Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-06-21
CONTENTS
[01] Papandreou sends message to FYROM
[01] Papandreou sends message to FYROM
Main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou on Thursday sent a
message to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) while
speaking at an event held on the occasion of the Battle of Kilkis
anniversary. The Battle of Kilkis-Lahanas in northern Greece took place
during the Second Balkan War between Greece and Bulgaria for the town
of Kilkis. The Greek army defeated the Bulgarians in a battle that
lasted three days from June 19 to June 21 in 1913.
Papandreou stated that Greece wants good relations with FYROM but its
Euro-Atlantic prospect is uncertain if no solution on the name issue is
reached in a mutually acceptable way. He referred both to FYROM and
Turkey saying that their EU accession is not just a matter of EU
enlargement but also concerns adherence to EU principles and values on
their part.
He also referred to Greater FYROM aspirations on behalf of Skopje and
to Turkeyâs threats targeting territorial integrity referring to Cyprus
stressing that when Greece becomes the target of threats it relies on
the effectiveness of the Greek armed forces and diplomacy.
Papandreou added that the course of the Balkan region countries toward
the EU is an important element for Greece, and used Bulgaria as an
example stating that it used to be Greeceâs enemy during the Balkan
Wars and now is an EU partner.
Papandreou laid a wreath at the war memorial and together with his
brother Nikos visited the tomb of Nikolaos Papandreou, their
grandfatherâs brother who was killed in the battle.
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