Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-12-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] SYRIZA leader: The current parliament will not elect president

[02] Venizelos: Key for the normalisation of the Greek-Turkish relations is the solution of Cyprus issue

[03] Gov't remains adamant in its positions in new e-mail to troika

[01] SYRIZA leader: The current parliament will not elect president

The main opposition leader estimated that these elections (snap elections) will result to a reversal in Europe and will give to SYRIZA the absolute majority in the next parliament. "That will constitute a very serious and huge development and will be an earthquake that will shake the whole Europe and will create a similar dynamic and in the other southern European countries" he underlined and added "I am certain that you will feel this earthquake and in Belgrade" estimating that "SYRIZA's victory will be of significant importance for the European policy and for Serbia's accession course as well as for the western Balkans.

At a query on the Turkish provocations and Greece's defence capability, Tsipras said that upon his arrival on Saturday at the Athens International Airport, he will meet with Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu "Turkey continues to provoke by violating Cyprus Republic's sovereign rights by sending the research vessel "Barbaros" and warships within Cyprus EEZ....We must persuade our neighbours, as you must persuade your Albanian neighbours, that with the provocations and the violation of the international law there will be no positive result".

Referring to Greece defensive force, SYRIZA leader noted "Greece has lost a huge part of its economic and its geopolitical power, however it totally maintains its defensive ability".

In his address to the Law School, Tsipras referred to the dangers that emerge by the increasing nationalism in the Balkan peninsula. He made a special reference to Albania, Bosnia and Fyrom saying that Fyrom's political leadership "continues to have an arid denial to serious efforts for the solution of the name issue".

The main opposition leader also referred to the economic crisis underlining that all the measures implemented in Greece have failed and today the country is in a worse condition than it was before the crisis. "The powerful centers in Europe that imposed the austerity policy did not predict that the social unrest will obtain political characteristics". He also estimated the reaction movement that "started in Greece will soon spread in many countries".

Tsipras proposed the debt crisis model applied in Germany in 1953 to be implemented in Greece and in other countries stating that "it would be indecent for the German government not to offer the solidarity the other countries showed to Germany when it faced a similar problem'.

Moreover, referring to EU's foreign policy, Tsipras said it should be reviewed "EU needs a new foreign policy that will respect the historic relations with USA and in parallel will safeguard the cooperation with Russia" noting that "the European security can only be ensured in agreement with Russia". He also noted the need "Europe to face the worrying phenomena of fascism and jihadism that threaten mankind".

Referring to the region he said that "EU must and should directly condemn the Turkish provocations against Cyprus which is one of its state members".

He asked for the implementation of the International Law and in Kosovo noting that the issue should be solved on the basis of a mutually accepted solution adding that "Greece does not recognise Kosovo because it will not contribute towards the stability in the area".

[02] Venizelos: Key for the normalisation of the Greek-Turkish relations is the solution of Cyprus issue

Referring to the "unprecedented number of crises" that prevails in the region in this period, Venizelos opined that the key for the normalisation and the acceleration of the bilateral relations are "the Cyprus issue and the respect to the International Law, particularly of the international law of the sea".

Venizelos reminded that after South Stream's developments, TAP (Trans Adriatic Pipeline)"obtains an additional, exceptionally significant, international, political and developmental dimension".

He also underlined that the "business cooperation can't substitute the foreign policy and the policy of security and defence".

Referring to the current condition of multiple crises in the wider region, Venizelos noted that it is "our common obligation, with respect to the international law and to the international order, to contribute for the stability and to prevent the escalation of the violence and finally to enforce peace, stability and security in the area.

[03] Gov't remains adamant in its positions in new e-mail to troika

According to Finance Ministry's sources, the Greek side has not changed its stance and in the e-mail are only expressed some details that further support the government's positions.

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