Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-08-25
CONTENTS
[01] Foreign ministry cites heightened diplomatic activity ahead of
crucial EU-Turkey meetings
[01] Foreign ministry cites heightened diplomatic activity ahead of
crucial EU-Turkey meetings
Athens on Thursday reiterated its standing position of "no shadow"
being cast vis-a-vis Turkey's absolute application of a customs union
protocol with the European Union, weeks after the EU candidate-state
signed an extension of the protocol while simultaneously claiming that
its signature doesn't constitute recognition of EU member Cyprus.
The statement came amid heightened diplomatic activity by Greece and
Cyprus' diplomatic services ahead of a COREPER meeting on Aug. 31 in
Brussels, a meeting expected to focus on Turkey's signing of the
protocol, as well as an informal council (Gymnich) assigned the task of
processing the negotiation framework for EU-Turkey relations.
A foreign ministry spokesman made the statement on Thursday, while
noting that both Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis and Deputy FM
Yiannis Valinakis plan to communicate with their counterparts in Italy
and Spain over the next few days, as well as with EU Commissioner for
Enlargement Olli Rehn.
Moreover, spokesman George Koumoutsakos said Molyviatis is set to speak
with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in the next 24 hours, whereas
Turkish Deputy Undersecretary Ertugrul Apakan is scheduled to arrive in
Athens for talks on Aug. 31.
Similar contacts by Greece's permanent representation in Brussels with
the EU presidency, Commission and in other EU capitals are underway,
the foreign ministry stated.
"The end result of Turkey's European course is a European Turkey, not
the opposite," sources at the foreign ministry added.
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