Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-06-14

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] FOREIGN LEADERS TO SUMMIT ON CHINOOKS

[02] SIMITIS-SCHROEDER MEETING

[01] FOREIGN LEADERS TO SUMMIT ON CHINOOKS

Chinook military helicopters will also be used in the transportation of EU member-state leaders from the Macedonia airport in Thessaloniki, to the facilities of the Porto Carras hotel in Chalkidiki, in view of the Summit.

The state leaders and the members of the delegations will arrive at Macedonia airport on Thursday June 19, with the first arrivals at 11am and the last 5pm, while more than 50 aircrafts are expected to land that day. The delegations and other possible escorts of the state leaders will be taken to Chalkidiki in cars and busses, while there will be extreme security measures around the airport, with the participation of hundreds of police officers and special forces members.

As was announced by the Civic Aviation Authority, during the arrivals of the chiefs of state, no charter flights will be carried out, while only passengers on scheduled flights will be allowed inside the airport, upon showing their tickets.

[02] SIMITIS-SCHROEDER MEETING

The talks Greek Prime Minister and President of the European Council Costas Simitis and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder had in Berlin yesterday, were mainly concentrated on the draft of the European Constitution.

Mr. Simitis and Mr. Schroeder underlined the need for the 15 to accept the proposal of the Convention for the future of the EU at the Thessaloniki Summit, and to be adopted by the 10 new member-states, before the Euroelections in June 2004.

At the joint press conference, the Greek Prime Minister and the German Chancellor stressed that this issue will dominate the Thessaloniki Summit, in order for there to be a committing schedule for the completion of the Inter-Governmental Convention's works in time.

They pointed out that the basic requirement is to avoid negotiations anew at the Inter-Governmental Convention, which will decide on the final form of the European Constitution. The position of the 15 will play a decisive role in achieving this goal.

Mr. Simitis stressed that the more than 20 capitals he has visited so far, have given him the impression that the proposed solution is the best possible compromise for the time being. What we need now is to find a solution that is acceptable to all, applicable, so that we can move further. And later, when things are clearer, we may be able to find better solutions. What is necessary now, is for us to make a step, which is feasible, and I believe that the compromise proposed is a good one and one on which we can work, he said.

When asked about German-US relations, Gerhard Schroeder responded by saying that inter-Atlantic relations, both European-US relations and German-US relations, are characterized by the same interests.

America needs Europe and Europe needs America. That is why I believe that inter-Atlantic relations are alright, even when, occasionally, there are different views on individual issues. When one has relations and those relations exist between Europe and the US which are based on common values, then the different views on political issues can be dealt with in a friendly way. Of course there are occasional differences in formulations, in the diplomatic language, form one or the other side, as we have heard lately, but they are not important, he said.

Regarding the initiative of the four (Germany, France, Belgium and Luxembourg) for the formation of an independent military entity of the EU, he made mention of an attempt within NATO for the strengthening of the Alliance.

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