Subject: News I - Wed, 25 Aug 1993
From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros)

        Athens News Agency Bulletin, August 25, 1993
        ============================================

	Athens, 25/8/1993 (ANA):   The direct talks between Greece and
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia which are due to begin
on September 28 under the aegis of United Nations mediator Cyrus
Vance "in no way imply Greek recognition of that republic", the
foreign ministry said yesterday. Ministry spokesman Andreas
Papaconstantinou said that the Skopje issue was "entering a new
phase" following yesterday's meeting between representatives of
the two sides with the participation of Mr. Vance.
	He clarified that the proposal for the commencement of
negotiations on September 28 was put forward by the UN mediator.
Mr. Papaconstantinou said that Greece would go to the
negotiating table "with its positions intact and with the legal
framework laid down in Security Council resolution 845". The
negotiations to begin on September 28 will initially be at the
same level as Tuesday's meeting, the spokesman said, adding that
the aim of the Greek side would be to attain a solution which is
in the interests of the nation.

	Athens, 25/8/1993 (ANA):   CSCE High Commissioner for National
Minorities Max van der Stoel briefed the government yesterday on
his recent fact-finding mission to Albania, foreign ministry
spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou said. The spokesman said that
the former Dutch foreign minister had "fully" briefed Prime
Minister Constantine Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Michalis
Papaconstantinou in separate meetings.
	He added that Mr. Van der Stoel's mission was to check whether
Tirana was respecting the rights of the thousands of ethnic
Greeks in Albania and that he would be re-visiting the country
to continue his mission.


	Athens, 25/8/1993 (ANA):   National Defence Minister Ioannis
Varvitsiotis is scheduled to receive today a five-member
delegation of US congressmen currently on a fact-finding mission
to Greece, the ministry said. The delegation, led by Republican
Newt Gingrich, includes Michael Bilirakis, Roy Rowland, Gerald
Solomon and Caroline Maloney. They are accompanied by American
Hellenic Institute members Eugene Rossides, Orestes
Varvitsiotis, Peter Valtis, Christine Warnke, Herb Swarzen and
Nick Laryngakis.


        Athens, 25/8/1993 (ANA):   Foreign Minister Michalis
Papaconstantinou will pay an official visit to Cyprus on
September 17-19, the foreign ministry said yesterday.       
Ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou said that after the
Cyprus visit, the foreign minister would go to Brussels to
attend the European Community General Affairs council meeting
before flying on to Canada. He is scheduled to arrive in New
York on October 1 to address the 48th United Nations General
Assembly, the spokesman said.