Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-01-08 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] PM and UNSG Antonio Guterres discuss Cyprus issue on the phone [02] Tzanakopoulos: Erdogan absence would leave 'many possibilities open' [03] Channel owners ask CoS to exempt them from filing wealth statements --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] PM and UNSG Antonio Guterres discuss Cyprus issue on the phone Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Sunday had an in-depth discussion with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the telephone, ahead of the multilateral meeting on the Cyprus issue, discussing aspects of both the process and the issue itself. According to an announcement from the prime minister's press office, Tsipras repeated Greece's standing positions during their conversation and also Greece's steadfast commitment to the talks for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue, on the basis of UN decisions. The discussion lasted 40 minutes, with a government source claiming Guterres was "very positive" about Greece's positions and raised no objections to the possibility of EU participation in the meeting, which Athens greatly desires. Asked by the ANA whether the prime minister intends to travel to Geneva, the source said that Tsipras "will go if there is a chance of achieving an agreement." In the case that Turkey does not allow a solution to be achieved, the source predicted that the international practice for salvaging the talks will follow, with a pause for talks to be held at a lower level followed by a resumption. [02] Tzanakopoulos: Erdogan absence would leave 'many possibilities open' The absence of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from the multilateral meeting on Cyprus in Geneva would leave "a very large number of possibilities open," government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said on Sunday, in an interview with the radio station 'Athina 9.84'. He noted that Greece has constantly worked for the best possible outcome, in other words a viable solution. The spokesman indicated that Erdogan would not be present at the meeting and that Turkey will be represented by its prime minister, Binali Yildirim. "From our point of view, we have said that the country's representation must be at the highest possible level but the non presence of Erdogan leave open very many possibilities," Tzanakopoulos noted. "Erdogan plays a most central political role and we, given what the Turkish side has allowed to be understood, will review our position," he added. The spokesman also commented on the second review, noting that there were no reasons to delay its conclusions and child of apprehended terrorist Pola Roupa, noting that this should be swiftly turned over to its family members. [03] Channel owners ask CoS to exempt them from filing wealth statements The Association of Nationally Broadcasting Television Station Owners (EITHSEE) on Sunday filed a petition with the Council of State, Greece's supreme administrative court, asking that its members and their senior executives be exempted from an obligation to submit wealth statements. The association has also asked for a temporary suspension of the obligation to submit a wealth statement for its members and their senior staff until the CoS issues its ruling in a similar case filed by five judges' unions. The deadline for submission of wealth statements expires next Sunday. In its arguments, the association raises many of the same issues as the judges' unions but also questions of privacy and the possible leaking of sensitive private information. Among others, it highlights a 150,000 euro fine imposed on the General Secretariat for Information Systems for leaking the personal information of nearly all tax payers in Greece.