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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-03-11Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Greek FM Bakoyannis says clear message given to W. Balkans for European prospectsSALZBURG, Austria (ANA-MPA/F. Karaviti) - Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis on Saturday appeared satisfied with the content of the final communique for the European prospects of the Western Balkans, which was issued at the informal meeting of the European Union's Foreign Ministers Council in Salzburg, Austria "The communique sends a clear message to all the Western Balkans for their European prospects, a stable position of Greek foreign policy, despite any reservations that may exist," said Bakoyannis.The Greek foreign minister added:"The Council of Ministers sent a message of prospects to the peoples of the Western Balkans, which is particularly important. This was the first time, at the initiative of the Austrian (EU) presidency, that the foreign ministers of the region also came and expressed their views and concerns. The essence of the matter, which was also recorded by the communique, is that the course from the European Council of Thessaloniki until the Council of Ministers in Salzburg, was successful. On the principles of Thessaloniki, the European Union continues the effort for the support of democratisation, of stable and good neighbourly relations, of the prospects of the Balkans in a large European family." Bakoyannis further said that the Balkan countries ask of Athens to support their European prospects in the framework of the European Union, as some partners express reservations. "Greece on this issue is extremely clear in its positions. For stability in the broader region of Europe, the Balkans must not be confronted as a further obligatory tool for enlargement, but as a prospect which will be to the benefit of Europe itself," she noted, and stood in support of the facilitation of contact between the peoples of the Balkans and the rest of Europe. Referring to the issue of Kosovo, Bakoyannis said it was a sensitive moment for the broader region and stressed that the will of all is for the implementation of the criteria to be supported, so as to also safeguard the rights of the Serbs and at some moment to proceed in further discussion. "I do not have the feeling that at this moment there is complete unanimity on the speed of the procedure," she clarified. Regarding the recommendation which the Austrian EU presidency asked Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to submit to the Council on Dialogue of Cultures, following the crisis caused by the publication of cartoons about Prophet Mohammed, Bakoyannis clarified that it does not concern mediation by Turkey. "The European Union was clear. Turkey's mediation is not asked for, neither is Turkey called on as a mediator, but as a country which has to submit an opinion, which in any case, it submits in various fora," she said. On the sidelines of the sessions of the Council, Bakoyannis briefed her Cypriot counterpart George Iacovou on the meeting she had with Gul on Friday night. She also met her Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) counterpart Dr. Ilinka Mitreva whom she thanked for the letter of congratulations she sent her on the occasion of her new duties as foreign minister, while with Albanian Foreign Minister Besnik Mustafaj, Bakoyannis discussed the possibility of her visiting Tirana. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. [02] 'Every day truths are revealed'Main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader George Papandreou on Saturday met with the secretaries of the PASOK-affiliated students' union (PASP) from all over Greece. Arriving for the meeting, Papandreou told reporters, in reference to the phone-tapping issue, that "every day the real face of the government of the New Democracy, of Mr. (Prime Minister Costas) Karamanlis, is being revealed." He added:"Every day truths are being revealed, we will have the time to confront all these things in the coming days."Addressing, the student secretaries, Papandreou said:"We are here for PASP, for the student movement, to give emphasis to a new course for our country's education. For us, education is the future and we want with the student faction of PASP to open new roads, because we believe in a Greece which will give value to people, which will invest in this and not in cheap labour." Papandreou added:"We believe that PASP can be a protagonist, this is why we have an open dialogue with the student faction for us to have these student elections with a large section in the student movement, because we want a creative student movement which will dispute creatively, but will also submit progressive proposals." ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. [03] ND Secretary Zagoritis meets prefectsRuling New Democracy (ND) party Central Committee Secretary Lefteris Zagoritis held a meeting with the party's Council of Presidents of Prefectural Administrative Committees (NODE) at ND's headquarters in central Athens on Saturday. During the meeting, a dialogue was held on political developments and the party's action. Directing himself to the presidents of the prefectural organisations, Zagoritis said that they all know each other from way back and that "the key-words in political functioning is consensus, cooperation, coordination and continuity."The ND Secretary will begin tours throughout the country's prefectures, starting with Ioannina. Finally, a nationwide meeting on Local Government will be held on April 7. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. [04] 'Kozani saffron: The gold of Greek earth'The therapeutic qualities of saffron from Kozani, Macedonia, its use in cooking, but also its contribution to the Greek economy, was stressed at an event held in Athens on Saturday, organised by the Region of Western Macedonia, on the theme "Kozani saffron: The gold of Greek earth". The scientist rapporteurs at the event noted the pharmaceutical potential of saffron, stressing its anti-toxin and anti-cancer qualities. They further said that saffron has a positive effect on the nervous system, combats anxiety and improves memory.The event was attended, among others, by Agricultural Development and Foods Minister Evangelos Basiakos and Deputy National Economy and Finance Minister Christos Folias. ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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