"This is not the time for criticism...it is the time to strengthen Greece's voice in this critical negotiation," main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou said on Tuesday, after a meeting with prime minister Costas Karamanlis, held at the former's initiative, ahead of a crucial NATO summit that opens Wednesday in Bucharest, adding that "Greece is being wronged" and facing pressure "even from allies and partners" over the FYROM issue.

"Greece is in a crucial negotiation. There are pressures even from allies and partners, and I consider that Greece is being wronged," Papandreou told reporters after his meeting with the prime minister at the Maximos Mansion government headquarters.

"This is not the time for criticism. We have made criticism, and will continue to do so wherever and whenever necessary. It is the time to strengthen Greece's voice ahead of this critical negotiation, and that is why I came to meet with the prime minister," Papandreou said, adding that PASOK's position was "crystal clear", and a position that was shared by the entire Greek people: "We want a solution composite name with a geographical determinant, for all uses, without exception".

"We must say 'no' to all forms of a dual name, and of course 'no' to every effort at 'back-door' accession of the neighboring country to NATO without prior solution of the name problem," the main opposition leader stressed.

   The PASOK leader said that he had volunteered to the prime minister to visit Skopje "even at the last minute" in order to "strengthen our country's negotiating position and contribute to a just solution of this problem".

Addressing himself to the people of FYROM, Papandreou warned that "actions of extreme symbolism, such as those that offend us all and our national symbols, are deplorable", adding his belief that "they do not express the entire people of the neighboring country, because we have a common future together, a common future for the Balkans, a common future of peace and stability in the region".

Caption: Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou on Tuesday 1 April 2008 outside the Maximos Mansion.ANA-MPA/PANTELIS SAITAS.

Go back...