Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cyprus invasion fallen commemorated

[02] Peace convoy biker dies on road

[01] Cyprus invasion fallen commemorated

In statements afterward, Stylianidis said that he had conveyed the support of the Greek government and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis for the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and that there had been an "interesting exchange of views" that had also focused on Cyprus' reforms to its higher education system.

"We are in a similar phase of reforms in Greece and it is worth while looking at models that have been tried and are starting to yield results," the minister said, while he also pointed to a gigantic effort underway in Greece to improve the quality of academic papers and exchange of knowhow.

Stylianidis, who is representing the Greek government at events in Cyprus for the anniversary of the Turkish invasion, had earlier stated that the presence of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the occupied territories of Cyprus "provoked and did not assist in the direction of finding an agreed solution to the Cyprus issue".

He also stressed that the events helped remind the international community of the illegal invasion and continuing occupation of the north part of the island.

"We honour the memory of the people from Greece and of Cyprus that lost their lives in order to defend freedom and express the undivided support of the Greek people and the Greek government for Cyprus' efforts to arrive at an agreed solution for a bizonal, bicommunal federation whose operation will be based on the principles of the European Union and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, thus preserving a single character, national sovereignty, a single nationality," the minister stressed.

Stylianidis and delegation of Greek MPs representing all parties in Parliament laid wreaths at Makedonitissa Tomb in Nicosia, where a memorial service for the fallen during the Turkish invasion was carried out in the presence of Christofias.

Bakoyannis on Cyprus invasion anniversary

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis repeated a call for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue, during a statement on Saturday to mark the anniversary.

"The coming day reminds everyone, not just of the Turkish military invasion of Cyprus but also of the continued illegal occupation for 34 years of the territory of a European state, a member of the European Union, in violation of the relevant resolutions and decision of the United Nations Security Council," Bakoyannis said in statements on Saturday.

She stressed the need for an end to the "unacceptable situation by achieving a just, viable and functional solution that will lead to a bizonal, bi-communal federation with a single sovereignty, a single nationality and one international identity. A solution based on the decisions of the Security Council and the European acquis".

Bakoyannis also underlined Greece's support for efforts in this direction by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and the country's leadership.

Regarding Turkey, she called on its leadership not to encourage intransigency but, instead, to encourage a moderate and level-headed stance that would allow a new, well-prepared and substantive negotiating effort to commence under UN auspices.

The minister underlined, however, that "the current status quo on Cyprus is unacceptable" and needed to change so that both communities, Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot, would be able to enjoy the benefits of Cyprus' membership of the EU.

Caption: A memorial service was held at the Makedonitissa Tomb in Nicosia on Sunday to mark the 34th anniversary since the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey on July 20, 1974. The service was attended by Cyprus' leadership, while National Education Minister Evripides Stylianides represented the Greek government (ANA-MPA - KATIA CHRISTODOULOU).

[02] Peace convoy biker dies on road

The victim of the accident on Saturday was 51-year-old Michalis Kalogeropoulos, one of the main organisers of the motorcycle ride for peace that began in the coastal town of Pylos in the Peloponnese on July 14.

The unlucky motorcyclist was hit by a truck about two hours after the convoy passed the Georgian border, when the truck's driver swung out into the opposite lane in order to overtake a car parked on the road and had a head-on collision with the oncoming motorcycle.

Another motorcyclist in the convoy that witnessed the accident said the truck need not have swung out so far into the opposite lane in order to overtake, while the driver from Azerbaijan was unable to explain how the accident occurred.

A second member of the convoy was also injured by shards of the victim's helmet which hit him during the accident and is being treated at a hospital in the area.

The body of the victim will be taken back to Greece by two motorcyclists in the convoy, while another 13 have also decided to drop out of the ride and return to Greece, devastated by the death of their friend and companion.

The remaining members of the mission will continue on their journey to Tbilisi.

Setting off from Pylos to follow the 'Olive Tree Routes' of antiquity, a group of 55 motorcyclists had originally embarked on a journey that would join the ancient Silk Road to China and carry the 'Flame of Peace' to the Olympic host-city Beijing, in an initiative launched after the 63rd International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) rally that was organised by the 'Routes of the Olive Tree' organisation in collaboration with FIM and ELPA.

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