Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-09-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Name issue talks in NYC

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Name issue talks in NYC

Earlier, Nimetz held a joint session with Vassilakis and the FYROM delegation comprising chief negotiator Amb. Nikola Dimitrov and Martin Proteger, after which Vassilakis said that the UN envoy "expressed his thoughts, which the government will study, and from there on we will see what will happen".

Vassilakis told reporters that a new meeting would take place "at some time", adding that "I have nothing new to say to you at this stage" while, at his scheduled meeting later Thursday, he said that Nimetz would present "some preliminary observations".

To a question whether Nimetz had proposed name solutions, Vassilakis said: "It is not an issue of whether he proposes names. Of course, he proposes certain options, but it is not only the name which is on the table, and Mr. Nimetz himself told you so. I want all this to be a package. Therefore, you cannot separate the name from the rest."

Vassilakis also met on Thursday night with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Speaking to reporters after his bilateral meeting with Nimetz, Vassilakis stressed that "the negotiation exclusively concerns the name, and there is no 'nationality' issue".

Replying to press questions, Vassilakis said: "My initial, personal, reaction on the new ideas presented to us this morning (Thursday morning) by Mr. Nimetz was that I stressed to him that he should consider the fact that Skopje's provocative attitude is something that must be taken into serious consideration, and that to date the Greek side has maintained a stance of 'wait and see', aspiring to finding an amicable solution".

Vassilakis said he again took the opportunity to outline Greece's fundamental positions to Nimetz, as he had during the morning joint session with the FYROM negotiators.

"I believe that he, (Nimetz) comprehended what I told him at the personal level (bilateral meeting). I have already verbally briefed our foreign minister (Dora Bakoyannis). We will examine the matter of the full text, and from there on we will see what will happen," Ambassador Vassilakis added.

Stressing again that the negotiation exclusively concerns the name issue, and that there was no issue of a "Macedonian nationality", he said that "Skopje must comprehend and accept the fact that it represents only the part belonging to it. We in no instance accept that one part represents the whole".

"Also, we cannot have a different name for every category of activity, and that one name must apply for all uses. If we want to find a solution, they (Skopje) must stop their provocative statements so that we may develop friendly relations, as neighbors should have," Vassilakis explained.

Nimetz also had a bilateral meeting with Dimitriv and Proteger after the joint meeting.

Caption: Greek negotiator Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis(R) and FYROM negotiator Ambassador Nikola Dimitrov in New York on Thu. 11 Sept. 2008. ANA-MPA/DIMITRIOS PANAGOS

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

Negotiations on the Cyprus and FYROM name issues in New York, the Vatopedi monastery scandal and the beginning of the new school year dominated the headlines on Friday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis intervenes - He backs prime minister and 'scolds' ruling party New Democracy(ND) rebels".

APOGEVMATINI: "Karamanlis unshakable despite the difficult political situation- Polls indicate ND leading by 1.5 percent over main opposition PASOK".

AVGHI: "Government's manoeuvres on Vatopedi case after the massive reactions".

AVRIANI: "Karamanlis takes daring political initiatives aiming at reversal of the scandal monghering climate".

CHORA: "Karamanlis revokes all disgraceful contracts".

ELEFTHEROS: "ND members' outburst over the lack of governance, the easy wealth and the lack of social sensitivity".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "100 million euros gift to Vatopedi alms box - Plethora of real estate bestowal contracts revealed".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "High ranking ND members to Merchant Marine Minister George Voulgarakis: Leave to save us".

ESTIA: "Tax evasion will not be stamped out by the government's new measures".

ETHNOS: "Report reveals the implication of three high ranking ND members in the Vatopedi scandal".

KATHIMERINI: "Poll with many different messages: Economic policy and Voulgarakis case rattle ND- Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou's image is frail".

LOGOS: "FinMin George Alogoskoufis freezes Vatopedi transactions", referring to the contracts for the controversial property exchanges with the State.

NIKI: "Balancing on a tightrope- Karamanlis the recipient of multiple in-party slaps".

TA NEA: "They chopped down 860 hectares of forestland in Vatopedi ".

TO VIMA: "ND falls apart - New polls indicate rapid plunge in popularity".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Present and former governments are responsible for the mess in Education".

VRADYNI: "New school year with 600 new school buildings".

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