Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-07-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Obama with new Greek envoy

[01] Obama with new Greek envoy

Obama stressed that the two countries have a long and mutual history of friendship founded on common ideals, common goals and mutual dedication to democracy and freedom, adding that the two nations were cooperating in many sectors of mutual interest as NATO allies and as members of the Euro-Atlantic community, while emphasising the bond created by the millions of American citizens of Greek origin.

Obama further stressed Greece's role as the presiding chairman of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), noting that "the US, as members of the OSCE, are grateful to Greece for his capable leadership as the presiding country of the OSCE in 2009".

The US President also described bilateral relations as strong, adding that he looked forward to "our continued cooperation in the major international efforts of our times - protection of democracy and liberty, confronting the global financial crisis, and combating terrorism".

Amb. Kaskarellis, in turn, stressed that specific geo-political realities provided the threat that firmly unite the long-standing bonds between the two countries and peoples, and expressed conviction that there are large margins for further strengthening of "our friendship and strategic partnership", noting areas of common effort such as international terrorism, US-EU cooperation, the rational transformation of NATO, the western Balkans, Middle East and the estern Mediterranean, the problem of illegal migration, and energy security, on which we will "go straight to the heart of the problem, and not just simply scratch the surface".

In all the above areas, Kaskarellis stressed, Greece has made a significant contribution, making good use of its strategic position and its unique position as a member of both NATO and the EU in one of the most sensitive regions of the world.

He further welcomed the strong US support for the efforts aiming at a just, viable and functional solution of the Cyprus issue, which he stressed need to be in line with the UN Security Council resolutions and the EU acquis, and noted that the US also backs the effort for reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the FYROM problem.

Finally, the Greek envoy expressed a hope that Greek citizens will soon be able to travel to the United States without a visa requirement, which he said would bring the two peoples even closer.

In closing his statement, Kaskarellis paid tribute to the robust Greek-American community:

"In all our efforts, we are in the happy position to rely on one more solid bridge of friendship, the prospering and entrepreneuring Greek-American community, the members of which embody better than anything else the sold foundations of our friendship".

Caption: US President Barack Obama is shown with the new Greek ambassador to the United States, Vassilis Kaskarellis, on Monday, July 20, 2009 at the White House in Washington D.C. Kaskarellis presented his credentials to the US president. ANA-MPA / Official White House Photo / Lawrence Jackson

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