Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Ratification process for the European Constitution will continue, EU summit agrees

[02] Greek-Turkish business conference in Athens June 30-July 1

[03] Ratification of European Constitution should continue, Greece says

[01] Ratification process for the European Constitution will continue, EU summit agrees

According to a Greek official, this decision shows that the European Union "insists on the Constitutution - the text of which is not negotiable, as stated by EU President Jean-Claude Juncker who also took into account the messages of the French and Dutch voters - but that finally, the Luxembourg prime minister does not underestimate the majority of the European society which answered positively to the treaty."

During the period remaining until November 2006 - when according to the treaty, the European Council will be called on to re-examine the situation given that problems have arisen in the procedure of ratification - there will be "a time of reflection" on the prospects of the European Constitution.

According to this decision the November 2006 time limit is not in practise valid.

[02] Greek-Turkish business conference in Athens June 30-July 1

Deputy Foreign Minister Euripides Stylianidis will open the meeting arranged by the Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce.

Among speakers on the Greek side are Tourism Development Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, Deputy Finance Minister Adam Rengouzas, and the chairman of Intracom SA, Socrates Kokkalis.

Speaking for Turkey will be Trade and Development Minister Kursed Tuzmen, Deputy External Trade Minister Tuncer Kayalar, and Turkey�s ambassador in Athens, Tashin Burcuoglou.

Six hundred Greek and Turkish representatives of business have so far booked into the conference.

[03] Ratification of European Constitution should continue, Greece says

According to the sources, the government cites a relevant constitutional clause which calls for a re-evaluation of the situation in November 2006 by the European Council, in the event that five member-states reject the EU treaty.

Therefore, the Greek government is in favour of continuing the ratification process in order to allow all member-states to voice their opinion.

However, the same sources say that the Greek government will not object to a short 'time-out' in the process as a chance to regroup, if this proposal is generally accepted by the other member states.

So far, European leaders seem to lean towards taking a break from the ratification.

Specifically, Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission said he was in favour of the proposal, while France's President Jacques Chirac said it might prove useful as it is necessary to regain the trust of European citizens.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and his Danish counterpart Anders Fogh Rasmussen also said they were in favour of a break.

The issue will continue to be discussed during the official dinner on Thursday evening.

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