From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Tue, 11 Jan 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Brussels, 11/1/1994 (ANA - S. Liarelis / K. Verros / P. Pantelis): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou told Greece's NATO allies he was certain a political solution to the Yugoslav crisis could be find only through negotiations in Brussels, yesterday. Addressing the NATO summit, Mr. Papandreou said: "I strongly believe the Yugoslav crisis can only be resolved through negotiations between parties concerned". "My country, which presides over the European Union during the present period, will go to any lengths to find a peaceful settlement to a conflict which is so close to its borders", he added. Mr. Papandreou said Greece was deeply concerned at the continuing conflict in former Yugoslavia owing to its destabilising repercussions. He recalled Greece deplored aggressive military operations by Bosnian Moslems against Croat pockets in central Bosnia, the bombardment of Sarajevo by Bosnian Serbs and the Croatian government's threat of military involvement in Bosnia-Herzegovina. He further reminded the meeting Greece also condemned obstruction to the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians by all parties. "It is of prime importance sides involved should promptly end hostilities and honour their signature", he said, adding significant ground had been covered so far and the co-chairmen had contributed decisively to that end. Referring to Nato's new role, Mr. Papandreou said it now stood at a cross-roads, in its effort to improve stability and security throughout Europe, and provide orientation for years to come. "In our effort to improve stability and underline Nato's leading role in security throughout Europe, we are inaugurating the 'Partnership for Peace' which will beam a clear message that we are looking to the East, as the first step towards the Alliance's gradual enlargement", Mr. Papandreou said. At the same time, he said, we are here to underline a strengthened European identity and powerful and renewed Transatlantic co-operation. Linkage of the European West and East will undoubtedly strengthen Nato's European role and, in parallel, the balance between Europe and North America will renew the Inter-Atlantic dimension, he said. "The Alliance's security has improved considerably in recent years, but uncertainties and instabilities remain in various parts of Europe. The forces of change released by our success should be handled now with wise decisions. The new security environment requires a show of resolution to face future challenges and emerging threats", he said. Mr. Papandreou said the Alliance's new task is preventing conflicts, tackling crises and preserving and safeguarding peace. "Stability and security in the Euro-Atlantic region will be increasingly constructed in a framework of such interconnected and mutually supported institutions as NATO, and CSCE, the European Union, the Western European Union and the Council of Europe", he said. In this context, he said, it is important that CSCE institutions and structure should be strengthened by means of a pragmatic and workable approach. "At the same time, we should aim at effectively allocating military potential and means with the West European Union basing itself on more flexible military structures. The Us concept of combined joint prompt intervention forces can adequately serve this purpose", he said. "The proliferation of mass destruction weapons, whether nuclear of not, constitutes a continuous threat to international stability. Therefore, we should strengthen our efforts at appropriate international forums, to make it possible for international agreements to be fully honoured and secure universal participation in them", he said. Referring to the Mediterranean basin, Mr. Papandreou said NATO member states are in a position to understand how to better promote dialogue, mutual understanding and confidence-building measures. Greece, he said, lauded recent progress in the peace process could be achieved in resolving other pending issues in the region. Brussels, 11/1/1994 (ANA / S. Liarellis - K. Verros - P. Pantelis): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday met, on the sidelines of the NATO Summit, with US President Bill Clinton, Turkish Prime Minister Tancu Ciller and the Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland. According to Under-secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, Telemahos Hytiris, "Mr. Clinton was pleased to meet Mr. Papandreou and wished him all the best for Greece's EU presidency. The Greek PM was also happy to meet the US president and expressed his certainty for close co-operation between the two countries". Mr. Papandreou, as President of the EU, will meet President Clinton, together with EU Commission President Jacques Delors today. "The meeting with Turkish PM Tancu Ciller took place by chance and lasted only five or ten minutes", said Mr. Hytiris. "The atmosphere was friendly. Ms. Ciller commented on Mr. Papandreou's US lectures and he wished her the best in her work". "Norway's application to join the European Union was the subject for discussion between Ms. Brundtland and Mr. Papandreou", said Mr. Hytiris. Brussels, 11/1/1994 (ANA - S. Liarellis): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou was due to raise the issues of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Cyprus at a dinner attended by NATO leaders in Brussels last night. Mr. Papandreou told a press conference the 16 NATO leaders would have an off-the-record discussion including the situation in southern Europe and the Balkans in particular. He said the Greek side would certainly raise both the Cyprus as well as the FYROM questions, adding that he did not know how much time would be given for discussing the issue. The two issues, he said, had not been raised so far because he deemed the time was not appropriate, and in his morning address he was also obliged to speak as European council chairman. Referring to his meetings with Us President Bill Clinton, Mr. Papandreou said they spoke twice or three times, terming the contact "very friendly". He added no date had been set for his visit to Washington, but mention was made of March. Mr. Papandreou characterised his meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller and "acquaintance encounter, nothing more". Replying to a question on Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Papandreou recalled he had raised the issue in 1981 (when a joint communiqui has not been issued) adding NATO has rejected (simply and openly), he said the Greek position on a Turkish threat. There is no provision, he said, it is a matter concerning the two countries. However, Mr. Papandreou said no one