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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-03-02
CONTENTS
[01] FM Venizelos in Mariupol: Greece after best solution to Ukraine
crisis
[01] FM Venizelos in Mariupol: Greece after best solution to Ukraine
crisis
ANA-MPA - Greece is fully behind the Greek community in Ukraine and
will do everything it can to safeguard it, Government Vice President
and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos said in Mariupol, southeastern
Ukraine, where he is paying an emergency visit on Sunday as chairman
of the EU's Council of General Affairs.
"Greece, as president of the European Union's Council, wants to contribute
to the best degree possible to normalisation of the situation in UKraine,"
Venizelos said in a statement released by the ministry, outlining his
intention to meet with top-level Ukraine officials prior to an emergency
meeting of EU Foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.
"I am going to Kiev," he said in an address to the Greek community
of Mariupol, "to meet with the country's new leadership - the prime
minister, Foreign minister and the president of Parliament - and what is
utmost right now is to resolve the crisis in relations between Russia and
Ukraine. The situation must be normalised, as foreseen by international
law, between two neighbouring and friendly countries, which are also
tremendously significant for the European Union as well, for Europe as
a whole and for global peace, security and stability."
In his address, he said, "I want to assure you, as Greek citizens,
that Greece has you under its full coverage and protection and we will
utilise all options we have, national and European, so that you have
this coverage, this care you must have, during these difficult times."
Venizelos noted he was aware of the community's long-standing problems
and had been briefed for years by officials, but that at present he was
there to "convey to you the message (of support) of the President of
the Republic Karolos Papoulias, the prime minister, the Parliament, and
all political powers - because we are united as a nation when there is
a need to protect our compatriots everywhere in the world. The Foreign
ministry and the government overall is on your side, and the General
Consulate and Embassy in Kiev is your home."
According to ministry sources, Venizelos has been in constant
communication during the crisis with Catherine Ashton, high representative
of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the European
Union, with his EU counterparts and with other international officials
in the area.
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