Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-10-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM Karamanlis in Lisbon for two-day informal EU Summit focusing on reform treaty

[02] Papoulias addresses UNESCO con'f in Paris

[03] Athens adamant over FYROM 'name issue'

[01] PM Karamanlis in Lisbon for two-day informal EU Summit focusing on reform treaty

In the afternoon, Karamanlis participated in a summit of the European People's Party (EPP) convened on the sidelines of the informal EU Summit, where he again reiterated that the reform treaty tops the agenda in talks here.

"It is necessary for the EU to overcome the impasse, which has affected it, over the past two or more years. I want to believe and hope that we will agree over this text, so that the treaty can be signed in December, because Europe must proceed ahead, with strength and determination, so that we can face the major challenges of the future," Karamanlis said from Lisbon.

[02] Papoulias addresses UNESCO con'f in Paris

He also referred to the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum to Athens, referring to a ?life-long goal? of late Greek culture minister Melina Mercouri.

Papoulias was invited to address the conference by UNESCO General Director Koichiro Matsuura, as sessions will continue until Nov. 3.

His address came on the heels of the unanimous election of Greece's ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), George Anastasopoulos, as president of the body's General Conference for the next two years.

Among others, Papoulias stressed that ignorance is an ?enemy of peaceful co-existence of peoples,? while he recognised the significance of UNESCO�s primary goal of ?equality in education?.

?Every child that has access to schooling is another step towards development and peace. However, I believe that we are far from the desired result .It is particularly worrying that access to education, particularly high-quality education, depends on one�s financial ability and place of birth. Education should cease to be a privilege of the �haves� in opposition to an education of values,? he said.

Finally, in signing the official book of visitors, Papoulias wrote that ?when threats of war poison the atmosphere, when thousands of people are plagued by hunger and poverty, UNESCO�s values remain ecumenical?.

[03] Athens adamant over FYROM 'name issue'

Kassimis also added that EU funding to the neighbouring land-locked country was flowing at a slower pace than to the rest of the Balkan countries.

However, he clarified, Greece does not want to stifle FYROM financially, "because it does not believe that economic degradation will create a better neighbour."

Kassimis made the statement in reply to a tabled question by Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) party rapporteur Constantine Aivaliotis, who cited the recent placement of a statue of Alexander the Great, no less, at Skopje airport, which was also recently renamed as 'Alexander the Great Airport' by FYROM authorities.

Aivaliotis charged that the Skopje government was following a policy of provocation at all international fora, while also pointing to a"recital of nationalistic extremities in its school books ... its airport has been renamed as 'Alexander the Great Airport', and it has established a military medal called 'Alexander III, the Macedon'," the Greek deputy charged.

"Don't we see that, with our stance, we are making them tougher and more provocative?" he questioned.

Replying to the question, Kassimis said Greece's approval was not required for EU funding to FYROM, but was made on the basis of economic criteria.

Regarding developments on the "name issue", Kassimis reminded that Greece has at all levels denounced Skopje's provocative stance, particularly after the provocation of the placement of the statue of Alexander, adding that EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana recently stated that Greece will have the EU's full solidarity on the name issue.

"Greece will in no instance accept FYROM's entry, either to NATO or the European Union, so long as there is no mutually acceptable name for that country resulting from consent by two sides (Greece and FYROM)," Kassimis said.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Deputy FM Theodoros Kassimis.

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