Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Turkey's road to EU accession long and difficult, Commission says

[02] PM to visit London, meet Tony Blair on Thursday

[03] Greece, Turkey seek closer tourism cooperation

[01] Turkey's road to EU accession long and difficult, Commission says

"The opening of the accession negotiations is a recognition of the reforms already achieved in Turkey," EU Commissioner for Enlargment Olli Rehn said during his presentation of the framework.

"It gives this country a chance to demonstrate, through a fair and rigorous negotiation process, whether it is able to meet fully all the criteria required to join the EU. But we all know that it will be a long and difficult journey and we have to take into account the concerns of citizens," he added.

According to Rehn, the negotiating framework that the Commission is proposing to the European Council, is the most rigorous to date.

He reiterated that for talks to begin on October 3, Turkey must have brought into effect six pieces of legislation and must have signed the protocol extending the Ankara Agreement to the 10, new member states including Cyprus. Turkey has fulfilled the former requirement but the latter is still pending.

The Commissioner also emphasised the importance that Turkey's relations with Cyprus and commitment to good neighbourly relations in general, will bear on the country's EU accession talks.

Furthermore, Rehn stressed the fact that negotiations are open-ended and do not guarantee accession, adding that if Turkey does not fully adopt EU principles then a 'special relationship' between the EU and Turkey is a possibility.

He also stressed that negotiations can be suspended at any time and that the European Commission or one-third of the EU member states may request suspension of talks.

"Turkey will have to adopt the rights and obligations of the European Union, and apply them by the time of accession, unless transitional arrangements are agreed. Long transitional measures, derogations, specific arrangements and permanently available safeguard clauses may also be considered," the Commission said in a press release.

[02] PM to visit London, meet Tony Blair on Thursday

At 18:30 on Thursday, Karamanlis is scheduled to speak at City University in London on "Greece's prospects after the Olympic Games".

[03] Greece, Turkey seek closer tourism cooperation

This year's forum is the first to be held at a ministerial level, with Greek Tourism Development Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos and his Turkish counterpart Atilla Koc in attendence.

The two ministers signed a Greek-Turkish declaration while TURSAB and HATTA, the two countries' associations of travel enterprises, also signed a bilateral agreement of cooperation envisaging the promotion of joint tourism packages for long-distance tourists (mainly from the Far East).

The Greek minister proposed that the next forum in 2006 to be held on the isle of Kastellorizo and adjacent Kas, a proposal accepted by the Turkish side. A Joint Greek-Turkish commission, a body founded in the framework of the forum, will meet in Turkey in early September.

Addressing the event, the Greek minister stressed that cooperation was aimed to facilitate policies for the creation of an area of stability, safety, friendship, understanding and cooperation in the region. "Travellers do not choose destinations with friction, problems and crises. They want to meet our culture, our beautiful natural environment, to travel freely. And that's what our tourist cooperation aims to," Avramopoulos said.

The Greek minister stressed that Greece does not consider Turkey as a competitor in tourism and added that tourism policies could converge up to some extent.

Koc said that if Greece and Turkey joined their forces in tourism and culture it would serve the two peoples' common interests. He added he was willing to welcome any initiative that would contribute in boosting tourist traffic between the two countries.

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