NEW YORK
 Foreign Minister George Papandreou will head for the annual United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, where he is expected to meet on the sidelines with several of his counterparts from other countries, as well as with UN Chief Kofi Annan.

 The long-standing Cyprus issue, the situation in strife-ridden Iraq as well as the “Olympic Truce” initiative being vigorously co-promoted by the Greek foreign ministry, are the issues expected to dominate Papandreou’s talks at the UN, where he will also meet with US Secretary of State Colin Powell with his EU colleagues.
 Other meetings are planned with the foreign ministers from Russia, Turkey, Iraq, Israel, China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.

 In a press briefing on Monday, a foreign ministry spokesman also referred to continuing attempts by the illegal regime propped up in the Turkish-occupied parts of Cyprus to attain recognition as an independent state by the Islamic Summit.
 Spokesman Panos Beglitis said the issue will be brought up by Papandreou in all of his contacts with other FMs in New York.
 It was also officially announced on Monday that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will visit Athens on Oct. 21.

 Finally, asked about the situation in Iraq, the Greek spokesman said Athens continues to rule out the dispatch of combat  units there, although it is examining other ways in which to contribute towards the reconstruction of Iraq.

Source: Athens News Agency

^
top

print this page   send this page