Athens Union of Journalists

During her visit, Catherine Ashton will hold a daily press conference, starting in Tunis at approximately 1700 local time in the Delegation of the European Union.

3. Underlines the fact that good neighbourly relations are an essential pillar of the EU accession process; welcomes the country’s overall constructive role as regards relations with other enlargement countries; encourages the continuing diplomatic exchanges which have taken place between Athens, Sofia and Skopje and stresses the importance of all sides demonstrating proper commitment to ‘good neighbourly relations’ based especially on friendship, mutual respect, constructive dialogue and a genuine desire to resolve misunderstandings and overcome hostilities; calls for the ...[+++] avoidance of gestures, statements and actions which could negatively impact on good neighbourly relations; welcomes in this respect the first meeting held recently between the representatives of the governments in Skopje and Sofia aimed at the possibility of signing an agreement between the two countries; urges the Enlargement Commissioner to pay special attention in his report to the issue of good neighbourly relations; also calls for greater socio-cultural collaboration in view of strengthening the ties between the peoples of the region;

3. Underlines the fact that good neighbourly relations are an essential pillar of the EU accession process; welcomes the country’s overall constructive role as regards relations with other enlargement countries; encourages the continuing diplomatic exchanges which have taken place between Athens, Sofia and Skopje and stresses the importance of all sides demonstrating proper commitment to ‘good neighbourly relations’ based especially on friendship, mutual respect, constructive dialogue and a genuine desire to resolve misunderstandings and overcome hostilities; calls for the ...[+++] avoidance of gestures, statements and actions which could negatively impact on good neighbourly relations; welcomes in this respect the first meeting held recently between the representatives of the governments in Skopje and Sofia aimed at the possibility of signing an agreement between the two countries; urges the Enlargement Commissioner to pay special attention in his report to the issue of good neighbourly relations; also calls for greater socio-cultural collaboration in view of strengthening the ties between the peoples of the region;

2. Draws attention to its resolutions, as well as its oral questions with debates and its findings from missions in 2009 on concrete cases of fundamental rights, such as on privacy, personal dignity and data protection, on the prohibition of torture, on freedom of thought, conscience and religion, on freedom of expression and information, on freedom of the press and media, on non-discrimination, on the use of minority languages, on the situation of the Roma and on free movement, on Roma women, on discrimination against same sex marriages and civil-partnership couples, on minors, on retention centres for immigrants, and on the alleged ill ...[+++]egal detention of prisoners under the CIA rendition programme; stresses that all these resolutions reflect the values enshrined in the Charter, show its clear commitment to the everyday protection of fundamental rights, and send political messages to all individuals in the EU, the Member States and the EU institutions as well as international partners;