From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros)
Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 10 Nov 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa).

     Zagreb, 10/11/1993 (ANA - N. Georgiadis / K.  Christodoulou):
Greece's Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday met with
Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic. Zagreb is Mr. Papoulias'
third stop on tour of Balkan capitals. Earlier in the day he
held talks in Podgorica with Montenegrin President Momir
Bulatovic. Mr. Papoulias is expected to meet with Croatian
President Franjo Tudjman today. In statements after talks with
Mr. Granic, Mr. Papoulias said there were many possibilities
for the development of Greek-Croatian relations, adding that the
talks focused on the Bosnian conflict and on issues of common
interest. Greek sources said that a Greek embassy will soon be
opened in Zagreb, and a Greek minister will visit the Croatian
capital for talks on economic issues. In Podgorica, the first
time a Greek foreign minister had visited Montenegro, Mr.
Papoulias said the upshot of talks he had with Montenegro's
political leadership was that it was necessary for sanctions on
New Yugoslavia to be reconsidered in the framework of European
union. Mr. Papoulias expressed the Greek government's serious
reservations on the political gains the international community
received from the imposition of the sanctions. The government,
he said, has decided to open a consulate general in Montenegro,
adding that Greece was in the process of sending humanitarian
aid to the republic. Greece, he said, will also help in
resolving problems faced by Montenegro since 70 per cent of its
fleet is immobilised at various ports due to the embargo. Mr.
Papoulias said that the Community should reconsider and possibly
revise decisions on sanctions against Yugoslavia, which also
have repercussions for Montenegro. 

     On the question of Kosovo, Mr. Papoulias reiterated the
Greek government's position that Balkan flashpoints should be
eliminated. The Greek government, he said, cannot overlook the
fact that Kosovo is a flashpoint for the Balkans; he expressed
the wish for appropriate solutions to be found for a peaceful
settlement of the crisis in the event of friction. President
Bulatovic briefed Mr. Papoulias on the disastrous consequences
faced by his country as a result of the sanctions, expressing
his satisfaction at Greece's response. He also expressed the
wish for greater co-operation and the strengthening of relations
between Greece and Montenegro. The Greek delegation's plane,
due to leave for Split where Mr. Papoulias was to meet with the
leader of Bosnia's Croats Mate Borba, was delayed at Podgorica's
airport in Montenegro for about three hours, causing the
cancellation of the meeting. From there Mr. Papoulias was to
fly to Sarajevo by helicopter to meet Moslem leader Alija
Izetbegovic. The cancellation of the flight to Split was due
to a technicality and led to the postponement of the meeting
between Mr. Papoulias and Mr. Izetbegovic. The Greek delegation
hopes the meeting will take place today and relative
consultations started from Zagreb yesterday afternoon after
the plane finally arrived after flying over Belgrade and via
Hungary. 


     Zagreb, 10/11/1993 (ANA / N. Georgiadis - K.  Christodoulou):
Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday said letters,
pointing out the Greek positions on the Skopje issue, were sent
to US. Secretary of State Warner Christopher and to the other
four permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia,
China, Britain and France) and also to Spain. The letters, which
are in the spirit of the letter sent to UN chief Boutros Boutros
Ghali last week, called on the Security Council members to
exercise their influence on Skopje for the finding of a solution
of the issue. 


