Subject: News I (Greece Press Office BBS in Ottawa). To: macedonia@husc.harvard.edu (macedonia list.) Cc: hellas@lut.fi Date: Wed, 7 Jul 93 18:33:18 EDT Bulletin, 07/07/1993 ( ) ------------------------ A.N.A. Athens, 7/7/1993 (ANA): Greece said yesterday normalisation of relations with Albania hinged on th eprovision of religious freedom to the ethnic Greek minority in the neighbouring country. ``The fundamental prerequisite for the normalisation of relations between Greece and Albania is that the Greek minority be allowed to freely enjoy and practice its religious rights``, Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou said. Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis on Monday night also addressed a severe warning to Albania to respect the religious rights of the ethnic Greek minority. ``Albania must first understand that it is no longer living under Communism``, Mr. Papaconstantinou told reporters at a news conference. Tensions between Greece and Albania have risen sharply since Albania authorities expelled a leading Greek clergyman two weeks ago. Tirana argued that ARchimandrite Chrysostomos was involved in separatist activities among the ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania. The incident sparked violent clashes between ethnic Greeks and Albanian police, while Athens lodged a series of protests over what it termed an ``unwarranted provocation`` by Tirana. Concerning Albanian claims that Greece sent army troops to the Greek-Albanian borders Mr. Papaconstantinou said no border reinforcements had been made. In reference to the deportation of illegal Albanian immigrants, he said the campaign was initiated for reasons of ``public order in Greece`` and that the Greek economy could not sustain the cost of hundreds of thousands of illegal Albanians. since the fall of Communinsm nearly four years ago, Greece has been swamped by illegal immigrants from Eastern Europe, but the largest group has come from Albania. Greece estimates the number of illegal Albanian to be some 200,000. --- Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis speaking after the official opening of a shelter covering the ancient Royal Tombs at Vergina Monday night, said: ``Greece is a sober and a responsible country. It is an EC and NATO member-state which always had and still has a lot of understanding for the situation prevailing in neighbouring Albania. But I would like to address a warning both to its president and its government that we support the rights of the Greek minority, (and on this issue) we are firme``. The minority exists, Mr. Mitsotakis added, ``and I have said all along that we desire it became the bridge, the link which would bind us with this country``. Reiterating Greece's steadfast position on the inviolability of the borders in the Balkan peninsula, he said that ``our neighbours should be willing to grant the Greek minority what (Albania) requests for the Albanian minorities outside the borders of Albania``. ``We don't attempt to intervene in Albania's domestic affairs, but (we believe) that the Orthodox faith in Albania should be practiced freely (by the members of the ethnic Greek minority) and consider as sacred and inviolable the right of the Greek minority to do so``, he said. The prime minister recalled that Greece had taken in massive numbers of Albanian refugees and accused Albania of ``disseminating lies in a way which reminds us of other eras``. ``Greece has received with love hundreds of thousands of Albanians, which in their majority were illegal migrants, at a time when other countries, European countries, were throwing them in the sea, when they, begging and miserable, sought refuge in European harbors and coasts``, he said. Reiterating Greece's pledge to help neighbouring Albania, mr. Mitsotakis said the government would continue to offer employment ``to as many (Albanians) as the Greek economy can sustain`` but wanted to ``first legalise this situation``. --- The leader of the Albanian Orthodox church yesterday said that dialogue was the only way to resolve the present crisis in Greek-albanian relations. Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, who arrived in Athens yesterday for talks with Greek officials, told reporters that he had appealed to Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis to help end the crisis. ``I appealed for an end to the deportations, a defusion of the crisis and the restoration of a sober dialogue``, Archbishop Anastasios told reporters after a 90-minute meeting with the Greek premier. ``The Prime Minister's response was clear: he said Greece did not link the deportations to other issues, and Greece is willing, and seeks the understanding of the Albanian authorities, to expedite the signing of an agreement on Albanian workers in Greece``, he said. ``Dialogue is the only way to overcome the crisis, which is, I think, a luxury for the Balkans``, the Archbishop said in an earlier statement on his arrival. ANA Vienna, 7/7/1993 (Macedonian Press Agency): The World Council of Churches in Austria has sent a letter of protest to Austrian Foreign Minister Alois Mock over the expulsion of Archimandrite Chrysostomos from Albania, calling on the minister to act for the archimandrite's return. The letter, communicated to the Albanian embassy in Vienna, is signed by the chairman of the World Council of Churches, Woerner Horn, and the Council's secretary Helmut Nausner. ANA Athens, 7/7/1993 (ANA): The Thessaloniki Prefecture will again provide hospitality during the summer for one thousand children from Albania, regardless of origin, nationality or religion. One hundred children from Northern Epirus are already holidaying at camping sites in the Asprovaltas community. The first children to be received by the Thessaloniki Prefecture belong to families selected by the party of the Democratic Union of the Greek National Minority ``Omonia``. All the children will undergo medical examinations during their stay to see if they need treatment. They will also go sightseeing in Thessaloniki and visit the archaeological site at Vergina. ANA Athens, 7/7/1993 (ANA): The foreign ministry yesterday released the following statement concerning the situation in Albania: ``The Greek government is carefully and with concern monitoring the situation in Albania, particularly as it relates to human rights and specifically freedom of religion which directly concerns the ethnic Greek minority there. The expulsion of Archimandrite Chrysostomos Maidanis and its handling have highlighted the distance which Albania must travel in order to meet its international obligations in thie area. ``Greece has repeatedly expressed