Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-11-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] MILLER: THE US BACKS THE ANNAN PLAN FOR CYPRUS

[02] A SKEPTICAL "YES" TO THE ANNAN PLAN

[03] GIANNITSIS MEETINGS IN MOROCCO

[04] PAPANDREOU TO VISIT THE US

[05] VENIZELOS: ACCESSION WITH OR WITHOUT A SOLUTION

[01] MILLER: THE US BACKS THE ANNAN PLAN FOR CYPRUS

US ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller expressed Washington's support to the Annan Plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem, speaking in a World Council for Greeks Abroad, SAE, event held in Manhattan, New York within the framework of the Olympic Cultural Week and the regional conference of SAE-America.

Mr. Miller addressed the event and his speech referred to every aspect of the Greek-US relations, the Cyprus issue, the Greek-Turkish relations, terrorism, the Olympic Games in 2004 and Greece's role in the Balkans.

Referring to the current developments in the Cyprus problem, Mr. Miller stated that the Annan Plan can serve as a basis for negotiation and agreement, adding that it is a plan that offers legal protection to the vital interests of all Cypriots.

[02] A SKEPTICAL "YES" TO THE ANNAN PLAN

A yes to the Annan plan, but with skepticism, was recorded by the opinion poll of Opinion, carried out for the Sunday Eleftherotypia, in the Attica area. 59% of those asked said yes to the Annan plan as a basis for negotiation, while 64% are in favor of Cyprus' immediate accession to the EU.

The residents of Attica support the Greek-Cypriot decision to accept the Annan proposal as a basis for negotiation in principle. Approximately 60% of the residents agreed with this strategy of the countries' political leadership.

However, there is a position of harsh disagreement, which mainly includes older people, individuals of medium education and ND and KKE voters. However it should be noted that 40% of ND and KKE voters agree with the Annan plan as a basis of negotiation, despite their parties' rejection of the plan.

The poll's data also shows that the main position of Athens' residents on the resolving of the Cyprus issue, is a solution based on the Annan proposal. This position concentrated 50.1% and is more indicative of a feeling of realism mixed with weariness, rather than a substantial opinion, which would require knowledge of the proposal's aspects, which most implicated elites dispose.

[03] GIANNITSIS MEETINGS IN MOROCCO

Issues of bilateral and European interest were discussed during the meetings Deputy Foreign Minister Tassos Giannitsis had in Morocco. Mr. Giannitsis met with Prime Minister Driss Jettou, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation Mohamed Benaissam, Minister of Finance and Privatization Fathallah Oualaou, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Mohand Laenser, and his counterpart Taieb Fassi Fihri.

Mr. Giannitsis stressed the importance Greece attributes to the Mediterranean dimension of the EU, while the Moroccan officials expressed their country's wish to reinforce its connection to the EU. The issues that concerned the two sides were the preparations for the EU-Africa Conference, which will take place during the Greek Presidency, as well as the coordination of their actions in dealing with and preventing illegal immigration. The discussion also concerned the Middle Eastern issue, Iraq and stability in the African continent.

Both sides showed great interest in the reinforcement and enlargement of bilateral financial relations, while they agreed on the formation of a joint entrepreneur committee to carry out programmes in specific sectors. Specifically, it was decided that a delegation from the Ministry of Tourism would be sent to Greece, and the forming of a Greek-Moroccan business council was seen in a positive light.

Discussions took place in a very friendly atmosphere and confirmed the excellent relations between the two countries, as well as their willingness to intensify their cooperation. Finally, Mr. Giannitsis invited his counterpart to visit Athens.

[04] PAPANDREOU TO VISIT THE US

Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou will visit the US on Tuesday and Wednesday (26-27/11). He will have meetings with Secretary of State Collin Powel and the US President's Security Consultant Contoleezza Rice, with whom he will discuss the crucial developments concerning the Cyprus issue, and the preparations for the Greek Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2003.

[05] VENIZELOS: ACCESSION WITH OR WITHOUT A SOLUTION

The position of the Greek government on the Annan proposal was characterized as wise and correct by Minister of Culture Evaggelos Venizelos, who stressed that we should accept it as a basis for negotiation on what is essential, because this way the burden of non-acceptance or delay falls on Turkey's shoulders.

Our goal is a solution, and definitely accession, even without a solution. This is an express and adamant position of the Greek government and all Greek political parties, and this must have been clearly resolved by December 12, with the decision of the EU Summit, he underlined.

Thus, on April 16 in Athens, when the treaties for the accession of new countries to the EU are being signed, the Cypriot Republic will either be incorporated as it is being represented today by it's President, or as the plan foresees, with the reforms that are absolutely necessary, he said.

We have formed the requirements for the support in the most effective way of our national positions, and we must all support the effort being made by the Prime Minister at this time, not in the name of the government or PASOK, but in the name of the country, he ended.

The Minister of Culture also noted that Greece is Turkey's most fervent supporter as far as its European prospects are concerned, because we want a stable Turkey, a prosperous Turkey with a European orientation, because we believe that such a Turkey is a responsible, valid interlocutor and factor of stability in the region and not of instability for the broader region.

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