[01] Without Sanctions against Russia

01 Sep 2008 20:58:00 (Last updated: 01 Sep 2008 21:40:02)

Sources: NET 105.8, ANA

The EU leaders have decided to suspend temporarily the signing of an agreement on strategic cooperation with Russia at todays Summit Meeting in Brussels. The EU requests first the implementation of the truce achieved with Europes mediation and the withdrawal of Russias military forces to their original positions prior to the conflict. The EU also condemned Russias decision to unilaterally recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia, calling Europe not to recognize them. Moreover, the EU will see to the dispatch of OSCE observers to South Ossetia. In a speech prior to the Summit Meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that from now on Russia will defend its interests within the framework of international law, demanding in parallel from the international community to implement an embargo on arms against Georgia. Meanwhile, his country admitted to the Human Rights Observatory the use of cluster bombs in South Ossetia. Finally, US Vice President Dick Cheney will visit Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Ukraine and Italy on Tuesday.

The Greek Side

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis made statements after the end of the EU Summit Meeting in which he denounced violence, describing it non-acceptable and not a solution to the problem. He said that the EU tried from the first moment to settle the problem peacefully, thanking EU President Nicolas Sarkozy for his substancial efforts.

Furthermore, he stated that the EU member-states expressed their satisfaction over the six-point agreement and in parallel denounced Russias decision to recognize unilaterally South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The EU expressed its respect to the territorial integrity of states, a position shared by the Greek side.

Also the EU stressed that it is willing to help in Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazias reconstruction and agreed that Russia is an important partner for Europe. As a result all agreed that the relations between the EU and Russia should be assessed in view of the next Summit Meeting due to be held on 8 September.

Greece is monitoring the crisis in Caucasus carefully in cooperation with it EU partners and as it will assume the OSCE Presidency on 1.1.2009 its responsibilities will be many.

Finally, Greece has asked for self-restraint and prudence from all sides and promised to continue offering humanitarian aid to the victims of the crisis. Moreover, it will intensify its cooperation with Georgia so that the latter will materialize the Action Plan with the EU and approach the European structures. Finally, Mr Karamanlis said that Greece has special interest in the region as tens of thousands of expatriate Hellenes live there.

Translated by John Crystallidis

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Summit Meeting on Caucasus

[02] Politikh

Neo gkalop ths GPO

1/9/2008 11:20:00 mm (Teleytaia enhmerwsh: 1/9/2008 11:24:30 mm)

Phgh: NET 105,8

Probadisma 2,2 monadwn diathrei sthn proqesh chfoy h ND enanti toy PASOK se nea dhmoskophsh ths GPO poy paroysiase to brady ths Deyteras to MEGKA. Sygkekrimena h ND prohgeitai me 27,4% kai akoloyqoyn to PASOK me 25,2%, to KKE me 7,1%, o SYN me 10%, o LAOS me 5,3% kai oi Oikologoi me 1,6%. Adika xarakthrizei to 71,1% twn politwn ta metra poy anakoinwse o Giwrgos Alogoskoyfhs, wstoso to 44,9% twn erwthqentwn ta qewrei anagkaia. H dieqnhs oikonomikh krish ephreazei thn ellhnikh oikonomia apantoyn oi polites se pososto 71,2%. To 40,4% twn erwthqentwn empisteyetai mia kybernhsh ths ND me prwqypoyrgo ton Kwsta Karamanlh gia thn antimetwpish twn oikonomikwn problhmatwn, 28,3% mia kybernhsh PASOK me prwqypoyrgo ton Giwrgo Papandreoy enw ena ejairetika ychlo pososto ths tajhs toy 25,7% apanta kamia apo tis dyo.

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