Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-03-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou wraps up Serres tour

[02] Bakoyannis signs bilateral protocol in Rome

[01] Papandreou wraps up Serres tour

Speaking a day before the 100th anniversary of the former prime minister and president's birth, Papandreou noted that the prefecture council hall is named after Constantine Karamanlis and underlined the determination he displayed in pushing through Greeceās membership into the then European Economic Community.

Finally, Papandreou referred to the region's problems and prospects following Romania's and Bulgaria's accession into the European Union.

He said the prefecture should use its comparative advantages, adding that Greece should not invest in a "cheap labour" model, but should instead continue to invest in human resources and quality of life.

In a later development, Papandreou wrapped up his two-day tour of the prefecture with a visit to the village of Orini, where he was declared an honorary citizen.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of PASOK leader George Papandreou.

[02] Bakoyannis signs bilateral protocol in Rome

During their meeting, the two ministers also discussed the European Constitutional Treaty, the Balkans, the Middle East, Lebanon, Iraq, Greek-Turkish affairs and migration.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Bakoyannis said that Greece and Italy had very close relations of cooperation, which were reaffirmed by the signing of the Protocol, as also stated by D'Alema.

"We do not have much to discuss regarding our bilateral issues because, simply, they have been resolved," Bakoyannis said.

"Thus, we were given the opportunity to discuss the European prospect, which is very important. We -- Greece and Italy -- agreed that we must back the European Constitution and that the period of study must be wound up at least by the European Parliament elections, and the decisions taken on the Euro-Constitution," she added.

Regarding the Balkans, she said that Rome and Athens "believe that we are working jointly for their European prospect", adding that all the countries of the Balkans, including Serbia, were included in that strategy.

"In Kosovo, we aspire to a viable solution that will strengthen regional security and stability, a solution that both the sides directly involved can live with," she continued.

On the Middle East, Greece and Italy were again in agreement that the Mecca Agreement "was an important step foward", Bakoyannis said, adding that "the government of Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority) needs encouragement to proceed in these directions, which Europe, but also the international community, desire", and noting that "a significant symbollism would be for the issue of the abducted soldiers to be resolved".

Bakoyannis further said that she and D'Alema had also agreed that better coordination must be achieved in the monitoring the EU's external sea borders through greater utilisation of Frontex (the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union).

Greece and Italy, she continued, are Mediterranean countries, countries that know the wider region very well and see many of the problems in the region, either in Lebanon, or in Iraq, or the Palestinian issue, "from the same viewpoint".

She thanked D'Alema for his hospitality and expressed certainty that the cooperation would continue even more strengthened.

Asked whether Greek-Turkish affairs had been discussed, Bakoyannis said that although she briefed D'Alema on the violations of Greek national airspace by Turkish military aircraft over the Aegean, "it was not one of the main topics of discussion".

D'Alema expressed pleasure at welcoming Bakoyannis, "a lady of acknowledged repute and a great friend of our country with whom, chiefly in the Euro-Atlantic forums, we cooperate with great convergence of views and with a common commitment on the major issues we face".

He said they discussed the prospects of Europe, noting that Italy and Greece were two of the most committed countries in the defence of the European Constitutional Treaty and the modernising principles it contained.

He said they also discussed the Balkans, adding that the common desire of the two countries was to encourage a solution supported by both sides involved regarding the final status of Kosovo, a solution that would be achieved through a European commitment, which would facilitate dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, in order to reach a solution that would not be a humiliation for anyone and would not create new difficulties in the Balkans.

D'Alema said they also discussed the difficult scenarios of the crisis in the Middle East, adding that their assessments converged on the fact that the Palestinian government of national unity was definitely a new element.

"Despite the fact that this government did not arise precisely out of the formula we had hoped for, nevertheless it would be a mistake to close the door to this new situation. Quite the contrary, we must encourage the Palestinian government to be consistent, immediately taking the first actions in order for all forms of violence to cease, beginning with the release of the abducted Israeli soldier," he said.

The two ministers also exchanged views on the situation in Iraq and Lebanon, as well as on Greek-Italian bilateral cooperation on policies concerning migration, confronting illegal immigration with all the human dramas it entailed in the Mediterranean.

Summing up, he stressed that the talks were "very positive", proof of which was the signing of the Protocol of political cooperation and regular consultations between the two governments. "In fact, one of Prime Minister Romano Prodi's first visits was to Greece," the Italian foreign minister noted.

"I believe we can speak of a relationship between two major Mediterranean countries that is founded on our great friendship and the intensive cooperation between the two countries," D'Alema concluded.

Bakoyannis was received afterwards by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, while in the afternoon she will have separate meetings with the leaders of Italy's bicameral parliament, lower house Chamber of Deputies president Fausto Bertinotti, and upper house Senate of the Republic president Franco Marini.

The Greek foreign minister is on a one-day visit to Rome, from where she will depart directly for a US visit that includes a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in New York on Tuesday and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday in Washington.

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