Subject: A.N.A. Bulletin 2/10/93
From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca

        United Nations (ANA-M Georgiadou/Reuter) - Foreign
Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou yesterday proposed a UN world
summit to be held in Athens in January 2000 to adopt a global
agenda for the 21st century.
        ``We firmly believe that each member of the United
Nations and all together have a moral obligation to act in order
to ensure a better future for mankind``, he said in a speech to
the General Assembly.
        ``In this respect, allow me ... to announce that the
government of Greece, eager to contribute to this end, has the
honour to propose the convening of an international United
Nations summit in Greece in January of the year 2000 aiming at
adopting a global agenda for the 21st century``.
        The general topic of the gathering could be ``Partners
for a better world: on the threshold of the 21st century``, he
said.
        A preparatory committee or working group of all UN
members could be set up to deal with the substance as well as
organisational aspects of the proposed summit.
        On the question of Cyprus, he said it ``still remains
occupied and divided``, with 30,000 Turkish troops occupying 38
per cent of the republic.
        ``What is more, thousands of setlers from the mainland
have upset the demographic balance of the population``, he said,
referring to Turks who arrived after Turkish troops occupied the
north of the island in 1974.
        ``We note with deep concern a complete lack of progress
towards the solution of the Cyprus problem during this year``, he
said, alluding to long-running UN-sponsored talks aimed at
reuniting the island under a federal system.
        Mr Papaconstantinou said that despite the efforts of
Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali and his representatives,
``talks in New York and in Cyprus came to a stand-still because
of the unwillingness of the Turkish Cypriot leadership to engage
in meaningful negotiations, either on the overall agreement or on
confidence-building measures``.
        ``We join to secretary general`s call to Turkey to fully
assume its responsibilities and exercise its decisive influence
with the Turkish Cypriot leaders in order to achieve progress``,
he said.
        Mr. Papaconstantinou began his address referring to the
``unprecedented historic`` Palestinian-Israeli agreement, ``the
brave step towards peace`` made in Washington recently,
adding:``We are greatly satisfied by the fact that these historic
negotiations paved the way to peace``.
        On the question of Bosnia, Mr. Papaconstantinou said as
soon as an agreement in reached ``we should be actively present
in the huge task of rebuilding former Yugoslavia. We propose that
planning should start immediately``. The European Community, he
said, bears the greatest responsibility, adding that Greece had
expressed its readiness to host an international meeting on
restoring and rebuilding former Yugoslavia with the participation
of contributing and neighbouring countries.
        Mr. Papaconstantinou said the granting of considerable
economic and financial aid is a precondition to attaining social
harmony and the strengthening of democracy. ``We should hope
peace will be achieved soon and without delay. We should
seriously prepare the `next day` from now``, he said.
        Mr. Papaconstantinou ``confirmed Greece`s sincere desire
to offer its contribution in supporting (Balkan countries`)
economies``.
        ``The cooperation of our nothern neighbours is invaluable
in the futher linking of our economies with those of the
countries of central, northern and western Europe``, he said.
``But our neighbours also need Greece`s cooperation to
incorporate their economies in the European Community and to have
access to the trade routes of the Mediterranean and the Middle
East``.
        Referring to problems faced by Albania, Mr.
Papaconstantinou said Greece was fully aware of the need to offer
aid and had already helped Albania handle its grave economic
difficulties and strengthen its democratic institutions.
        ``We again call on the Albanian government to actively
implement protection of minority rights forseen by the CSCE and
particularly in the fields of education and religion. The Greek
minority in Albania, as well as every other minority in the
world, should not lack religious freedoms and the right to
education``, he said. Albania, he said, cannot deny minorities on
its territory what it requests for its minorities abroad.
        Commenting on the Skopje issue, Mr. Papaconstantinou
said: ``We express our thanks to (UN mediator Cyrus) Vance who
agreed to continue these efforts according to Security Council
Resolution 845 (1993). A solution to this problem will strengthen
stability in the Balkan region. Greece`s position is clear: we
are struggling to eliminate a possible flashpoint in the Balkans.
A conflict could lead to tension with unforeseen and possibly
grave consequences``.
        Mr. Papaconstantinou praised the work of the United
Nations and, in particular, its peacekeeping work. ``The
successful outcome of peacekeeping operations has strengthened
the United Nations` prestige, credibility and power. However,
because the United Nations` system was not ready to face such a
big challenge, all seem to agree on the need to adjust and
improve methods and means at the organistation`s disposal``, he
said.


