Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-10-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Christodoulos refers to Church-State relations

[02] FM in Cyprus; cites Turkey's obligations

[03] Greece beats Norway 1-0 in Euro qualifier

[04] Papandreou addresses party rallies on Crete

[01] Christodoulos refers to Church-State relations

Christodoulos reminded that "while other countries started with atheism, such as France for example, these countries have now started to re-evaluate the situation, because they see that without spiritualism, no people can progress."

"In our country so-called liberal reformers want to set us back and to create news situations, where Greece will be a completely secular state, with no prevailing religion and confession of faith."

[02] FM in Cyprus; cites Turkey's obligations

Bakoyannis said the meeting focused on various issues, with the main one being relations between Europe and Turkey.

"Europe must, with calm and objectiveness, and in accordance with European criteria and the acquis communautaire, assess Turkey and its European course," she said.

Asked whether Turkey and the European Union are on a 'collision course', the foreign minister expressed the view that "it is premature for us to make such assessments."

Bakoyannis reiterated that Greece supports Turkey's European prospects "because it believes that the reforms and the changes the country will have to perform are in the strategic interest of Greece and Cyprus", adding that "it is a long course that will also pass through a solution to the issue of Cyprus."

Meanwhile, Bakoyannis warned in an interview published in a Sunday edition of an Athens daily that "time is running out for Turkey to implement the Ankara Protocol."

"We are entering an undoubtedly difficult period in relations between Europe and Turkey. The time that Turkey has at its disposal to implement the Ankara Protocol is running out," she stressed.

The minister further said that "if Turkey does not fulfil its commitments, Europe cannot proceed as if nothing happened."

Bakoyannis also noted that there is no reason at all for early elections to be held in the country, adding that the government has a strong and effective prime minister and it has a mandate to rule.

The interview was published in the newspaper "Kathimerini".

ANA-MPA file photo.

[03] Greece beats Norway 1-0 in Euro qualifier

In other matches played over the weekend for the same group, Turkey beat Hungary 1-0 away and Moldova and Bosnia-Herzegovina drew 2-2. Greece's next match will be away against Bosnia on Wednesday.

Standings after three games played:

Norway 6 points

Turkey 6 (2 games)

Greece 6 (2 games)

Bosnia 4

Hungary 3

Moldova 1

Malta 0 (2 games)

[04] Papandreou addresses party rallies on Crete

"An end must be put to the mockery, deceit and arbitrariness of the Karamanlis government," said Papandreou, a week ahead of next Sunday's local elections.

He also accused the New Democracy (ND) government of creating inequalities, unemployment, and operating in an autocratic manner.

Referring to the government's economic policy, the PASOK leader said it "writes-off taxes for the rich and imposes more taxes on the average Greek."

He said the "government over the past three years left pensioners vulnerable and is now is giving back to them half."

Papandreou also accused Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis of turning the state-appointed Competition Committee into a "breeding ground for blackmail and corruption."

Caption: PASOK leader Papandreou addresses a crowd of supporters in Hania, Crete on Sunday. ANA-MPA photo / K. Mavrona.

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