President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias received visiting NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday, who is in Greece to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Greece’s membership in the Alliance.
Papoulias expressed to the NATO chief aggravation over continuing Turkish violations of Greek national airspace, explaining that Greece continues to have problems with Turkey and warning that Ankara’s stance does not help in consolidating the climate of good neighborhood that Greece seeks.
“I was disturbed by the fact that yesterday (Wednesday), when I went to the National Defense General Staff (GEEThA), Turkish warplanes were conducting flights over a Greek island,” Papoulias said.
The President further told Rasmussen that Greece wants to see Turkey in the EU and is contributing to the attainment of this target.
He also made note of the stance displayed by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), and thanked the NATO chief for the position he has taken on the thorny issue.
“You understand our sensitivities on this issue, given that our northern neighbours are maintaining a tough stance whereas we have extended our hand and are acting like good neighbours. We will continue in this direction so that a mutually acceptable solution may be found on the FYROM name issue,” the Greek President continued.
He further described as “a joke” Skopje’s persistence in altering history and trying to present Alexander the Great as a “Skopjean”, as he charged, while he asked Rasmussen to assist in overcoming the problems.
(Source: AMNA)
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