        Athens (ANA) - In statements to Greek reporters later,
Mr. Papaconstantinou underlined the significance of the two
proposals Greece made to the international community.
        He first referred to the proposal for a summit in Greece,
which would include the European Community and countries
neighbouring Yugoslavia, to focus on the economic, social and
cultural recovery of the Balkans. He also referrd to planning for
the ``next day`` after peace is achieved in Bosnia, so that the
international community will not find itself unprepared as in the
recent signing of the Palestinian-Israeli agreement.
        Mr. Papaconstantinou said, in his view and in the view of
many member states, as ascertained in bilateral meetings and
contacts he held in New York in his capacity as EC troika member,
the Cyprus issue is ``next in turn``. It is the pending issue
which will actively preoccupy the international community
following progress in the Palestinian issue, he said.
        Speaking of his visit to Luxembourg to support the
Commission`s avis on Cyprus` accession to the Community, Mr.
Papaconstantinou said the issue has now entered an ``active
accession orbit``, referring to continuous contacts he has had in
New York with his Cypriot counterpart Alecos Michaelides.


        Athens (ANA) - Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis has
sent a message of condolences to his Indian counterpart P.V.
Narashima Rao on the deaths of thousands of people killed in a
massive earthquake Thursday.
        ``The great natural disaster that has plundered your
country has caused the deepst grief in Greece. On behalf of the
Greek people I would like to express my deepest grief and
sympathy for the victims of the catastrophe``, Mr Mitsotakis said
in the message.
        Coalition of the Left and Progress Leader Maria Damanaki
has also sent a message of condolences.
        Ms. Damanaki said the thousands of victims and great
catastrophes have once again ``brought into the open the
miserable living conditions prevailing in the developing world
which make the role of the Left in bridging the gap between North
and South dramatically urgent``.
        At least 6,000 people were killed and thousands more
injured in the earthquake that primarily hit the towns of Umbarga
and khilari, two remote areas some 450 kms east of Bombay.


        Athens (ANA) - National Defence Minister Ioannis
Varvitsiotis yesterday received a courtesy visit from NATO Deputy
Secretary General Amedeo de Franchis, currently in Athens to
attend the 39th General Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty
Association.
        Mr. Varvitsiotis present Ambassador de Franchis with a
commemorative plaque at the end of their meeting.


        Athens (ANA) - Western European Union Secretary General
Willem van Eeckelen yesterday said the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO) should transform itself into a ``two pillar
organistation``, one American and one European.
        Addressing the 39th General Assembly of the Atlantic
Treaty Association (ATA), which ended yesterday, Mr. van Eeckelen
said that it would be ``diffucult to imagine Europe without
defence, but also difficult to count on a long-term US presence
in Europe``.
        Such a presence could be possible if the responsibilities
of the United States were better defined as ``complementary`` to
those of European States, Mr. van Eeckelen said, adding that the
Western European Union and NATO are not competing against each
other.
        ``In those operations in which the United States will
actively participate, NATO will present the best option. In other
operations in which Europe will hold the main role, it will be
the Western European Union``, Mr. van Eeckelen said and observed
that ``the US role is becoming less dominant`` while countries
like France and Spain seem to have less problems concerning NATO
actions.
        Criticising the western nations` unwillingness to
intervene in Yugoslavia to put and end to the conflict, Mr. van
Eeckelen said that the ``principal error`` in this crisis was
``the unwillingness to include the use of force as an option for
the West to achieve a political solution``.
        In a press conference marking the end of the sessions,
ATA president Tapplet Bennett said that participants in the
Athens assembly amended the association`s statutes allowing
eastern countries to become full members.
        The assembly sessions which have been attended by 400
politicians, professors and military officials from NATO member
coutnries, as well as from the former eastern European states,
came to a close yesterday in Athens.


        Athens (ANA) - Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis will
address a rally of New Democracy party supporters in Thessaloniki
tonight.
        He will attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow
morning, accompanied by Deputy Premier Tzannis Tzannetakis, to
open the new speedway at Orhomenos and then visit Nafpaktos,
Messolonghi, tour the Chryssovitsa irrigation project, visit
Agrinion and address another rally in Kalamata in the evening.
        On Monday the prime minister will visit the prefectur of
Epiros, including the towns of Aktion, Arta, Ioannina,
Igoumenitsa and Preveza in his shedule.
        On Thuesday he will tour the prefecturs of Drama, Serres
and Kilkis.


        Athens (ANA) - Main oppostion PASOK leader Andreas
Papandreou will address a rally tomorrow evening at the Peace and
Friendship Stadium.
        Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Maria Damanaki
is to address a rally in Ioannina -- her constituency -- tonight.
        Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka
Papariga will speak tomorrow at a KKE gathering in Volos.
        Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras will hold his
main pre-election gathering at the Panathinaikos Stadium tonight.


        Athens (ANA) - The first seminar of the Balkans
Journalists Confederation opened yesterday in Thessaloniki with
thw participation of representatives from all press unions in the
Balkans.
        In an opening speech, Antonis Kourtis, president of the
Macedonian-Thrace Press Union (ESHEMA), addressed the role of the
Balkans press in dealing with critical problems facing the
region.
        The confederation, founded on the initiative of ESHEMA,
aims at coordinating common action in the cultural and
professional fields.
        The seminar is also attended by International Press
Association Secretary General, Aidan White.
        Mr. White expressed his satisfaction at the establishment
of the onfederation and pledged support, particularly in the
field of educational programmes.
 (I.X.)