From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: Nea apo to A0hnaiko Praktoreio 02-07-93. Date: Fri, 2 Jul 93 12:38:07 EDT Apo to Greek Press Office BBS sthn Ottawa. Kalh sas mera, 0odwros, Ottawa. ============================================================================== Bulletin -------- 02/07/1993 ( ) A.N.A. Athens, 2/7/1993 (ANA): Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis said yesterday that the important agreements signed Wednesday had radically changed and broadened bilateral cooperation. Speaking at an official luncheon given in his honour, the Russian President said that cooperation between the two countries was now based on the ``grand`` investment projects which had been agreed during his two-day official visit. The proximity of views expressed by the two sides concerning stabili- sation in the Balkans is seen by political observers as having particular significance for international developments in the region. Mr. Yeltsin said that Greece and Russia were giving priority ``to political and diplomatice methods and working to avert military involvement and to attain a peaceful solution, a prerequisite for which is respect for existing borders``. Mr. Yeltsin expressed Moscow's ``high regard`` for the Athens Confe- rence during which ``an olive branch, a branch of peace`` was extended and ``a serious effort was made for a settlement of the problem``. Mr. Mitsotakis said that the communication between Athens and Moscow and their joint efforts for peace in the Balkans were an important element of Greek-Russian relations. The Greek government, he said, particularly appreciated Russia's constructive stance in the handling of the Yugoslav crisis, adding that he looked forward to the continuation of the regular exchange of views and cooperation between the two countries. Mr. Mitsotakis assured Mr. Yeltsin that Greece would make every possible effort for Russia's full accession to the European institutions. On the Cyprus problem, Mr. Mitsotakis expressed the hope that at a time when respect for international law and human rights constituted funda- mental demands of the international community, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side would finally shift from their intransigent positions. He asked Mr. Yeltsin to exert ``all possible pressure`` in order for a solution to be found to the problem. Mr. Mitsotakis also referred to the establishment of the new commercial bank ``Orthodoxy``, whose first branch is due to open in Moscow in the next few days. ``This initiative will constitute an important element for the further strengthening of relations between the two countries as well as a linchpin for the advancement of privatisation in the Russian market``, he said. Speaking to reporters immediately after Mr. Yeltsin's departure yesterday afternoon, Mr. Mitsotakis said his meetings with the Russian president had been very productive. ``This was the first time in history that a Russian president has visited Greece and we accomplished a lot, in our bilateral relations but especially in our economice relations. ``We solved problems in the supply of natural gas in a very satisfactory manner and made progress in the alumina deal. We also boosted commercial and economic relations``, Mr. Mitsokatis said. The Premier said talks had also focused on foreign policy issues, especially developments in the Balkans. ``We will move, with Russia, towards handling the burning issue of Bosnia. The Russian president's position on Skopje was very satisfactory``, Mr. Mitsotakis added. --- Prior his departure yesterday, Mr. Yeltsin also held a meeting with main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader Andreas Papandreou which focussed on bilateral relations, Russian development, the situation in the Balkans and the Skopje issue. A proximity of views on all issues except the Skopje issue has been ascertained, Mr. Papandreou told reporters after the meeting. The two countries, he said, will work closely to promote a solution to the critial Yugoslav crisis. He said Greek-Albanian relations were also discussed and Mr. Yeltsin's position on the issue was ``satisfactory``. Mr. Papandreou said the Russian President invited him to pay on official visit to Russia, which he accepted. --- ``Greek shipowners would like to see shipping cooperation with Russia expand to a much larger extent than it did with the USSR, owing to an inflexible attitude by Soviet bureaucracy``, Greek Shipowners' Federation Chairman John Goumas declared yesterday, at a meeting with Mr. Yeltsin. Mr. Goumas added Greek shipowners could offer the benefit of particularly successful management since, at present, they owned and administered the largest merchant fleet in the world which exceeded 100 million GRT. Greeks were also prepared to offer active support at international shipping fora, especially in the EC, at which future shipping management conditions are now taking shape. Mr. Goumas also referred to joint ventures in which Greek shipowners could activate Russia's shipping potential, owing to possibilities offered by their connections with circles of the international shipping community. He concluded by suggesting to President Yeltsin that Russian and Greek shipping experts meet in Moscow and Russia to elaborate a plan of cooperation along those lines, which President yeltsin agreed to. ANA Athens, 2/7/1993 (ANA): US President Bill Clinton announced in Washington yesterday that he intended to nominate Thomas Niles as US Ambassador to Greece. In naming Mr. Niles, as well as ambassadors to Germany and Eritrea, President Clinton said, ``The people we are adding to our foreign policy team today are men of tremendous achievement and character``. Thomas Niles, a career diplomat who was most recently Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs, joined the Foreign Service in 1962. He served as ambassador to the European Community from 1989 to 1991. He also served in the former Soviet Union and former Yugoslavia, among other jobs. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Mr. Niles holds an undergraduate degree from harvard University and a graduate degree from the University of Kentucky School of Diplomacy and International Commerce. He and his wife, Carol Ehringhaus, have two children. ANA Athens, 2/7/1993 (ANA): Greece said yesterday it had ordered its embassy in Tirana to compile a report on the events which led to Wednesday's clashes between ethnic Greek Albanians and Albanian police in Gyrokastr. ``The Albanian leadership must realise that it is following the wrong path``, foreign ministry spo-kesman Andreas papaconstantinou told reporters. Albanian police on Wednesday clashed with a crowd of 600 ethnic Greeks who had gathered at the Taxiarchou church in Gyrokastr to protest the expulsion of Greek Orthodox Archimandrite Chrysostomos Maidonis last week. Violence erupted when police assaulted congregation members as they tried to march to the Orthodox Metropolitan cathedral. ``There were no fatalities, but several people were injured in this unprovoked attack by the Albanian police against those participating in a peaceful march to reaffirm religious freedom``, Mr. Papaconstantinou said. ``The foreign ministry has asked its diplomatic and consular representatives in Albania to investigate thoroughly the circumstances under which this unacceptable incident occurred``, he added. ANA Brussels, 2/7/1993 (ANA): Ten New Democracy European Parliament deputies yesterday submitted a petition to the assembly, asking for a condemnation of the archimandrite's expulsion from albania. The petition strongly criticises the Albanian government for flagrant violation of human rights and calls on it to take all the necessary measures to ensure human rights and religious freedoms for all minorities living in the country. The petition will be considered next week by the plenary session of the European People's Party (EPP) Parliamentary Group, which is due to meet in Luxembourg, while the parliament's plenary session will be held on July 15.