From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 15 Dec 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency bulletin, Dec. 15, 1993 Brussels, 15/12/93 (ANA - P. Pantelis) - Agriculture Minister George Moraitis outlined problems created for Mediterranean and Greek farm products by the GATT international trade deal, at the Council of Agriculture Ministers, which opened in Brussels Monday, continuing yesterday on a backlog of pending issues piled up during the Belgian presidency. Mr Moraitis held private meetings on Greek tobacco and Greek imports of mutton from east European countries. The Council decided to send apples and Greek oranges to Bosnian war zones. Mr Moraitis said the Council agenda includes such matters of special interest to Greece as support for arable cultivation production, speeding up the process for adjustment to production, conversion and trade structures, tobacco subsidies and guarantees, including extending adjustment agreements between the European Union and third countries on mutton. At the same time, the Council focused on developments relating to the agricultural sector in the GATT deal. At a special meeting with Council President Mr Benriway and Agriculture Commissioner Rene Steichen, Mr Moraitis drew attention to Greek positions on the above issues. Referring to developments in the GATT deal, Mr Moraitis declared opposition protection reductions for certain Mediterranean products, on the Commission's responsibility. He also stressed the need for new measures to offset income losses, as part of revising common market organisations for Mediterranean products, to be implemented during the Greek presidency. Italy and Spain also raised objections. Istanbul,15/12/93 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas) - Greek ambassador to Ankara Alexandros Filonas was summoned by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, and requested to give explanations for the presence of and statements by Greek deputies at the Kurdistan Democratic Party's (DKP) first congress, in Ankara, last week. Five Greek Deputies participating at the first congress of the Kurdish Democratic Party, referred to the "heroic Kurdish struggle", calling for Turkey to grant the Kurdish people the right to self-determination. The Greek Ambassador replied the deputies were not present as Greek Parliament representatives, and expressed their "own personal views". He referred the press to earlier statements by government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos that "Greece always condemns every criminal and violent act, used as a means to promote political goals", and "such should be dealt with respect to human rights and democratic principles". Mr Venizelos had cautioned against "non-corroborated, unfounded and vague accusations against third countries aimed at shifting unresolved domestic conflicts abroad". Turkish Foreign Minister Hikmet Cetin said "everything stated by the Greek deputies constitutes interference in Turkey's domestic affairs". Diplomatic sources also quoted Foreign Under-secretary Tugai Ouloucevik as saying that "statements and acts by Greek deputies cause harm to Turkey's interests". Athens, 15/12/93 (ANA) - Foreign Under-secretary George Papandreou yesterday returned from the United States, where he had "preliminary" talks with White House, State Department and Pentagon officials on a range of bilateral and Greek national issues. In a statement shortly after his arrival, Mr Papandreou underlined the importance of the role which Greece could play in the Balkans, and possibilities for co-operation with the U.S. to this end. Mr Papandreou said he had had "preliminary talks" with White House, State Department and Pentagon officials on all matters relating to bilateral relations and Greek national issues, in preparation for Premier Andreas Papandreou's forthcoming visit to the U.S. "In particular, we discussed the Cyprus problem and the need to upgrade projection of the issue abroad, the Skopje issue, the crisis in Bosnia and problems confronting the ethnic Greek minority in Albania", he said. Mr Papandreou said that he had found "understanding" toward Greece, as well as willingness on the part of the U.S. to co-operate in order to attain solutions to these problems. On the Skopje issue, Mr Papandreou said he had stressed recognition of the neighbouring state was not a panacea, and would not resolve the problem of stability in the region. He said Greece's objections to the use of Greek symbols including certain parts of its Constitution by FYROM had met with understanding on the part of the U.S. Referring to meetings with leading members of the Greek community in the US, Mr Papandreou expressed hope a "new, constructive and fruitful period begins in Greek-American relations and also with the Greek community in the United States". Washington, (ANA - D. Dimas) - The Washington Times yesterday said Greece was emerging as the Clinton Administration's leading partner in the Balkans. "Out of chaos and uncertainty in the Balkans, Greece emerges as the Clinton Administration's leading partner in the area - and, possibly, even its proxy", the newspaper wrote in yesterday's edition. "A specific scenario outlining the Greek role will be worked out during the forthcoming visit of Premier Andreas Papandreou to Washington", the newspaper noted. Mr Papandreou's visit to the United States, at a date yet to be set, is seen by the Washington Times as a "dramatic change from the period between 1981-1989, when Andreas Papandreou was never officially invited by either President Reagan or President Bush". Details of the visit were discussed with Administration officials by Foreign Under-secretary George Papandreou in Washington last week. According to the Washington Times, Administration officials were convinced that "given the area's fragmentation, Greece represents the best US hope for stability in the Balkans". Athens, 15/12/93 (ANA) - U.S. position on recognition of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) has not changed, U.S. Ambassador Thomas Niles said yesterday, after meeting with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias. Mr Niles said Greek-U.S. relations were based on "very firm ground", adding Foreign Under-secretary George Papandreou's trip to the U.S, ended yesterday, had been very successful. The U.S. envoy expressed satisfaction over what he called "the high level" of Mr Papandreou's talks in Washington. Mr Niles said his meeting with Mr Papoulias, included a general review of all issues of mutual interest, particularly the latest round of GATT talks. He described the present phase of GATT negotiations as "now or never". Athens, 15/12/93 (ANA) - Foreign Under-secretary George Papandreou yesterday categorically denied having met with Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) Foreign Minister, Stevo Crvenkovski in New York last weekend, as reported in yesterday's edition of the Athens daily "Avghi". Mr Papandreou was speaking to the press on his return from the United States. Earlier yesterday, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said the Foreign Ministry had no knowledge of a meeting between Mr Papandreou and Mr Crvenkovski. Responding to questions, Mr Venizelos added he would provide further information soon after Mr Papandreou's return from the United States. A report in yesterday's edition of 'Avghi', an Athens daily, said Mr Papandreou met with Mr Crvenkovski last weekend in New York. Asked to comment on a statement by German Chancellor Helmut Kohl that the Greece-FYROM border was a Community border, intimating Greece could close its border with a neighbouring state, Mr Venizelos underlined every country is responsible for its own sovereignty, on the basis of the principle of assistance as provided for in the Maastricht Treaty. Athens, 15/12/93 (ANA) - Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday met with British Foreign Under-secretary David Heathcoat-Amory for talks on Community issues and others related to the Greek presidency of EU on January 1. Mr Amory told the press Community matters and Greek presidency issues including the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) had been discussed, adding Britain had decided to establish diplomatic relations with FYROM, but no specific date had yet been set. Athens, 15/12/93 (ANA) - France might grant diplomatic recognition to Skopje under the name of "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM) by the end of the week, France's permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Merime said yesterday. Speaking to reporters, Mr Merime hinted France planned to establish diplomatic relations with Skopje and grant it recognition as FYROM by the end of the week. He said he did not know if and when UN chief Boutros Boutros-Ghali would submit a report on FYROM to the Security Council, hinting both the Security Council and Mr Ghali were waiting to see if UN mediator for Skopje Cyrus Vance would make an effort to resume the dialogue between Athens and Skopje.