Santer solidarity to Athens over recent Turkish threats

BRUSSELS 16/03/1999 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)
European Commission President Jacques Santer expressed understanding and solidarity for Greek positions in a meeting with Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis here yesterday.  He also stressed the need for strong and provocative statements by Turkey to be avoided, which do not contribute to cooperation
and peace in the region.  In presenting Greek positions, Mr. Kranidiotis said that Turkey's exaggerations and inaccuracies are due to the pre-election period it
is going through, underlining that "it must leave Greece out of its domestic problems."
Referring to the "Agenda 2000", namely the reform of the European Union's fiscal issues, Mr. Kranidiotis placed particular emphasis on maintaining the conviction existing on economic and social cohesion and that the effort to fund development projects in Greece must continue.
On the occasion of the European Commission's report on mismanagement, Mr. Kranidiotis said Greece is in favour of transparency and good management as a contribution to democracy.   Mr. Kranidiotis also met during his visit to Brussels Foreign Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek, Greek Commissioner
Christos Papoutsis and members of the permanent Greek delegation (MEA).