Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-07-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM chairs inner cabinet meeting on foreign policy

[02] EPO plea for reversal of FIFA suspension

[01] PM chairs inner cabinet meeting on foreign policy

After the meeting, Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis stated that the inner cabinet was briefed on all foreign policy issues, the Balkans, the latest developments in Iran, the Cyprus issue in light of a visit by UN Under-Secretary-General Ibrahim Gambari and Euro-Turkish prospects.

On an impending visit by Cyprus Republic President Tassos Papadopoulos to Athens, Bakoyannis said that developments will be reviewed and all issues will be discussed for better and continuous coordination between the two governments.

Bakoyannis also stated that there is no problem in Athens' relations with President Papadopoulos, while adding that there should be continuous cooperation between the prime minister and the Cypriot president as well as between the two foreign ministers in order to achieve the best results.

The foreign minister also clarified that the process for the solution of the Cyprus issue is not linked with Turkey�s European prospects as they are two entirely different things. The Cyprus issue, she pointed out, is being discussed within the UN framework, while Turkey�s European prospect concerns Turkey and the European Union, reiterating that Turkey should meet the obligations it has undertaken toward the EU.

Responding to a question on pressures likely to be exerted by the United States, she stated that the United States� viewpoint is known but Turkey�s European prospect is an EU matter.

Earlier, Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis, responding to questions while leaving Maximos Mansion regarding the comments made on Monday by Bank of Greece governor Nikos Garganas, stated that the Bank of Greece enjoys economic, operational and political independence and the government always respects this independence.

[02] EPO plea for reversal of FIFA suspension

In an emergency press conference, EPO president Vassilis Gagatsis stressed that everything now depended on deputy sports minister George Orfanos and estimated that Greece had time, if only marginally, to meet FIFA's final deadline for resolving the problem.

A letter sent by FIFA on Monday and signed by its president Sepp Blatter announced the suspension of Greece�s football federation for not meeting "the principles of the FIFA Statutes regarding the independence of member associations and the independence of the decision-making process of the football-governing body in each country".

FIFA's decision was taken after it came to believe that the Greek government would not take action to amend current laws that allow third-party intervention in 'football matters', such as by Greek courts, within a July 15, 2006 deadline.

The international football body also warned that all Greek clubs and officials are now covered by the suspension until the law is amended.

In a statement on Monday night on television, Orfanos pledged that the government will bring an amendment to Parliament that honours an agreement with FIFA to take EPO "outside the state's umbrella" - including a suspension of state funding - but did not disclose the precise wording.

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