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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-05-20
CONTENTS
[01] PM Costas Karamanlis arrives in New Zealand
[01] PM Costas Karamanlis arrives in New Zealand
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis arrived in New Zealand on Sunday
night, local time, and will be holding talks on Monday with the General
Governor and the country's prime minister, while he will also be laying
a wreath at the monument commemorating the Battle of Crete during World
War II. Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, who is accompanying the prime
minister on his visit, said in flight from Singapore to New Zealand
that she did not expect developments on the name issue of the
neighbouring Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) soon and
separated the issue from the possible holding of early elections.
Bakoyannis was categorical in saying that the prime minister is not
seeking an excuse from a national issue to call elections (elections
are normally due in the country in March 2008).
The foreign minister assessed that consultations will be continue at
the UN, by special mediator Matthew Nimetz, but told reporters but
there is no evidence at the moment indicating that developments are
expected.
Bakoyannis noted that the visit to Tirana, Albania, by U.S. President
George W. Bush on June 10 is also related to the issue of Kosovo and
mentioned that the American position on the issue of FYROM and its
accession to NATO has not changed.
Analysing Greek positions, Bakoyannis said that the issue of good
neighbourliness and the attitude of the neighbouring country is a
priority, apart from the finding of a mutually acceptable solution to
the issue of the name, since an upsurge in irredentism and propaganda
is being observed lately.
Lastly, commenting on the issue of developments in the NATO alliance,
Bakoyannis said that the candidates for accession to NATO (Croatia,
Albania and FYROM) are not fulfilling necessary criteria with the same
pace and each one is being judged and must be judged separately.
Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.
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