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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-07-23
CONTENTS
[01] The government will now proceed with the finalization of the
agreement, State Min Pappas says
[02] National Council on Foreign Policy holds meeting focusing on
the Balkans
[01] The government will now proceed with the finalization of the
agreement, State Min Pappas says
"The government will now proceed with the finalization of the agreement;
we have completed the part of the prior actions," State Minister Nikos
Pappas said early Thursday after the voting procedure in Parliament.
"Unfortunately," he added, "a rift has been confirmed, but we first
have to complete the agreement procedures and then see our party issues,
as provided."
[02] National Council on Foreign Policy holds meeting focusing on
the Balkans
ANA-MPA -- "Greece is returning to the Balkans," Foreign Minister Nikos
Kotzias said on Wednesday, in statements after briefing a meeting of
the National Council on Foreign Policy about the results of his tour
in seven southeastern European countries.
Kotzias said that he had briefed the parties on the meetings and
agreements he had during his trip to seven of the eight Balkan countries,
adding that the country's policy in the area has two elements. "The one
element is to support our cooperation with each country and its course
towards the European Union. The second is to again find a way to create
an internal Balkan space, for the Balkan periphery to be remade –
a development that will facilitate the future place of all of these
states in the European Union itself," he said. The minister said the
meeting had discussed Greece's policy on FYROM, Albania and Kosovo,
and also on Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. "I also briefed
them on our good strategic relations with Bulgaria. I think it became
clear to everyone during the discussion that we are continuing a policy
on Kosovo that was decided on in the past, that is based on the 2012
agreement on the creation of an Office in Greece; that is, an agreement
that is not – as was incorrectly said – our choice. It is a policy
that continues the support of the European courses of these countries;
a policy decided upon in Thessaloniki, in 2003, and in the years from
2010-2013, with the Association Agreements most of these countries
concluded with the European Union," Kotzias stated. The discussion also
highlighted the fact that Greece, despite its weaknesses in the economic
sector, remains the country with the greatest potential in the Balkans;
the country that has the cultural, political and historical capability,
the expertise and experience from the European Union, to contribute to
a better tomorrow for all of the Balkan states, he added The meeting
was attended by representatives of the ruling SYRIZA-ANEL coalition,
main opposition New Democracy, as well as the opposition parties Potami,
PASOK and Golden Dawn.
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