Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-11-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM: 'Positive response' over FYROM in UK

[02] Turkey's coast guard chief in Greece

[01] FM: 'Positive response' over FYROM in UK

In statements after the meeting, Miliband noted that Greece's concerns over the issue of FYROM's name were understandable and said that it was very important to find a solution that respected these concerns.

Asked about the prospect of a Greek veto against FYROM joining NATO, Miliband replied that Greece was able to fully exercise its rights as a NATO member.

Bakoyannis insisted on the positive approach taken by the Greek side, and underlined the benefits that would be gained by its neighbour to the north, but also the improvement in bilateral and regional relations that would result if the outstanding dispute were resolved.

"Greece presents a positive proposal. The Greek state steadfastly believes that problems should be dealt with and not covered up. This is our proposal today and I think this finds great support among friends and partners," she stressed.

Miliband also underlined, in response to questions, that Britain's position regarding the Cyprus issue had not changed and that London steadfastly supported the July 8 process. The questions had referred to an agreement signed between the UK and Turkey in which the illegal regime in the occupied northern third of Cyprus, which is not recognised by any country apart from Turkey, was referred to as the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".

On her part, Bakoyannis stressed the Greek side's satisfaction at the statements made by Miliband regarding the UK-Turkey agreement and the UK's desire to contribute to a solution of the Cyprus issue based on the July 8 process, adding that "our support for the process of July 8, which is also supported by the European Union, is exceptionally important" and noting that Athens had "observed foot-dragging" on the Turkish side.

Referring to talks with her British counterpart on Kosovo, Bakoyannis said they had both noted that this was a European issue needing a common European policy that would "indicate that Europe was taking responsibility for one of the most difficult problems that it faces".

The two ministers also agreed on the need for deeper cooperation on major global challenges like climate change and a joint approach to new threats created by environmental problems.

During her visit to London, Bakoyannis met with the British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles and thanked them for their tremendous and ongoing efforts over the past years, stressing that Athens' goal was to reunite the Marbles being held at the British Museum in London with those in Greece.

"They do not only belong to Greece but the world has a right to see them united at the new Acropolis Museum," she said.

In Lisbon, meanwhile, speaking on the sidelines of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership's foreign affairs conference, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis repeated Greece's steadfast support for the European prospects of the Balkans provided that the countries in the region complied with the conditions and criteria set by the EU. He made the statement in a comment on the European Commission's report on FYROMâs progress toward accession.

Valinakis clarified that Greece did not welcome the negative report on FYROM's progress since "we want these countries to comply with the conditions, chief of which is good neighbour relations".

"The Greek government has supported the European prospects of all our neighbours and wants the conversion of the Balkans into a European neighbourhood. In order for this to happen, however, the candidate states must comply with the specific terms and criteria set on the part of the European Union. Today's report by the European Commission exactly shows the way, the way of such compliance, and certifies that this compliance has not existed up until today and, thus, in its own way is very simply telling Skopje that they cannot progress toward the European prospects that they desire," Valinakis said.

Regarding FYROM's stance, Valinakis said Athens was anxious that Skopje understand that "obstinacy would not lead to a solution of the problem" and was not part of European culture, while also noting that the European Commission "rightly attributed crucial importance" to the good neighbour criterion in its report.

"We want our neighbours' European policy but our neighbours must respect all the criteria that have been set on the part of the EU and other organisations, when this concerns other organisations," the minister added.

Greece and FYROM recently considered a new round of negotiations to find a solution to their dispute over FYROM's use of the name "Republic of Macedonia", which Greece objects to on historical and political grounds. Athens says use of the name may give rise to future irredentist claims on the northern Greek province of Macedonia, which shares a border with land-locked FYROM, while it also rejects as historically inaccurate attempts by certain circles of FYROM's Slavic population to claim association with the ancient Macedonian kingdom.

Caption: Greek FM Dora Bakoyannis (R) poses with her British counterpart David Miliband in London on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. ANA-MPA / A. DOUKAS.

[02] Turkey's coast guard chief in Greece

Greece has vociferously called for stricter patrolling by Turkish authorities of their side of the sea borders the two countries share in the eastern Aegean, as several Greek islands have over the past few years have become favorite targets of migrant smugglers operating from the Turkish coastline. Athens has also repeatedly taken up the issue with its European Union partners and called for the creation of an EU-wide coast guard.

Following his meeting with Voulgarakis, Rear Adm. ErenoÄu told reporters that the purpose of his official visit to Athens is to increase mutual trust between the two neighbouring countries' coast guard services.

"We are aware of the problem of illegal immigration and we are dealing with it. It is the problem of our century, and the countries most affected are Greece, Turkey and the European Union," ErenoÄu said, adding that his government is serious about dealing this global problem, as he noted.

"â¦we understand that illegal immigration affects our (Greece and Turkey) relations, as this is also a matter of security. The Turkish coast guard arrested 4,250 illegal immigrants in 2007 alone, triple the number of the last three years. When an issue involving illegal immigrants arises we exchange information and coordinate the operation," he said.

Asked by local reporters if problems exist in search-and-rescue operations (in the Aegean), ErenoÄu merely noted that all "issues are open (for discussion) without any problem. Search-and-rescue is a humanitarian issue. To rescue someone from the sea is one of our primary duties, whereas there is good cooperation between the two countries' search-and-rescue centres."

On his part, Voulgarakis, whose ministry holds the coast guard and harbour corps portfolio, said the issue of search-and-rescue operations was not discussed.

Caption: Merchant Marine & Island Policy George Voulgarakis (L) with visiting Turkish Coast Guard Commander Read Adm. Can ErenoÄu at the ministry in Piraeus on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. ANA-MPA / G. CHRISTAKIS.

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