Subject: News I, 28/07/93 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa).
To: macedonia@husc.harvard.edu (macedonia list.)
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 15:01:44 EDT

   bulletin, 28/07/1993 ( )
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 A.N.A.
        Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--Greece aims to create a ''climate of
understanding and cooperation'' in the Balkans and is awaiting a
''level-headed'' attutude from Albania's leadership which will
contribute to the restoration of smooth bilateral relations, the
foreign ministry said yesterday.
        Commenting on recent statements by Albanian Foreign
Minister Alfred Serreqi, foreign ministry spokesman Andreas
Papaconstantinou said:''We consider Mr Serreqi's statement proof
that Albania places great significance on its relations with its
neighbours''.
        Referring to Mr Serreqi's statements concerning ''property
claims'' in Greece, Mr Papaconstantinou said Greece was willing to
examine issues concerning the property of Albanians in Greece ''in
conjunction with issues concerning the property of Greeks in
Albania''.      
        Commenting, however, on Mr Serreqi's claims of property
''claims'' of the so-called ''Tsamides'' minority in Greece, the
spokesman said that ''we are not aware of such claims in our
country by this imaginary minority''.
        ''Greece'', he said, ''has made every possible effort for
the development of relations with Albania on the basis of the
principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and
respect for human and minority rights as provided by the CSCE and
other international treaties''.
        ''Greece wants to create... th econditions for the
consolidation of peace and development in the region.
        ''Greece is not putting forward unjust claims, as claimed
by Mr Serreqi, but rather expects Albania to overcome the
prejudices and practices of the past and show in practice that it
safeguards and respects all the rights of the Greek minority,
wherever it may be in Albania and not only within
arbitrarily-designated minority zones, just as the Albanian
government demands the same for the Albanian minorities in former
Yugoslavia'', the spokesman said.
        He said that Greece wanted ''to reverse the climate of
tension and distrust which continues to be cultivated in relations
between the two countries, to the detriment of the Greek minority
in Albania''.
        Greece is waiting for Albania's leadership to display the
required level-headedness and contribute to restoring smooth
bilateral relations, for the benefit of developments and prosperity 
of the Albanian people and for stability in the region ,he added.
        Mr Papaconstantinou said the Greek government supports the
rights of Albania's Orthodox Church to freely carry out its work.
''We cannot overlook, however, that the restrictions on the work
for its reconstruction hamper the Greek minority in exercising its
religious rights and result in the creation of a climate of
insecurity  among its members. In this context, the transfer to
Albania- following the request of the Albanian Church--of clerics
from Greece on a temporary basis, would assist in the
reconstruction of the Orthodox Church of Albania and in meeting its
immediate needs during this period of transition when local
clergymen and church officials are being trained''.
        The spokesman said that Greece ''supported and  continues
to support'' Albania's efforts for reconstruction and
democratization, and sought collaboration with Albania in all
sectors. ana

        The Hague, 28/7/93(Macedonian Press Agency)--CSCE High
Commissioner for National Minorities Max van Der Stoel today begins
his second trip to Albania, undertaken on the invitation of
Albanian President Sali Berisha.
        Mr Van Der Stoel, speaking in a radio interview, ,said he
had been invited to examine th eproblems facing the Greek minority.
        He added that the problem was serious and causing
particular concern to the Greek government, which has stipulated
six conditions for the restoration of friendly relations between
Greece and Albania. ana

        Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--Greece yesterday expressed its
disappointment to the Ukraine over Kiev's intention to recognise
Skopje under the name ''Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia''.
        Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou said
that the ministry had expressed the government's disappointment to
the Urkainian Ambassador in Athens. Mr Papaconstantinou said that
his ministry had learned of the Urakin'es intention to recognize
Skopje and had ''lodged the necessary protests with Kiev''.
        He said the Greek government had expressed the view to the
Ukraine that its decision did not contribute to the procedure begun
by the UN with the mediation of Cyrus Vance.
        However, Mr Papaconstantinou went on, the Ukrainians had
assured Athens that there was no question at the present time of
Kiev establishing diplomatic relations with Skopje. ana

        Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--The foreign ministry expressed its
satisfaction yesterday at views expressed by Danish Tourism and
Communications Minister Arne Melchior on Athens's dispute with
Skpje on the issue of the former Yugoslav republic's name.
        Mr Melchior strongly supported Greece's case in a letter to
the Danish paper ''Berlingske Tidende'', saying that the creation
of a state with the name Macedonia in the region could ''only be
considered a provocation''.
        Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou said
that Mr Melchior's comments were positive not onlyh on the question
of the recognition of Skopje but also on Greece's support of the
embargo.
        ''Mr Melchior's comments outline the situation justlyh and
realistically'', Mr Papaconstantinou added. ana

        Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--The government yesterday expressed
the hope that the Yugoslav authorities would change their stance
and allow CSCE observers into Kosovo and Vojvodina.
        Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou made
the satement following the Yugoslav government's decision not to
allow the CSCE team of observers, which included a Greek, to
continue their mission in Kosovo and Vojvodina. ana

        Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--Greece attributes special importance
to Greek expatriates who stand by their homeland in all crucial
moments, Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou told the
sessions of the 6th International Conference of Panmacedonian
Unions yesterday.
        Mr Papaconstantinou returned from Kastoria yesterday
afternoon, where he had declared the conference officially opened.
        He was accompanied by Undersecretary to the Prime
Minister's office and New Democracy Parliamentary Group Secretary
Constantine Simeoforidis and ND party director general Constantine
Pylarinos.
        Macedonians, he said, had helped Greece on the Skpje issue
by managing to influence the governments o fcountries they live in
with huge rallies and giving international public opinion a special
message.
        Mr Papaconstantinou presented the 250 delegates from Greek
communities around the world with government foreign policy
positions and a corresponding analysis.
        We discovered, he said, about one million Greeks in the
former Soviet Union who had been moved to various parts of the then
vast Soviet Union by Stalin, adding that the govenrment was trying
to locate them now.
        The diaspora, Mr Papaconstantinou said, totalled some five
million.
        The conference, which formally started in Thessaloniki
Sunday, will continue in Kastoria today while meetings will follow
in Florina and end in Kozani on Sunday night.It considered to be a
serious effort to strengthen relations between expatriates and the
motherland.
        Asked by the press whether reports were true that there was
pressure for Skopje to be recognised in September, Mr
Papaconstantinou said:''I do not know of any such pressure, I have
no information at all. I velieve that (mediator Cyrus) Vance, who
is vacotioning, has ont yet started contacts. I cannot see from
where pressures have been exerted''.
        Government spokesman Vassilis Manginas sent a message to
the conference stressing that all Hellenism is by the
expatriates'side.
        Mr Manginas hailed the work of the expatriate media in
particular ''which pioneer in every national mobilisation and
constitute the expatriates'main means of communication with
Greece''.
        ''The Greek people and the government is constantly by your
side, making every possible effort to strenghten inviolable bonds
joining us'', the message said.
        ''Each one of you, the Church, your organisations and the
media representing you constitute the power which stopped and
overturned the plans of those who either maliciously or out of
ignorance attempted to distort history. Your influence on centres
of decision-making and the public opinion of the countries you live
in was decisive'', he said. ana

        Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--Greece yesterday expressed confern
over the worsening situation situation in southern Lebanon and
condemned both the attacks against Israel and th
e''disproportionately escalated response''to those attacks.Foreign
Ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou added that Greece
continued to hope that the opposing sides would show restraint ''so
as not to jeopardize the Middle East peace process which must be
safeguarded by all''. ana

        Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis
sent a message of congratulations to British Prime Minister John
Major yesterday, following the successful outcome of a vote of
confidence in the British government by Britain's parliament.
        Mr Major won a parliamentary confidence vote on Friday
which will clear the way for the British ratification of the
Maastricht treaty.
        The premier's message reads:''I warmly congratulate you for
your success which marks a further step forward and encourages our
efforts for the attainment of our common European goals.
        ''The achieved result crowns your personal tireless efforts
and political handling and brings all of us much closer to the
realization of the European union''. ana

        Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis
met with a delegation from the Cyprus Committee of Relatives of the
Missing yesterday.
        The premier expressed the government's and his own personal
interest in the issue and assured the delegation that the
government fully supported efforts to deal with the matter. Mr
Mitsotakis was also paid a visit by departing Spanish ambassador
for Athens Enrique Mahou. ana

        Melbourne 28/7/93(ANA)--The Greek and Greek Cypriot
Australian community in Victoria commemorated the ''black
anniversary'' of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus in style last Sunday,
with thousands taking part in the events.
        Events included a memorial mass for the fallen and
Archbishop Makarios, the first president of Cyprus, followed by a
march and a concert by Cypriot composer Mario Tokas at the
Melbourne Town Hall. This year's events were organised by the
Coordinating Committee for the Cyprus Struggle.
        Especially impressive was the presence at the march of
1,619 black-clad women, who, carrying photographs, candles and
flowers, reminded marchers and onlookers of the 1,619 people still
missing after Turkey's occupation. The march was led by Cypriot
youths dressed in traditional constume carrying the Greek, Cypriot
and Australian flags.
        On the steps outside the state parliament, the crowd,
estimated at between 3,000-7,000 people, was addressed by various
Australian government officials and politicians and representatives
of the Greek and Cypriot communities.
        Events closed with the national anthems of Australia and
Greece and the approval of resolutions to be sent to Cyprus
President Glafcos Clerides, Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis,
Australian Prime Minister Paul keating and chief opposition
parties, UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali and the
European Commission President Jacques Delors.