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Athens 11 September (M.P.A.)
Greek Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis, in a press conference today, outlined the basic axes of PASOK's foreign policy aimed at making Greece a factor of peace, friendship and cooperation, while he reiterated the determination to protect the country's sovereign rights, underlining that the strategic goal is to create a strong Greece. Presenting PASOK's priorities, mr.Simitis referred to political and economic initiatives that need to be undertaken at bilateral and international level, especially in the Balkans and south-eastern Mediterranean and to initiatives that can be undertaken with partners and allies. He also referred to the necessity for Greece to have a strong presence abroad with consistent positions. Mr.Simitis stressed that in every form of negotiations should be claimed the institutions, guarantees and measures that serve wider interests and at the same time, safeguard or promote the greek interests, while he also stated that firm pressure must be exerted aimed at the creation of an international society that will respect international law and operate based on its principles. Mr.Simitis also added that there is a need for the development of policies at all levels that will strengthen Greece's ability to prevent any foreign designs against it. PASOK's leader accused New Democracy of being unable to form a strategy and of missing opportunities in the 3 years it was in power while he stated that when it was no longer in government it left behind accomplished facts and the country internationally isolated. Mr.Simitis also stressed that ND's policy toward Turkey will lead to uncontrollable situations. Mr.Simitis stated that PASOK gradually reversed the situation and put the greek foreign policy on a new course. He referred to the creative greek EU Presidency, the interim accord signed with FYROM, the big improvement in the relations with Albania, the handling of the crisis over Imia and the immediate mobilization of international support and also, to the initiative that led to the meeting of the Presidents of Serbia and Croatia in Athens. The Prime Minister said that Greece has to face the turkish provocativeness in the Aegean, Cyprus and Thrace and at the same time, meet the challenges presented in the Balkans and South-Eastern Mediterranean. He said that for the first time, Greece's partners have changed their policy of equal distances toward Greece and Turkey and gradually began adopting the greek positions, proven by the fact that they have supported the greek demand to bring the issue of the Aegean islets before the International Court of Justice in The Hague and also, by their stance toward Turkey in the recent incidents in Cyprus. Mr.Simitis repeated that the solution of the Cyprus problem is a top priority and that the efforts for a peaceful, fair and lasting solution based on the UN resolutions will continue in close cooperation with the cypriot government, adding that the efforts for Cyprus' accession into the EU, six months after the end of the Inter-Governmental Conference, will also continue. The Prime Minister stated that for the first time Greece has a complete strategy in the Balkans and in south-eastern Mediterranean aimed at making the country a factor of peace, friendship and cooperation and also a factor of development and prosperity in the wider region. He announced that he will visit Balkan, central and eastern European and south-eastern Mediterranean countries and also, Russia, while he stated that Greece will support their cooperation with the EU and that regular meetings will be held among the Balkan Ministries of Defence. Mr.Simitis stated that there will also be cooperation among the responsible agencies aimed at countering illegal immigration, illegal trade and international crime, while assistance will be offered to the Balkan countries aimed at making their cooperation with the Mediterranean states easier.
PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS OUTLINED PASOK'S FOREIGN POLICY POSITIONS Athens 11 September (M.P.A.)
Greek Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis, in a press conference today, outlined the basic axes of PASOK's foreign policy aimed at making Greece a factor of peace, friendship and cooperation, while he reiterated the determination to protect the country's sovereign rights, underlining that the strategic goal is to create a strong Greece. Presenting PASOK's priorities, mr.Simitis referred to political and economic initiatives that need to be undertaken at bilateral and international level, especially in the Balkans and south-eastern Mediterranean and to initiatives that can be undertaken with partners and allies. He also referred to the necessity for Greece to have a strong presence abroad with consistent positions. Mr.Simitis stressed that in every form of negotiations should be claimed the institutions, guarantees and measures that serve wider interests and at the same time, safeguard or promote the greek interests, while he also stated that firm pressure must be exerted aimed at the creation of an international society that will respect international law and operate based on its principles. Mr.Simitis also added that there is a need for the development of policies at all levels that will strengthen Greece's ability to prevent any foreign designs against it. PASOK's leader accused New Democracy of being unable to form a strategy and of missing opportunities in the 3 years it was in power while he stated that when it was no longer in government it left behind accomplished facts and the country internationally isolated. Mr.Simitis also stressed that ND's policy toward Turkey will lead to uncontrollable situations. Mr.Simitis stated that PASOK gradually reversed the situation and put the greek foreign policy on a new course. He referred to the creative greek EU Presidency, the interim accord signed with FYROM, the big improvement in the relations with Albania, the handling of the crisis over Imia and the immediate mobilization of international support and also, to the initiative that led to the meeting of the Presidents of Serbia and Croatia in Athens. The Prime Minister said that Greece has to face the turkish provocativeness in the Aegean, Cyprus and Thrace and at the same time, meet the challenges presented in the Balkans and South-Eastern Mediterranean. He said that for the first time, Greece's partners have changed their policy of equal distances toward Greece and Turkey and gradually began adopting the greek positions, proven by the fact that they have supported the greek demand to bring the issue of the Aegean islets before the International Court of Justice in The Hague and also, by their stance toward Turkey in the recent incidents in Cyprus. Mr.Simitis repeated that the solution of the Cyprus problem is a top priority and that the efforts for a peaceful, fair and lasting solution based on the UN resolutions will continue in close cooperation with the cypriot government, adding that the efforts for Cyprus' accession into the EU, six months after the end of the Inter-Governmental Conference, will also continue. The Prime Minister stated that for the first time Greece has a complete strategy in the Balkans and in south-eastern Mediterranean aimed at making the country a factor of peace, friendship and cooperation and also a factor of development and prosperity in the wider region. He announced that he will visit Balkan, central and eastern European and south-eastern Mediterranean countries and also, Russia, while he stated that Greece will support their cooperation with the EU and that regular meetings will be held among the Balkan Ministries of Defence. Mr.Simitis stated that there will also be cooperation among the responsible agencies aimed at countering illegal immigration, illegal trade and international crime, while assistance will be offered to the Balkan countries aimed at making their cooperation with the Mediterranean states easier.
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© 1996 Macedonian Press Agency