Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM meets Panamanian envoy

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] FM meets Panamanian envoy

Speaking to reporters after being received by Bakoyannis at the foreign ministry, the Panamanian Ambassador stressed that his country's government supports the ongoing UN efforts for a mutually acceptable solution to the FYROM name issue and will apply "for all purposes, the result that arises from the negotiations taking place under the UN".

This is a change of position for Panama, which in 2002 had recognized FYROM with its 'constitutional' name of 'Macedonia'.

Ochoa explained that this position is the result of assessment of all the aspects of the issue and of the latest developments regarding the name issue, replying to questins on whether the Panamanian government's position had been influenced by the recent moves by FYROM prime minister Nikola Gruevski

"Assessing all the aspects and developments related to the FYROM name issue, we announced to the foreign minister that, in follow-p to a series of discussions, we wish to assure the Greek government that the government of Panama commits itself to abiding by the relevant decisions of the UN regarding that country's (FYROM) name for international and bilateral use," Ochoa said.

The Panamanian ambassador noted that the issue has been discussed between the two countries in a series of meetings, in the framework of their bilateral and international cooperation, with the most recent being the meeting between Greek deputy foreign minister Yannis Valinakis with his Panamanian counterpart, vice minister of foreign relations Ricardo Duran, at the EU-LAC (Latin American and Carribean countries) summit in Lima, Peru, in mid-May.

On the bilateral front, Ochoa and Bakoyannis agreed on further strengthening of bilateral economic and diplomatic cooperation, with emphasis on merchant shipping, enhancing the role of the Greek community in Panama, and upgrading their diplomatic and consular relations.

The two officials discussed the traditional ties between their two countries in the shipping sector, both at bilateral level and in the frramework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). At the present time, in fact, the two countries were in the process of drafting a maritime cooperation accord, he said, adding that his country has requested, in the framework of enhancing bilateral diplomatic relations, the despatch of a Greek maritime attache to Panama.

Greece is currently represented in Panama through the parallel accreditation of its Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico, while in Panama it has two Honorary Consulates: in Panama City and Colon.

Ochoa further spoke of the historic bonds between Greece and Panama, which he said were forged by the active role of the Greek community in Panama, in the absence of a Greek embassy to the country, and cited as the most recent examples of friendship and international solidarity Greece's assistance in the evacuation of 150 Panamanian citizens from Lebanon, by a Greek Navy airplane, and the help sent by Panama to Greece during last summer's devastating wildfires.

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

FYROM's stance, the return of MP Costas Koukodimos to the ruling New Democracy (ND) party ranks, and Radovan Karadzic's arrest in Serbia, were the main front-page items in Wednesday's dailies.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Unbelievable fraud (deception) by FYROM - They brought prince Mir Ganzafar Ali Khan from Pakistan, who claims to be a descendent of Alexander the Great", adding that Skopje was attempting an "immense deception, with serious consequences", in inviting and bringing to the self-styled 'Macedonia', the self-proclaimed 'direct descendent of Alexander the Macedonian's Army', of the Hunza tribe of Pakistan.

APOGEVMATINI: "15,852 new job opportunities in wider public sector".

AVGHI: "Judges-lawyers front against the governmental intervention - 'No' to abolition of the self-administration of the courts".

AVRIANI: "The first opinion poll on the new party, while its establishment is in the final stages", adding that an explosive opinion poll on a 'businessmen's party', is due to be released in the coming weeks".

CHORA: "Koukodimos returning - ND once again with 152 MPs (in the 300-member parliament)".

ELEFTHEROS: "PASOK plan to 'strangle' SYRIZA, aimed at return of voters who 'fled' to SYRIZA".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "For your own sake, don't become ill this summer - Intensive care units shutting down (for the summer) due to lack of staff".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "End of an era for Serbia following Karadzic's arrest - Unrecognizable, 13 years later, he was arrested on a bus - Arrest of Mladic also anticipated".

ESTIA: "Statism rampant - Public finances up in the air once again".

ETHNOS: "Overture (for post-elections governemntal collaboration) to Karatzaferis (Popular Orthodox Rally-LAOS party leader) by Tragakis (ND parliamentary group secretary) in view of non self-sufficiency of ND".

KATHIMERINI: "OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organization) to file lawsuit against Siemens".

LOGOS: "Karadzic arrested - What Serbia will get in return".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Cutbacks in medicines and their immediate payment by the workers - Governmental blow to medicinal healthcare".

TA NEA: "Stroke in the ESY (National Health System) due to summer leaves, shortages - Operation rooms closing, number of beds being reduced".

TO VIMA: "Vartholomeos (Ecumenical Patriarch) to Alexios (Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia): You're insulting me and threatening me - Crisis in Orthodoxy escalating".

VRADYNI: "Medicine brings hope for prostate cancer - Positive messages from the treatment of 21 patients".

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