Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek, Dutch FMs discuss EU-Turkey ties, Lebanon

[02] Athens on Rehn comments regarding Turkey

[03] ND leads PASOK by 4 pts in latest poll

[04] 'City Break Expo' in Athens next June

[01] Greek, Dutch FMs discuss EU-Turkey ties, Lebanon

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis on Thursday echoed standing Greek policy amid increased pressure on EU candidate-state Turkey to extend a customs union with the Union's 10 new member-states, a decision Ankara has flatly rejected in order to avoid extending the pact to EU member Cyprus.

Bakoyannis, who met with her visiting Dutch counterpart Bernard Bot here, also clarified that discussions on trade or customs regulations are independent of Turkey's standing commitments to the Union.

Both foreign ministers discussed the situation in Lebanon, while Bakoyannis briefed Bot over Athens' initiatives at the UN Security Council following the assumption of the body's rotating chair by Greece this month.

"The EU's significant participation in the international force to be deployed in Lebanon is a positive development for a Europe that wants to have a crucial role in international affairs," she said, adding: "It is very difficult if not impossible for stability and peace to exist in the Middle East without a solution to the Palestinian issue".

On his part, Bot said the course of Euro-Turkey relations depends on Ankara's compliance with its commitments to the EU, noting that "numerous opportunities" are available and that the next few months will determine the degree of such implementation.

He also referred to a "mutual trust" between the two sides, the Union and Turkey, and that the predominately Muslim country's European orientation is important to both as well.

In an unrelated development, Bakoyannis stressed that an investigation ordered by the Greek government failed to turn up any evidence whatsoever that CIA "rendition flights" were aided or facilitated on Greek territory.

Caption: FM Dora Bakoyannis with her Dutch counterpart Bernard Bot in Athens on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2006. ANA-MPA photo / O. Panagiotou.

[02] Athens on Rehn comments regarding Turkey

"The only safe path for a smooth Turkish accession course is to implement its commitments to the EU," foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos said, adding: "I do not understand how anyone would choose the cumbersome, dangerous and narrow path of non-compliance vis-a-vis EU principles and values," he said.

Koumoutsakos also reiterated that there is a common perception -- and not just as far as Athens is concerned -- that "reform fatigue" has gripped the Turkish government.

Asked about a date for a projected visit here by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, the spokesman said the exact date has not been set. Moreover, he said there was no new information concerning a possible visit by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to Ankara.

Caption: A file photo of Rehn during his appearance in the Greek Parliament in March 2006. ANA-MPA / P. Saitas.

[03] ND leads PASOK by 4 pts in latest poll

Regarding a question on presumption of victory (which party the respondent believes will emerge victorious in next month's municipal/prefectural elections regardless of personal political affiliation), ND leads with 63 percent, up 7 percentage points from the previous poll, while PASOK shed 8 percentage points and was down to 15 percent, according to respondents' replies.

Regarding intended vote, both ND and PASOK increased their percentages, while the difference between the two mainstream parties remained at 4 percentage points, with ND leading with 42.5 percent, followed by PASOK with 38.5 percent, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) with 8 percent, the Coalition of the Left with 4.5 percent, and the Popular Orthodox Rally party (LA.OS) with 4 percent.

Asked who is most competent for prime minister, current premier and ND leader Costas Karamanlis upped his proportion by 3 percentage points, while PASOK leader George Papandreou increased his proportion by 1 percentage point.

[04] 'City Break Expo' in Athens next June

The international tourism exhibition "City Break Expo 2007" has been finalised for next June, in tandem with the annual European Cities Tourism conference to be held at the Zappeion Hall here, with local sponsors including the City of Athens' tourism and economic development organisation and the tourism development ministry.

Minister Fani Palli-Petralia and Athens Mayor Theodoros Bechrakis detailed the twin events during a press conference on Thursday, underlining the importance of promoting the Greek capital as a tourist destination amongst major international cities.

Caption: A file photo of the Parthenon atop the Acropolis in downtown Athens. ANA-MPA photo / P. Saitas.

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