Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-06-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Road to Europe passes through fulfilling EU criteria, PM warns Turkey

[02] PASOK head continues foreign policy briefings

[03] Olive oil promoted at D.C. event

[01] Road to Europe passes through fulfilling EU criteria, PM warns Turkey

"In all cases, the road to Europe passes through the fulfilment of the Union's criteria and of the commitments and obligations undertaken by every candidate-country," the premier stressed after a meeting with President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias to brief him on the results of the EU summit held in Brussels last week.

After the meeting, Karamanlis said they had discussed the decisions for the European Constitutional Treaty, the discussion over the EU's ability to absorb new members and measures on a European level for migration and civil protection.

In the conclusions of the two-day summit released on Friday, EU leaders urged Turkey to fulfill its obligations to the EU under the Association Agreement and its Additional protocol, which include opening its ports and airports to Cyprus, and noted the need for Turkey to maintain good neighbourly relations with all EU member-states, in the conclusions adopted following the two-day EU summit held in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

In the European Council presidency conclusions, EU leaders stressed that in 2006 they will follow up on all the issues included in the 21 September 2005 EU Declaration, which apart from the protocol also refers to improving relations with Nicosia and urged Ankara to stop preventing Cyprus from participating in international organisations.

The paragraph on Turkey is as follows:

''The European Council reviewed progress made in the acquis screening and welcomes the start of substantive accession negotiations with Turkey. Turkey is expected to share the values, objectives and the legal order set out in the treaties. The Union is committed to support Turkey in its efforts to comply with the Union's standards and membership obligations, including the Copenhagen criteria.

The European Council recalls, in line with previous conclusions, that the current negotiations are based on each country's own merits and that their pace will depend on each country progress in preparing for accession measured against the requirements set out in the Negotiating Framework.

This includes the fulfillment of Turkey's obligations under the Association Agreement and under its Additional Protocol, full implementation of which will be evaluated in 2006 as agreed in the Declaration of the European Community and its Member States of 21 September 2005, as well as the implementation of the revised Accession Partnership. The European Council recalls that the Council will ensure, in the course of 2006, a follow up on the progress made on all the relevant issues included in the above mentioned Declaration.

The European Council calls on Turkey to intensify the reform process and to implement it fully and effectively, so as to ensure its irreversibility and sustainability as well as to progress towards the complete fulfillment of the Copenhagen political criteria, including the commitment to good neighbourly relations. In this context, any action which could negatively affect the process of peaceful settlement of disputes should be avoided''.

[02] PASOK head continues foreign policy briefings

Papandreou stated that there will be more tension with Turkey unless a new foreign policy strategy is adopted, particularly as far as relations with the neighboring country are concerned.

He also sent a message to Ankara, calling on it to meet obligations and commitments it has undertaken toward the European Union and Greece.

Referring to the risk of new tension, he stressed that the Greek people will continue to foot the bill for defence expenditures, adding, however, that there is an alternative, comprised of two axes, namely, protection and promotion of Greece's sovereign rights and consolidation of peace and cooperation with Turkey.

Caption: PASOK leader George Papandreou, right, meets with former president Stephanopoulos on Monday, June 19, 2006. ANA-MPA photo / K. Mavrona.

[03] Olive oil promoted at D.C. event

The event was held within the framework of a promotion of Greek cuisine and products in the United States, in cooperation with importers of Greek olive oil to the country.

Guests were also given information about the quality of olive oil produced in Greece and the value of the so-called "Mediterranean Diet".

The olive oil sampling was the second most prominent event for the promotion of Greek products organised by the embassy in Washington after a wine tasting evening held last January.

Greece's ambassador to the United States, Alexandros Mallias, added that he hoped US consumers will recognise the high quality and health benefits that has been offered by Greece's incomparable olive oil for the past 4,000 years.

ANA-MPA / Interflora photo - A. Nikolopoulos.

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