21 February, 2007
Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos' meetings in Athens on Wednesday would be at top level, and indicated the good cooperation between Greece and Cyprus, national defense minister Evangelos Meimarakis said on Tuesday, replying to press questions after an Inner Cabinet meeting.
Asked whether there was fear over possible reactions by Turkey, Meimarakis said that "we fear nothing", but added that "we are obliged, however, to examine and analyze every action so as to preventively face every move".
Foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis, asked why she has not been invited to the dinner in honor of Papadopoulos that prime minister Costas Karamanlis will be hosting at his home in Rafina, Bakoyannis said that "naturally I have not been invited to a dinner that is between the two leaders".
The foreign ministry, she added, has prepared the itinerary of the discussions that will take place Wednesday.
Bakoyannis stressed that cooperation with the Cypriot side is "continuous and good".
Papadopoulos arrived in Athens on Tuesday evening for a two-day working visit and talks with the political leadership in Greece to discuss the latest developments concerning the Cyprus issue.
He is due to meet on Wednesday with premier Karamanlis, which will be followed by a joint press conference. Karamanlis will earlier hold a working session with foreign minister Bakoyannis.
The talks with Karamanlis will also cover the oil exploration and exploitation rights in the sea area south of Cyprus.
The Cyprus president will receive the leaders of the Greek political parties separately on Wednesday afternoon.
On Thursday, Papadopoulos is scheduled to meet with President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, before returning to Cyprus.
Later, during a regular press briefing, alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said that Cypriot President Papadopoulos will hold deliberations with President Papoulias, prime minister Karamanlis and the leaders of the political parties in Athens on Wednesday and Thursday.
To a question on the dinner at Karamanlis' home, Antonaros replied that "everything has been arranged in full cooperation with the foreign ministry".
To another question, the spokesman replied that before the meeting at the Maximos Mansion government headquarters with the Cypriot delegation, Karamanlis would confer with foreign minister Bakoyannis.
Source: Athens News Agency
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