Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-02-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens issues invitation to Skopje

[02] PASOK on Greece-FYROM talks

[01] Athens issues invitation to Skopje

Speaking to local and international reporters after an UN-brokered meeting of each country's representatives at the Greek foreign ministry in Athens, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said: "As you know, since the 1990s, we have engaged in a negotiation, under the auspices of the United Nations, with the explicit goal: reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue."

" The time has come to solve this issue once and for all. Today the negotiation process is at a crossroads. Both Athens and Skopje have a choice to make: a choice between the past and the future," the Greek foreign minister said, adding:

"I requested Amb. (Nikola) Dimitrov to convey a message to your government and your people: A message of optimism. A message of hope. The people of Greece are an honorable people who have known suffering and been acquainted with grief and yet have managed to persevere and forge their way to prosperity. Greece is a stable and mature democracy, an old member of NATO and the European Union. We have a strong and dynamic economy. And we look at the future with optimism and self-confidence.

"And in this future we want to walk hand-in-hand with you - our neighbours. We see on our borders a proud and dignified people; a strong community with a vibrant economy and an energetic society. We see on our borders a state with much to offer to our neighbourhood. We want to see in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia a good friend, a potentially strong ally and a future solid partner," Bakoyannis said.

"Let us leave the past behind us. Let us reach a solution. Let us make our way inside the Euro-Atlantic and European families together."

Addressing Greek reporters, the foreign minister said the government has been promoting the Greek positions on the FYROM issue on an interntional level, adding that she had reiterated the country's position to UN mediator Matthew Nimetz.

"You know the Mr. Nimetz has tabled a more elaborate proposal which we are studying."

"I requested a meeting with the President of the Republic and party leaders to brief them on current developments. We are facing a difficult negotiation to which Greece comes with clear positions."

Prior to the one-hour talks, Bakoyannis made a brief introductory address before Nimetz and the two countries' representatives, noting that Greece, as the most senior NATO and EU member in the region, desires stability, rapprochement, cooperation and good-neighborly relations.

She also cited what she called Athens' productive stance towards its northern neighbor over the years, and in particular Greek investments and robust trade with the one-time Yugoslav republic.

Finally, Bakoyannis reiterated that "now is the time" for finding a mutually acceptable solution, one that is clear-cut, practical, viable and constant.

In turning to Amb. Dimitrov, she reiterated that Greece intends to back and assist FYROM in its Euro-Atlantic prospects, under the condition that FYROM leadership contributes to the finding of a mutually acceptable solution.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis.

[02] PASOK on Greece-FYROM talks

Panos Baglitis, who is responsible for PASOK's foreign and defence affairs department, referred to the round of UN-brokered talks between Athens and Skopje regarding the "name issue" involving the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Greece, which ended in Athens on Tuesday afternoon.

"In case reports regarding a double name (for FYROM)... as a final resolution are confirmed, we call on the New Democracy (ND) government to reject it, as was the case many times in the past. In this case, the government must exercise the country's right to veto FYROM's NATO entry," Beglitis noted.

The PASOK spokesman also accused the government "for having been led to an impasse and isolation" on the issue, due to "its choices and mistaken handling."

KKE

In an announcement on Tuesday, the Communist Party of Greece indicated strong opposition to Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence and called for the withdrawal of Greek troops from "all campaign forces of the imperialist Euro-Atlantic new order".

In statements on the latest developments, meanwhile, KKE General Secretary Aleka Papariga warned that it spelled upheaval for the region as a whole and called on all sides to oppose "the new plans of the imperialists in the Balkans".

"This is a protectorate-state and we call on the Greek government not to recognise it under any circumstances. Not to participate in any military force, whether this be European or American - this will be an occupation army. To withdraw the forces that are now deployed in Kosovo and the Balkans," she stressed.

She also linked the secession of Kosovo with the negotiations underway for the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), saying there were "devious plans by the Americans to settle FYROM's constitutional name".

KKE criticised the stance adopted by the New Democracy government and main opposition PASOK party regarding Kosovo, saying that they essentially agreed with the European Union's decision to send the EULEX force to the tiny state to impose law and order, thus at the same time perpetuating NATO's presence in the region, even if they had not yet proceeded to grant Kosovo diplomatic recognition.

It said that the FYROM name issue was closely linked with that of Kosovo, noting that the proposals put forward by Nimetz for a double name do not appear to be acceptable to either side involved in the dispute.

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