ANA/MPA - Athens News Agency - FM OPENS SESSIONS OF 1st WORLD CONFERENCE OF EPIROTES LIVING ABROAD

ANA/MPA - Athens News Agency

Posted: July 29, 2006 ANA/MPA - Athens News Agency

FM OPENS SESSIONS OF 1st WORLD CONFERENCE OF EPIROTES LIVING ABROAD

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, in opening the proceedings of the 1st World Conference of Epirotes living abroad, in Ioannina, northwestern Greece on Friday night, stressed that "Greece also seeks to have an important, to the degree of its possibilities, presence in the international scene." She described the Greeks abroad as "a part of Hellenism with enormous potential."

Referring to the Cyprus problem Bakoyannis noted: "The solution of the Cyprus issue remains the main target of our policy. The reunification of Cyprus, in a just way, viable and functional, which will vindicate the expectations of Hellenism all over the world, we believe that it would be to the benefit of all and naturally of stability, peace and prosperity in our region."

The foreign minister also reiterated that a part of Greece's strategic option for the strengthening of rapprochement of all the countries of the region with the European institutions, is also its support of Turkey's European prospects.

"Our option is the continuous improvement of our relations on the basis of the rules of international law and the relations of good neighborliness," Bakoyannis said. She added that "within this framework we sought and achieved the broadening of confidence-building measures and the avoidance of a climate of tension in the Aegean. in this spirit we encourage the European prospects of the neighbor."

The foreign minister stressed that "the position of Greece is, providing that Turkey manages to fulfill the European criteria and prerequisites and fully adjust to the acquits communitarian, the conclusion of its effort must be its full accession to the European Union."

Referring to developments in the Middle East, she said that Greece from the first moment supported a ceasefire while it responded immediately to the Lebanese government's request for the sending of humanitarian aid.