Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-09-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM on foreign policy issues

[01] FM on foreign policy issues

Bakoyannis said that the coming period will be critical for the country's foreign policy as well.

On the FYROM name issue, she stressed that Greece must do its hardest in order to have a good outcome, and accused the Gruevski government of attempting to rewrite history and of cultivating fanaticism and intolerance among the FYROM people, thus taking the neighboring country further away from its Euro-Atlantic prospect.

Bakoyannis further stressed that the "red lines" that have been demarcated by the Greek government "are in force".

On the Cyprus issue, Bakoyannis noted that difficulties existed in the talks process for a solution, but added that prerequisites also existed for a solution.

She called on Turkey to actively manifest a "European deportment", noting that this is the way that leads to European Union membership.

Bakoyannis added that she is proud of the work she has accomplished at the foreign ministry, because this put forward the Greece of extroversion, the Greece that is everywhere, while she also made special note of the development of economic diplomacy and its contribution to promoting and boosting the Greek economy.

Turning to the snap early general elections on October 4, Bakoyannis said that prime minister Costas Karamanlis' decision to seek a "fresh popular mandate" had been a "brave" choice. She noted that difficulties exist, but also light, hope and vision.

"All we who served in the government are ready to wage the good, the correct, battle and we will vindicate us and the ND voters who entrusted us and supported us," Bakoyannis said.

Bakoyannis said that despite indications that rallying among the ND voters was still quite low, she nevertheless was totally confident that it would increase following the prime minister's address at the TIF Saturday night and his press conference on Sunday.

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