Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-05-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens municipality honours Mother's Day

[02] Greek leaders issue messages on Pontian genocide

[03] FM Bakoyannis: New momentum for Cyprus issue

[01] Athens municipality honours Mother's Day

Children painted cards and gave flowers to their mothers, where the city's philharmonic orchestra played in the background.

The event was attended by Athens Mayor Theodoros Bechrakis, deputy mayors and municipal councillors.

Caption: A mother and her young daughter attend a Mother's Day event in central Athens on Sunday, May 14, 2006. ANA-MPA photo / M. Marogianni

ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved.

[02] Greek leaders issue messages on Pontian genocide

The event was hosted at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki by the National Federation of Pontian (ethnic Greeks of the Black Sea area) Societies.

Papoulias said noted that "the Black Sea Greeks, despite all adversities, have healed their wounds, are living on the land of the motherland, are contributing to the progress achieved in our country and preserve the roots and memory of lost motherlands."

The prime minister, on his part, stressed that "respecting, in practice, the teachings of history, Greece today is a force of peace, democracy and development for the wider region. Being the only European Union member-state in southeastern Europe, we actively support the effort of all our neighbors to join the European family, provided, of course, that they fully respond to all obligations entailed by the option of this path."

Main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou said the history of Pontian Hellenism is well known, as is its contribution to the development of modern-day Greece, while adding that the international community must recognise the Pontian genocide.

Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) leader Alekos Alavanos said his party remains steadfastly in solidarity with the struggles of the Pontian communities.

The leader of the out-of-Parliament Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party, George Karatzaferis, called on Greeks never to forget the sacrifice of the Pontians.

ANA-MPA file photo

ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved.

[03] FM Bakoyannis: New momentum for Cyprus issue

In an interview appearing in the Sunday edition of the daily Ethnos, Bakoyannis said progress was already being made in the direction of setting up so-called "technical committees" that will discuss certain issues of common interest.

She added that the volition of the Cyprus government was for the committees to also deal with political issues, "in other words, issues of substance", so that they could act in a preparatory way for a new initiative, which she stressed must be well-prepared.

"With respect to the Cyprus issue, I have said a simple truth, which is understood by all my counterparts: A solution that is imposed, against the view of the people, cannot be a solution. For there to be a solution, it must be well-prepared and acceptable by both leadership and people," Bakoyannis continued.

Turning to the outstanding matter of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis' visit to Turkey, Bakoyannis reiterated that "at this time we are seeking a new date via the diplomatic channels". Asked whether this date could possibly be in 2006, she replied "of course".

In reply to another question, the foreign minister reiterated Athens' standing position, namely, "in cases of search and rescue operations inside the Athens FIR (Flight Information Region), the authority and coordination belongs to Greece".

ANA-MPA file photo

ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved.

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