on the work of MTF-N and particularly of the
Greece force, the members with whom he exchanged gifts and best
wishes.
Following his visit, the deputy defence minister said:"Greece's
position is of particular geostrategic importance. Geography is a
factor which unavoidably affected and affects the foreign policy of
every country."
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