Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-10-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Bakoyannis, Bildt discuss Balkans, Cyprus

[01] Bakoyannis, Bildt discuss Balkans, Cyprus

Talks focused primarily on the Balkans, with emphasis on Kosovo, Turkey's European prospects and developments in southeast Turkey. They also discussed the Cyprus issue, the difference between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) over the latter's name and EU issues, particularly the progress of the Reform Treaty.

The Greek foreign minister repeated Athens' position for Kosovo, calling for a solution that was viable and promoted stability, while she emphasised the need to fully exhaust the margins for negotiation, ensure a unified European stance without unilateral actions and the maximum possible international legitimacy, such as that given by resolutions of the UN Security Council.

She also reiterated the Greek position that, for Turkey, full compliance with EU criteria should lead to full EU accession. Commenting on developments in SE Turkey, meanwhile, Bakoyannis condemned "all forms of terrorism" and advised "self-restraint and respect for international law", while she also urged respect for the territorial integrity and independence of Iraq.

On the Cyprus issue, the minister called for "in-depth preparation based on the Agreement of July 8, 2006, followed by the intensification of efforts - always within the set and official framework of the United Nations - for achieving a just, viable and functional solution to a problem that was created by a foreign military occupation and the unilateral declaration of independence of a pseudo-state".

She also repeated calls for achieving a mutually acceptable solution in the dispute over FYROM's name that could act as the basis for building relations of alliance and solidarity within the framework of NATO and the EU.

Replying to questions regarding an agreement signed between Turkey and the United Kingdom that contains a reference to the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (the illegal pseudo-state in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus, which is not recognised by any country apart from Turkey), Bakoyannis said the Greek foreign ministry was considering the issue and "would lodge the necessary demarches as necessary".

Bildt noted the "excellent" bilateral relations currently enjoyed by Greece and Sweden and his satisfaction at the agreement over the Reform Treaty, adding that its ratification would enhance the EU's ability to become an important player in world affairs.

The Swedish minister also noted his concern over developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina and stressed that the situation in the Balkans required an overall approach that included Bosnia but also the future of Kosovo and FYROM's name.

"It is clear that Serbia is the key for stability in the entire region. We need a mutual and as far as possible acceptable solution to the issue of Kosovo. Problems in the Balkans cannot be solved unilaterally. Some form of consensus is necessary, some form of agreement and Kosovo is not an exception to this rule," Bildt told reporters, while also hailing the launch of a new initiative to resolve the FYROM name issue at the UN.

Pointing out that "one way or another, all Balkan issues were now on the table," Bildt said it was important to work for their solution in the coming months and that the EU should focus its attention on this area at this time.

Commenting on the Cyprus issue, the Swedish minister said that action on this had to be timed correctly and carefully and be within a UN framework.

Questioned about a Swedish initiative to arrange an informal meeting on the Cyprus issue in New York without Greece or the Cyprus Republic attending, Bildt clarified that this "was not some kind of council".

"We want to have a strong and clear EU policy on everything concerning security, external affairs and some forms of defence and this is being developed step by step. The EU has a very important role to play on a large number of issues. We know that there are issues that are still in the framework of the UN Security Council and we respect this, of course, but we must do all that we can in order to further support this framework," he said.

According to Bildt, the issue of FYROM's name was another possible area where an EU initiative might be useful in order to find a mutually agreed solution quickly, even though he added that this was "to a great extent a bilateral issue".

In response to other questions, Bildt denied that he might be a candidate for the post of EU foreign minister but stressed that the current stage within the EU would have been inconceivable 10 years earlier. He said the European citizens were demanding a strong international role for the EU and that the Reform Treaty offered the member-states new and important tools.

Caption: Bakoyannis (R) and her Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt at a press conference in the Greek foreign ministry in Athens on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. ANA-MPA / A. DOUKAS

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