A foreign ministry spokesman on Thursday referred to a closely watched EU summit next month that is expected to make crucial decisions regarding Turkey's EU course.

"Greece is in cooperation and close coordination with the Republic of Cyprus," spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras said, adding that Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou will be in Athens for next week's OSCE Summit. Referring to a letter by Cypriot President Demetris Christofias to the leaders of the Union's 26 other member-states, he pointed out that the course of negotiations is not satisfactory.

The issue will be discussed in the European Council and the Greek side has expressed a hope that there will be progress with Turkey making steps toward the right direction, "…because Turkey will be judged very strictly and objectively. This is a given," Delavekouras stressed.

Asked to comment on a letter sent by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Prime Minister George Papandreou, he replied that it will be answered. 

Prespes meeting

Meanwhile, the spokesman said that Papandreou proposed a tripartite meeting in the Lake Prespes region with his counterparts from Albania and fYRoM to discuss environmental cooperation in the verdant and ecologically significant region only a few days before the Copenhagen Summit on climate change.

Athens seeks the creation of a framework involving community programmes and know-how that will allow Greece, fYRoM and Albania to cooperate and deal with environmental issues.

The initiative was launched on the occasion of the anniversary of another similar meeting held in the Lake Prespes region 10 years ago and the issuance of a joint statement declaring their commitment to cooperate to face jointly the problems of the region's ecosystem which, due to its nature, needs inter-state cooperation.

"Negotiations between fYRoM and the EU will not be launched if the 'name issue' is not settled with the adoption of a name for all uses (erga omnes) that will include a geographic qualifier," the foreign ministry spokesman said in response to a press question.

Responding to a question on the likelihood of any discussion on the 'name issue', Delavekouras stated that it is understandable that "the entire spectrum of issues that concern participating countries will be discussed, and therefore, it is reasonable to have a discussion on the name issue with prime minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM) Nikola Gruevski."

"However, there shouldn't be any misinterpretations. The framework for a solution is the process followed in the United Nations under UN envoy Matthew Nimetz. This is where a solution will come from and we expect that the other party will participate in the process constructively. Direct and private meetings can contribute by giving a momentum in the UN dialogue process," he stated.

"Skopje should adopt a constructive attitude to reach a mutually acceptable solution. EU accession negotiations cannot be launched for as long as such a solution is not achieved," Delavekouras said, adding that this should be made clear to avoid any surprises, misunderstandings and expectations that cannot be met.

Responding to a relevant question, Delavekouras said Gruevski will arrive for the meeting on a commercial flight.

   Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Maximos mansion in Athens (government's headquarters)