Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-02-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM meets with UN envoy for FYROM name issue

[02] Invitation to Skopje: Let's put past behind us

[03] Greek-Russian business forum

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] PM meets with UN envoy for FYROM name issue

During the meeting, which was also attended by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, the prime minister was briefed on the mediatorâs proposal regarding the FYROM name issue.

No statements were made afterwards.

UN-brokered talks between Athens and Skopje regarding the FYROM "name issue" took place in the Greek capital on Tuesday, with both sides' representatives and UN mediator Matthew Nimetz saying afterwards that each government will now study details of a new proposal submitted by Nimetz during the session.

Speaking to reporters at the Greek foreign ministry, Nimetz and both negotiators, Greece's Adamantios Vassilakis and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) Nikola Dimitrov, refrained from going into specifics over the UN envoy's latest proposal, with Vassilakis referring merely to a "new, and more elaborate framework of proposals".

He added that Athens will examine all the details and parametres of the latest Nimetz plan.

On his part, Dimitrov said that he will present details of the proposal to his government.

In opening the brief press conference, Nimetz, a veteran US diplomat, first noted that his proposal obviously "doesn't 100 percent meet the positions of either party".

"...I think that taken as a whole, it is a fair and dignified proposal," he said, adding that he will wait for a response within two weeks.

Caption: Prime minister Costas Karamanlis (ANA-MPA/M. Marogianni)

[02] Invitation to Skopje: Let's put past behind us

Speaking to local and international reporters after an UN-brokered meeting of each country's representatives at the Greek foreign ministry in Athens, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said: "As you know, since the 1990s, we have engaged in a negotiation, under the auspices of the United Nations, with the explicit goal: reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue."

"The time has come to solve this issue once and for all. Today the negotiation process is at a crossroads. Both Athens and Skopje have a choice to make: a choice between the past and the future," the Greek foreign minister said, adding:

"I requested Amb. (Nikola) Dimitrov to convey a message to your government and your people: A message of optimism. A message of hope. The people of Greece are an honorable people who have known suffering and been acquainted with grief and yet have managed to persevere and forge their way to prosperity. Greece is a stable and mature democracy, an old member of NATO and the European Union. We have a strong and dynamic economy. And we look at the future with optimism and self-confidence.

"And in this future we want to walk hand-in-hand with you - our neighbours. We see on our borders a proud and dignified people; a strong community with a vibrant economy and an energetic society. We see on our borders a state with much to offer to our neighbourhood. We want to see in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia a good friend, a potentially strong ally and a future solid partner," Bakoyannis said.

"Let us leave the past behind us. Let us reach a solution. Let us make our way inside the Euro-Atlantic and European families together."

Addressing Greek reporters, the foreign minister said the government has been promoting the Greek positions on the FYROM issue on an interntional level, adding that she had reiterated the country's position to UN mediator Matthew Nimetz.

"You know the Mr. Nimetz has tabled a more elaborate proposal which we are studying."

"I requested a meeting with the President of the Republic and party leaders to brief them on current developments. We are facing a difficult negotiation to which Greece comes with clear positions."

Prior to the one-hour talks, Bakoyannis made a brief introductory address before Nimetz and the two countries' representatives, noting that Greece, as the most senior NATO and EU member in the region, desires stability, rapprochement, cooperation and good-neighborly relations.

She also cited what she called Athens' productive stance towards its northern neighbor over the years, and in particular Greek investments and robust trade with the one-time Yugoslav republic.

Finally, Bakoyannis reiterated that "now is the time" for finding a mutually acceptable solution, one that is clear-cut, practical, viable and constant.

Turning to Amb. Dimitrov, she reiterated that Greece intends to back and assist FYROM in its Euro-Atlantic prospects, under the condition that FYROM leadership contributes to the finding of a mutually acceptable solution.

Caption: Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis. (ANA-MPA/S. Pantzartzi)

[03] Greek-Russian business forum

Addressing the forum, Thanasis Lavidas, secretary-general and head of International Affairs of the Federation, underlined the sense of satisfaction prevailing in the two business communities by the fact that economic cooperation was high in the bilateral political dialogue, opening new roads for Greek and Russian enterprises. Lavidas said the aim was to combine comparative advantages from both sides, to create synergies, to exploit the each partyâs experience and to boost the two countriesâ comparative position in international competition.

Constantinos Bakouris, president of the Greek-Russian Business Council, underlined that several Greek enterprises have positioned themselves in the Russian market (telecoms, information, constructions, food, shipping and services) and expressed the hope that more Greek products and services would gain market access in Russia.

The forum was attended by Russian Federationâs Agricultural Development Minister Alexey Gordeev, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Petros Doukas and Agricultural Development and Food Minister Alexandros Kontos.

The forum brought together a large number of Russian and Greek enterprises.

Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Hellenic Federation of Industries (SEB) secretary general Thanasis Lavidas.

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

UN mediator Matthew Nimetz's proposal on the FYROM name issue and initial reactions by the Greek government, and the price hikes in certain goods following the weekend's heavy snowstorm were the main front-page items in Wednesdayâs dailies.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Private life is protected - (Justice Minister) Sotiris Hatzigakis takes measures after meeting with the prime minister".

APOGEVMATINI: "8,500 new jobs - Vacancies per sector".

AVGHI: "Government races with time on the double name - Foreign Minister to brief political parties".

AVRIANI: "Solution now on the FYROM name - Avoid regrets like in the case of Cyprus".

CHORA: "Solution or veto - (Foreign Minister Bakoyannis) Dora briefs the President and political party leaders".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Nimetzâs ideas donât satisfy Greece or FYROM".

ELEFTHEROS: "Political Party Leaders Council meeting on FYROM - (Government spokesman) Thodoros Rousopoulos leaves open such a likelihood".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Five names and a veto in the distance - Tough negotiations - The name Nova Makedonija the more acceptable option for Athens".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "FYROM name fever - New Nimetz proposal constitutes basis for discussion, says government".

ESTIA: "On the way to concession on the FYROM name - Greece paying for past mistakes".

ETHNOS: "Double name ultimatum - US demands response within 15 days".

KATHIMERINI: "Names suggested by Nimetz on FYROM - Five alternatives".

LOGOS: "Extreme profiteering - Price hikes after the snowstorm".

NIKI: "(Social Security Foundation) IKA insurance with 100 work stamps - 500,000 workers affected".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Multifaceted action against imperialist intervention - (Greek Communist Party) KKE statement on Kosovo and FYROM".

TA NEA: "US pressures on the FYROM name issue".

TO VIMA: "Nimetz proposal for compromise - Composite, double name for FYROM suggested by the American mediator".

VRADYNI: "Painful proposal with Kosovo in the background - Double name by Nimetz and two-week deadline".

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