Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-10-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] New UN FYROM proposals

[02] Folias addresses OSEP con'f

[01] New UN FYROM proposals

Speaking after the meeting, Nimetz said "there is no timetable" and added that "it is not the end of the road."

The envoy pointed out that, as he believes, his proposal constitutes a "fair basis" for a solution and that he is not preoccupied with internal issues in the two countries.

Nimetz also said that he will await the replies of the two sides in two to three weeks.

Foreign ministry

The foreign ministry said Wednesday Greece was assessing the new set of ideas, submitted earlier in the day by Matthew Nimetz, for solving the 'name issue' of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

"We are assessing with the necessary attention and in a constructive mood also, the set of ideas submitted today by the UN Secretary General's personal envoy, Mr. Nimetz, to the negotiators and then we will inform him on our conclusions," foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos said in a statement.

"We always present and elaborate, in a concrete and clear manner, on our positions, the reliability and seriousness of which nobody questions. Greece honestly wishes the final solution of this important issue in a mutually acceptable manner, without winners and loosers. We believe this can be feasible," Koumoutsakos concluded.

[02] Folias addresses OSEP con'f

According to Folias, the international community recognises the importance of the Black Sea region as an energy hub at the crossroads between Europe, Asia and the Middle East. As he said, interest in developments in the region was increasing and the expectations created were high.

He further noted that it was extremely encouraging that the Black Sea zone was currently the second fastest developing region in the world after Eastern Asia since, according to data by the Black Sea Bank, its growth rates are approaching 6 percent.

The development minister stressed that "the Greek position is explicit and clear. Energy balance is a precondition for peace and the prosperity of peoples. For this reason, the effort to develop cooperations must be constant, overriding hesitations, postponements and delays."

He further said that "the Greek extroversive energy strategy is unfolding on these focal options. A strategy that highlights Greece's hub position between Europe and Asia at the intersection point of the system of the three seas: the Caspian, the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean."

Folias went on to say that "Greece has proved that it is a reliable partner in large scale initiatives (the Turkish-Greek-Italian natural gas pipeline, the South Stream pipeline, the Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil pipeline) for the promotion of considerable development targets."

The minister added that "our targets in the new era that is opening for the region must be the addition of strength, the exploitation of cooperations, good coordination and an increase in effectiveness to enable us to maximise the benefits for all our citizens."

On his part, Deputy Foreign Minister responsible for economic diplomacy Petros Doukas stressed that the fact that the price of oil has decreased does not mean that energy ceases to be a main issue in internataional politics and, as he said, prices in the energy sector constitute a priority.

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