its position vis a vis Albania at the highest level. We desire good relations with the neighbouring country. The Albanian side is aware that Greece has no territorial ambitions against it. Our policy throughout the region revolves around the principles of respect for existing borders and the development and safeguarding of stability and peace in accordance with the relevant (articles) of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), the United Nations, and the Charter of Paris. Our goal is to create in all sectors a climate of cooperation which is necessary to develop and consolidate friendly relations between the Greek and Albanian peoples. ``Greece was among the first to offer its wsupport to Albania in its effort to develop and modernise. We support it on its difficult road towards economic restructuring and democratisation. ``In the framework of our bilateral relations, as well as in our statements, we have repeatedly made it known tha tGreece cannot legalise illegal immigrants. This is mandated both by our obligations under the Schengen agreement and by reasons of domestic public order. In the past we ha ve requested the Albanian side's cooperation in this direction, specifically in patrolling borders and the area of law enforcement cooperation. ``At the same time, an agreement outlining the conditions for legal seasonal employment of Albanians in Greece is bveing developed by the appropriate authorities. ``Yesterday we received a verbal notification from the Albanian side implying that an anti-albanian climate is being fostered in our country. The notification also requests that the Greek side withdraw, among other things, its `alleged`` border reinforcements. Greece will respond in writing to Albania, despite the fact that our statements, our policy towards Albania and our daily practices have refuted, in the most categoric manner, these allegations. ``Greece wishes to reiterate once again that it seeks coopeation with Albania in all sectors. We expect that the responsible Albanian leadership will show the necessary reserve and contribute to the restoration of our bilateral relations on a course that will benefit the growth and prosperity of the entire Albanian people and regional peace``. ANA Tirana, 7/7/1993 (ANA - K. Liatis): Political parties in Albania hold the government responsible for the expulsion of a Greek cleric and its handling of a situation which has led to tension between Greece and Albania. They also accuse the government of indifference and incompetence in any attempt to overcome the crisis. The parliamentary party ``Democratic Alliance`` has expressed strong concern over the matter. In an article published yesterday in the party's official mouthpiece ``Aleanza``, the ``Democratic Alliance`` warned that the Tirana government will face unfavourable and very grave consequences unless it revises its policy and approaches Europe and the other Balkan countries in the framework of good neighbourliness. The paper, once again characterising Albania's accession to the Conference of islamic States as ``mistaken``, accuses Tirana of not showing political realism and goodwill to normalise relations with Athens. Tirana's passive role confirms ``the death of Albanian policy``, the article says. Suspicions are also voiced that the country is purposely being led to a new isolation ``with open doors`` because this is what certain political circles in Tirana want. This is reminiscent of a recent statement by Thomas Mitsos, a parliamentary deputy of Greek origin, that there are certain political forces in Albania which show no intention of overcoming friction created in relations between Albania and Greece. ANA Athens, 7/7/1993 (ANA): Foreign Undersecretary Virginia Tsouderou yesterday spoke at an educational seminar for teachers from the ethnic Greek minority in Albania, stressing the important role teachers had playen in Greece's history. The seminar, held at the Athens University lecture hall, opened yesterday, with Ms. Tsouderou saying it was ``unfortunate`` that ti should coincide with the current tension between Greece and Albania. Ms. Tsouderou also emphasised that respect for human rights in the new European reality did not onldy consitute a responsibility for each individual state, but was also the responsibility of international bodies. ANA Athens, 7/7/1993 (ANA): Greece has called for preventive inspections on oil exports to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to ensure that the exports' destination is not Serbia and in violation of the UN-imposed embargo on Yugoslavia. Foreign Ministger Michalis Papaconstantinou said yesterday that the inspections will be carried out with the assistance of UN observers and will ascertain whether the destination of the fuel is indeed Skopje and not Belgrade. The bona fides of the importing company will be checked as will whether it is in receipt of the shipment. Mr. Papaconstantinou also added that the issue of further talks between Athens and Skopje was in the hands of the UN secretary general, who will determine further steps to be taken. --- Meanwhile, government spokesman Vassilis Manginas said yesterday that statements Monday by FYROM's Deputy Prime Minister and acting Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski are ``in the right direction``. They are ``in the righ direction, in the sense that the Greek side wants the issue to come to an end on condition a nationally acceptable solution will be found``, Mr. Manginas said. According to a Reuters dispatch from Paris, Mr. Crvenkovski said his country hoped for good ties with Greece. ``We hope that an agreement will be found soon because (the Former Yugoslav Republic of) `Macedonia` needs very good long-term cooperation with Greece``, Mr. Crvenkovski said. Greece opposes the recognition of this former Yugoslav republic under the name ``Macedonia``, claiming that it implies territorial designs against the Greek province of the same name. ANA Athens, 7/7/1993 (ANA): A senior EC official met with government officials yesterday on the organisation and priorities of the Greek EC presidency due to start on January,1, 1994. EC Council of Ministers Secretary General Mr. Ersboell arrived in Athens yesterday on a one-day visit. He attended a meeting of government officials at the foreign ministry yesterday morning on the organisation of individual matters and the Greek EC presidency'` basic priorities. A meeting followed with Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou and Foreign Undersecretary George Papastamkos hosted a luncheon for Mr. Ersboell. Mr. Ersboell left for Brussels yesterday afternoon after completing his contacts.