     The Hague, 10/11/1993 (ANA - L. Vassiliadi): Alternate Foreign
Minister Theodore Pangalos met with Dutch Foreign Minister
Pieter Koojimans and the Foreign under-secretary in charge of
European Affairs Pieter Dankert at the Hague yesterday.
Discussion focused on Mr. Pangalos' tour of other Community
capitals in preparation for Greece's assumption of the EC
rotating presidency in January 1994, and Greek priorities for
issues to be raised during its presidency. These issues include
economic recovery, as well as competitiveness and employment in
the Community, and Community expansion through the admission of
Sweden, Finland, Norway and Austria. Reports say it was
established the aim was to have Community expansion talks
concluded next March. The two delegations also agreed on a
common stance on boosting the EC's economy, establishing the
European Union as a tangible reality for its citizens, and
humanitarian aid to Bosnia, elections in Russia and South
Africa.
       Speaking to the press, Mr. Pangalos said the situation
in the Balkans was very sensitive, and Greece had felt the
impact of fighting in Yugoslavia on both its economy and on
tourism. He added the convergence plan for Greece approved by
the Community would be reviewed, since the aims for inflation
and the public deficit on the previous administration had not
been achieved. Mr. Pangalos flew to Paris last night. He will
confer with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe this morning,
and then fly to Rome for talks with Italian Foreign Minister
Beniamino Andreatta. 


     Athens, 10/11/1993 (ANA): The scheduled Cabinet meeting on
Friday will cover the whole spectrum of government activity,
government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday.  Premier
Andreas Papandreou will preside over the meeting, scheduled for
1 pm. Mr. Venizelos also said that Vassilis Serdalis had been
appointed president of the Organisation for the Rehabilitation
of Ailing Enterprises (OAE). Responding to journalists'
questions, Mr. Venizelos reiterated: Alternate Foreign Minister
Theodore Pangalos' statement on community decisions relating to
EC-Turkey relations still stood adding that an examination of
the Twelve's common stance showed positive elements; Foreign
Minister Karolos Papoulias' statement corroborated that the
purpose of his Balkan tour is to promote peace and co-operation
in the region; and Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides will visit
Athens November 16. 


     Athens, 10/11/1993 (ANA): Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides
will be the guest speaker at a Foreign Press Association (FPA)
luncheon at 1:30 p.m. on November 17 at the Grande Bretagne
Hotel. Mr. Clerides, who will be in Athens for talks with the
new government, will address the gathering on the latest
developments in the Cyprus issue. 


     London, 10/11/1993 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis): Ecumenical
Patriarch Vartholomeos is on a five-day visit to London at the
invitation of the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, with whom he
has a close co-operation on theological and environmental
issues. Today, the Patriarch is scheduled to meet with the
Archbishop of Canterbury John Carey. He will also address the
two-day Synod of the Anglican Church. Later, Archbishop
Vartholomeos will have a meeting with Roman Catholic Archbishop,
Cardinal Hume. Tonight, the Turkish Ambassador to London will
host a dinner in honour of Archbishop Vartholomeos. 


     Athens, 10/11/1993 (ANA): Press Under-secretary and government
spokesman Evangelos Venizelos met yesterday with Archbishop
Anastasios of Albania. The Archbishop briefed Mr. Venizelos on
the current situation of the Orthodox church in Albania. 


     Athens, 10/11/1993 (ANA): Culture Minister Melina Mercouri
returned yesterday from her first visit abroad since taking
office, which included attending the UNESCO conference in Paris
and representing Greece at the European Community's Council of
Culture Ministers in Brussels. "President Mitterrand, with whom
I met in Paris, enthusiastically accepted my invitation to visit
the Aegean islands this coming April", she told a press
conference, adding that "the Aegean is the arc of Hellenism and
... our country's backbone". She said the French president's
visit was in light of an action programme promoted by the Greek
government to protect and develop the cultural heritage of the
Aegean. "Mr. Mitterrand responded positively to a request to
participate in an action plan of the Greek government aimed at
culturally protecting and developing the Aegean", Ms. Mercouri
said. The press conference she gave was attended by Samos deputy
Mr. Sofoulis who clarified the "Aegean Archipelago" programme
which he termed "an inter-ministerial programme which primarily
concerns cultural production as an incentive, a basic lever for
development in the special role played by the Aegean". The
culture ministry will promote a joint programme with the
environment, education and defence ministries to enable the
Aegean to be declared a "cultural park" and have its cultural
heritage safeguarded.