Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-03-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM, UN chief discuss Cyprus, Kosovo talks

[01] FM, UN chief discuss Cyprus, Kosovo talks

Bakoyannis, who is due in Washington on Thursday for talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other Bush administration and Congressional officials, described her discussion with Ban and other high-ranking UN officials as "excellent" and "useful". The dinner was held at the Manhattan residence of Greece's permanent representative to the United Nations, Amb. Adamantios Vassilakis.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Ban said discussions focused on the Cyprus issue, FYROM and Kosovo, but also covered other topics. Asked if he was satisfied with what he had heard, he replied "yes".

Bakoyannis, in turn, said talks had been a "first, interesting and particularly useful discussion on regional issues, UN affairs and reforms, and naturally, with the primary weight on matters of Greek interest, such as the Cyprus issue and FYROM".

"I believe it was an exceptionally useful, constructive discussion, where we were given the opportunity to present, in their entirety, Athens' positions," Bakoyannis said.

Asked whether she had been given the impression that the UN secretary general was preparing a new initiative on the FYROM 'name issue', Bakoyannis replied:

"At this time, no. He did not give me the impression that a new initiative on the Skopje issue is being prepared. The discussion was very broad and we had the opportunity to brief the Secretary General and his staff ? let me just remind you that this was the first discussion we have had -- he was briefed on our positions and on Greece's proposals".

On Cyprus, Bakoyannis said that an agreement of July 8, which she described as "very important", must be implemented.

She also said Lebanon was discussed, where the two sides consider that "things are going better", while Bakoyannis added that "the Siniora government must be backed".

Regarding Kosovo, Bakoyannis said time existed for further negotiations and for discussion on the future status of the UN-administered province after the formation of a new Serbian government.

Taking part in the talks, on the Greek side, were Bakoyannis, Vassilakis, Amb. Constantine Halastanis and foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos, among others. Besides UN Secretary General Ban, his chief of staff Vijay Nambiar, the under-secretary general for peacekeeping operations, Jean-Marie Guehenno, undersecretary-general for political affairs B. Lynn Pascoe and the secretary general's special adviser Ibrahim Gambari participated in the discussions.

Moreover, Bakoyannis handed Ban an invitation by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to visit Greece, with Ban replying "I will definitely come".

The UN chief is also due to attend a symposium being organised by Greece at the UN headquarters o April 30 on the theme: "The imposition of sanctions". The one-day event will be addressed by diplomats and academics.

The foreign minister leaves on Wednesday for Washington, where on Thursday she will hold talks with Rice.

She will also have meetings on Thursday with US Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), after which she will attend a lunch in her honour hosted by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-California).

While in Washington, Bakoyannis will also hold meetings with US National Security Advisor Steven Hadley and the US president's Assistant for Homeland Security director Frances Fragos Townsend, where talks are expected to include Greece's standing request for inclusion in the US visa waiver programme

On the following day (Friday, March 23), Bakoyannis will take part in a special event at the White House marking Greek Independence Day, during which US President George W. Bush will proclaim March 25, 2007 as "Greek Independence Day: National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy".

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Bakoyannis.

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