believed Greece was claiming territory, but merely trying to safeguard its sovereign rights. On the question of former Yugoslavia, Mr. Papandreou said most members were reluctant over the use of force, asking what would happen with peacekeeping forces already stationed in Bosnia. Every opportunity should be given to the belligerents to close the issue, he said. He further said a clear message should be sent to Croats, Moslems and Serbs that time is running out. "Military intervention is a very dangerous adventure, but it is high time that all belligerents should realise that the dangerous and tragic game should come to an end", he said. Mr. Papandreou said reports of a different approach by the Americans on the issue of Bosnia and the lifting of sanctions against Serbia were a matter of "interpreting phrases". He said no specific military intervention plan existed on the former issue, but a clear warning had been given. On the second question, he said Greece has proposed gradual suspension of measures and sanctions against Serbia to be offered to the "belligerents' difficult dialogue". Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said all had accepted new factors and the position that "the Serbs alone are not responsible for the crisis". He said all should consider what the political results of the measures were so far and, secondly, what measures should be taken to safeguard peace in the region. Mr. Papandreou said the NATO summit was very important for two reasons. First, because the US plan concerning "Partnership for Peace" had been adopted, aiming at the gradual acceptance of co-operation with former Warsaw Pact countries, and the CSCE as well, adding that this was important for Greece because Cyprus is included as well. It is a question, he said, of an intermediate stage between direct NATO participation and the present status quo. Mr. Papandreou added the contrary (meaning direct participation) would lead to rapid developments in Russia due to a powerful nationalist trend and reactions of its military forces. He said the plan on a partnership of peace was Mr. Clinton's. Mr. Papandreou said the second reason was that statements and the address by Mr. Clinton showed that the US remained steadfast in its positions on European matters, and would maintain its forces in Europe. In this way, he said, an opening is made to the East in a peaceful manner, while the Alliance is both strengthened and preserved. Athens, 11/1/1994 (ANA): The main opposition New Democracy party said yesterday the enlargement of NATO was "imperative", provided a number of internal matters concerning the Alliance were first resolved. Speaking at a press conference, ND Alternate Deputy president and former national defence minister Ioannis Varvitsiotis said matters which would have to be settled before enlargement, concerned the type of forces to be maintained by the Alliance, operations beyond NATO territory and reducing antagonism within the Alliance. Mr. Varvitsiotis criticised the government for not reacting to the change in the US plan for the enlarging the Alliance. He said this meant that the system being put forward for selectively choosing CSCE members as candidates for NATO membership, reduced Cyprus' chances of joining the Alliance. On the issue of Greece's fortification of the Aegean islands, Mr. Varvitsiotis said that with regard to Dodecannese islands, Turkey was not a signatory to the Paris Treaty of 1947 and, consequently, the issue was of no concern to Ankara. As for the other islands, Mr. Varvitsiotis added, Greece continued to adhere to the letter and the spirit of the Treaty of Lausanne. Greece on Saturday accused Turkey of cultivating tension in relations between the two countries, in an attempt to divert Turkish public opinion from crucial domestic issues. The accusation was prompted by a recent report in the Turkish daily 'Hurriyet' saying the Turkish Foreign Minister had drafted a memorandum aimed at challenging Greek sovereignty over the Aegean islands. Hurriyet said Turkey would raise the sovereignty issue as a result of the continued fortification by Greece of its islands in the Aegean, and Athens' recent decision to incorporate Cyprus into Greece's defence zone. Mr. Varvitsiotis attributed what he called Ankara's "virulent reaction" to activation of the 1992 agreement on establishing a NATO headquarters in Greece. Athens, 11/1/1994 (ANA): Parliament will hold a special debate on the Skopje issue on January 24, at the request of new Democracy President and leader of the Opposition Miltiades Evert. Athens, 11/1/1994 (ANA): Admiral Jeremy Borda, Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe, arrived in Athens yesterday for talks with top Pentagon officials. Admiral Borda began his round by meeting with National Defence General Staff Chief Admiral Christos Lymberis. Discussion focused on matters of mutual interest, a National Defence Ministry spokesman said. Athens, 11/1/1994 (ANA): NATO supreme Commander for Europe General George A. Joulwan, is due in Athens tomorrow on a two-day official visit. He will have talks with National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis, Chief of National Defence General Staff, Admiral Christos Lymberis and the Chiefs of Staff of the three Services. Athens, 11/1/1994 (ANA): European Parliament President Egon Klepsch begins a two-day visit to Greece today for talks on issues to be handled by the Greek presidency of the European Union, directly concerning the Assembly. Mr. Klepsch will have talks with Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis on such issues as co-operation between the European Parliament and national parliaments within the framework of the European Union. They will also discuss the next regular meeting of European Union parliament presidents. Mr. Klepsch will meet with Alternate Foreign Minister Theodore Pangalos on issues concerning co-operation between the Greek presidency and the European Parliament, particularly in view of the new powers provided for the assembly under the Maastricht Treaty. Mr. Klepsch will also have talks with Alternate National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on European Union Affairs Pafsanias Zakolikos. Athens, 11/1/1994 (ANA): The government would comment on an alleged denial of a Turkish press report claiming Ankara was prepared to challenge Greece's sovereignty over certain islands of the Aegean, only if there were an official Turkish statement on the subject, government Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday. Asked if the Greek government felt satisfied with the Ankara denial, Mr. Venizelos said it originated from vague diplomatic circles. "If an official statement were be made by Turkey, then Greece would take a stand on it", the spokesman said.