Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-07-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM calls for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, condemns violence

[02] DISY leader confers with FM, PASOK president

[03] Energy Strategy Council holds first meeting

[01] PM calls for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, condemns violence

The reaction by the international community must be "explicit and clearcut", Karamanlis said, elaborating: "Unconditional release of the captive soldiers, disarmament of the paramilitary organisations, full and speedy restoration of the sovereignty of the Lebanese government throughout all the territory of Lebanon, ensurance of the protection of the unarmed who wish to leave the region, international assistance for humanitarian needs, restoration of international legality and international law".

Greece, the prime minister continued, "is ready to contribute actively, substantively and constructively to these required actions of the international community, with the speedy defusion of the dangerous crisis and the resotration of peace in the region as the sole rule of thumb".

With these positions, and amidst an exceptionally adverse environment, the Greek government, with coordinated and incessant efforts, has planned and carried out missions for the safe repatriation of Greeks as well as citizens of other countries who seek to leave Leganon, Karamanlis said, adding that "this effort has been acknowledged by partners and allies", and "will continue unabated, for as long as necessary".

Karamanlis further said that in the last days, in Lebanon and Israel, "the use of violence has struck the supreme value, that of human life and human dignity, is trying the conscience, principles and values of the international community, exhausting the limits of international legality, perpetuating and increasing the problems and impasses, and attacking the stability and peace in the region".

"This violence -- all violence -- is not distinguished as good or bad. We condemn it unequivocally, completely and categorically," the prime minister said, adding that the reaction of the international community, as expressed through the United Nations, must be explicit.

[02] DISY leader confers with FM, PASOK president

Earlier, Anastasiades met with foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis, while he is due to be received on Thursday by prime minister Costas Karamanlis, and by President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias on Friday. No statements were made after the Bakoyannis-Anastasiades meeting.

"Today is the eve of the anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish troops, a day that reminds us of the woulds that are still open, and thus we hope and are systematically workinf for a resolution of the Cyprus issue, Papandreou said after the meeting with Anastasiades.

"We support the initiatives of the UN Secretary General and his Under-Secretary-General (for political affairs) Ibrahim Gambari, in the hope that these (initiatives) will open up new prospects and that there will be new steps so that the Cyprus issue will start moving again, aimed at its definitive resolution. This is our hope and the struggle that we are waging," Papandreou said.

Papandreou stressed that a Cyprus solution must be founded on the relevant UN resolutions and on the European acquis, reiterating that Turkey must meet the obligations it has undertaken.

The PASOK leader praised the role of the Cyprus Republic during the current Middle East crisis. "I wish to congratulate the Republic of Cyprus on the role it is playing in the Middle East, having managed a successful operation for the evacuation of the unarmed population from Lebanon. This shows the role that Cyprus can play in crises, particularly in this region," he said.

Speaking to reporters, Anastasiades stressed that "as time goes by unexploited, the faits accomplis become conslidated and are rendered irreversible".

Consequently, he added, it was necessary for everyone, jointly, to undertake responsibilities so as to achieve, as soon as possible, the re-opening of a dialogue of substance that would lead to a solution acceptable to both sides. "We will back the governments of both Cyprus and Greece, provided decisions are taken in the right direction," Anastasiades added.

The DISY leader thanked Papandreou for the "important initiatives" he is undertaking, as president of the Socialist International (SI), "in countries or coalitions that are difficult for us to access".

He said he briefed Papandreou on his talks with Gambari (who recently visited Turkey, Greece and Cyprus) and US deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza, who was currently in Cyprus for talks with the government and political leaders, and conveyed to the PASOK and SI leader "the agony of those who are concerned with the need for taking advantage of time and the opportunities".

Anastasiades further stressed it was necessary for Cyprus to utilise its position in Europe (as a member of the EU) and the abilities and opportunities provided by the United Nations "while there is still time".

[03] Energy Strategy Council holds first meeting

The Greek minister attended the first meeting of the Council and presented the government's energy policy, aimed at ensuring energy supply, lowering dependance on oil, strengthening a system of production and distributing electricity, expanding the use of natural gas, enhancing the role of renewable energy sources, deregulating electricity and natural gas markets, strengthening the country's interconnections with other grids and accelerating completion of energy infrastructure and private investments in the energy sector.

The Council meeting, chaired by Rafael Moysis, focused on a prevailing international oil price crisis and stressed the need for the Council to produce recommendations to ensure drafting of a long-term energy strategy.

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