Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-06-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Bilateral ties, Turkey's EU prospects the focus of Bakoyannis-Gul talks

[01] Bilateral ties, Turkey's EU prospects the focus of Bakoyannis-Gul talks

Speaking in an interview with the Turkish news agency Anadolu, ahead of her departure for Turkey on Friday, the foreign minister said that her visit has a double target: discussing bilateral relations, particularly in the framework of the new European environment created after October 3, and Turkey's European prospects.

"Greek-Turkish relations are not only within the framework of the borders of the two countries, but should be understood within the framework of the broader limits of the EU and within the framework of Turkey's relations with the EU," she said, adding that " a particularly important issue is, undoubtedly, the finding of a workable and permanent solution to the issue of Cyprus."

Replying to a question on the International Court at The Hague, Bakoyannis said "resorting to the International Court at The Hague might be beneficial for the issue of determining the continental shelf in the Aegean between Turkey and Greece" but stressed that taking into consideration that Turkey does not accept the jurisdiction of the International Court, resorting to it must be prepared carefully.

The foreign minister added that the sides must sign an understanding and, before anything, they must determine the issue of the problem clearly.

Bakoyannis will attend and deliver an address at the opening session of the 4th Greek-Turkish Meeting of Media Representatives in Istanbul on Saturday morning, which will also be addressed by Gul, and the two will have an informal meeting immediately afterward

Talks between the two ministers are expected to focus on confidence-building between the two sides, issues related to Turkey's EU accession efforts and cooperation between the two neighbouring countries on so-called 'low-policy' issues, such as energy, tourism and economic affairs.

They are also expected to sign an agreement setting up a direct phone line between the NATO sub-headquarters based in Larissa, central Greece and a military base in Eskisehir, Turkey.

On Friday, Bakoyannis will be received at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, who will give a dinner in her honour on Friday night. She is also due to attend the Sunday morning mass at the Patriarchate before departing for Athens, where she will head on for Luxembourg after a brief stop in order to attend the EU General Affairs Council on Monday.

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