Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis termed the UN Security Council's debate on the Arab-Israeli conflict, at the initiative of the Greek Presidency, "a very important event."

The issue is returning to the Security Council after 16 years, as she said, and this development is due to Greece's "continuous efforts."

The foreign minister thanked her counterparts at the Security Council and all the sides involved for their cooperation in achieving the debate.

Bakoyannis said that achieving this target was very difficult and that a "strong message" must be sent to the peoples in the region that the international community is interested and is seeking a solution, as she said, adding that the EU will be "more active" on the problem of the Middle East.

Speaking at a press conference at the international organization’s headquarters, Bakoyannis replied to many questions by the press on a series of issues concerning the international political stage and Greece in particular, such as the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

She said that Greece and FYROM have "excellent economic relations" and that the process must continue with the mediation of the UN secretary general's special envoy, Matthew Nimetz, for the finding of a "mutually acceptable solution" to the name issue. Bakoyannis announced that she would be meeting her FYROM counterpart on Friday.

Replying to a question on Greece's position on the issue of the election of the new UN secretary general, she reiterated that he must come from Asia, adding that the political weight and personality of the candidates must be taken into consideration. She further noted that on September 28 the Security Council will be holding a new secret poll on candidates existing so far.

Source: Athens News Agency

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