From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 12 Jan 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Brussels, 12/1/1994 (ANA / S. Liarellis - K. Verros): US President Bill Clinton yesterday said the US will try to "protect Greece from becoming involved in the crisis in the region". Speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and European Commission President Jacques Delors, he said "the US has undertaken two important initiatives" to avert the crisis from spreading south of Bosnia, and spoke of a possible danger aimed at Greece from the north and of what the US intended to do about it. "The real question is: Are we trying to protect Greece from becoming involved in the crisis in the region? The answer is yes", Mr. Clinton said. President Clinton met with Mr. Papandreou, in his capacity as current President of the European Union and European Commission President Jacques Delors. Initiatives specified by Mr. Clinton include the recent dispatch of 300 soldiers to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and a clear warning by the previous US Administration that Kosovo should not get involved in the crisis, which he fully endorsed. Although in their introductory statements, both Mr. Clinton and Mr. Papandreou focused on matters of economic co-operation between the US and the European Union, most questions related to the crisis in former Yugoslavia. Mr. Clinton said if Sarajevo sustained another stranglehold with bombardments, then air power would be used on two conditions: First, plans should be prepared for Srebrenica and the opening of Tuzla airport and, second, such initiatives should be undertaken only after meticulous preparations so as not to aggravate conditions further. Asked when Nato's threats would be carried out, President Clinton said the French and British had instructed military officials to prepare necessary plans, adding that everything depended on the conduct of those shelling Sarajevo (meaning the Bosnian Serbs) and concluded: "We shall see what will happen. But we are determined". In his introductory speech, Mr. Papandreou said President Clinton manner of covering matters was "excellent" and spoke of a revival if inter-Atlantic relations (meaning relations between united Europe and the US), adding Mr. Clinton's position that US policy aimed at European unification was important. "The second axis of interest to us", Mr. Papandreou said, "is the opening to the East". Walls have fallen, he said, adding that "we don't want any more divisions, and they should not be set up again". Mr. Papandreou said "we should not ignore dangers lurking in Russia, owing to the current difficult period of reforms. We should help this effort in every way possible". "The third level of interest is partnership for peace", Mr. Papandreou said, referring to the "ingenious concept" of the US on relations between former Warsaw Pact members and NATO, adding the plan was no threat to Russia but, instead, invites it to participate constructively. Mr. Papandreou said efforts should be made by all to combat the problem of unemployment otherwise, he said, "it will be with us for a long time". In his speech, President Clinton laid emphasis on the need to open markets to cause unemployment to decrease. "Apart from Europe's security, we are interested in economic relations and, for that reason, the Us strongly supports the Maastricht Treaty so that the EU might become a more effective partner", he said. Mr. Clinton referred to problems existing after the signing of the GATT agreement such as an improvement in Japan's offers. The main issue is increasing employment and if this is tackled it will be beneficial to all, he said. The US President added Mr. Delors' "White Paper" included important observations, adding that it should ensure economic policy would safeguard the environment. Europe's new economies (meaning east European countries) should be part of this effort, because new markets would open and, at the same time, those countries would become more productive, he said. Replying to a question, President Clinton said he agreed with Mr. Delors and Mr. Papandreou because, he said, whoever examined developments in the US, Europe and Japan would reach a conclusion that rich countries were faced with problems. One was environmental protection and the other, the middle class should not disappear, but be supported everywhere instead, he said, pointing to election results in Poland and Russia. Referring to relations between the EU and east European countries, Mr. Delors said a transitional period combined with generous economic aid had proved necessary over the past four years. Brussels, 12/1/1994 (ANA / S. Liarellis - K. Verros): The government yesterday expressed satisfaction at Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's meetings at the two-day NATO Summit in Brussels. Speaking to the press, Under-secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, Telemahos Hytiris, said Mr. Papandreou had elaborated on Greece's positions on Skopje and Cyprus at a lunch with US President Bill Clinton and European Commission President Jacques Delors. Mr. Papandreou said it was a "tragic irony" that Greece "finds its self constantly under pressure, even though it has no designs against Skopje. It is the most powerful country in the Balkans, and the only European Union and NATO member-state". "It is time to put pressure on the other side too", Mr. Papandreou said. According to Mr. Hytiris, the Prime Minister also discussed the Skopje issue at an official dinner with NATO leaders Monday evening, which focused on the Yugoslav crisis. According to well-informed sources, discussion prompted hard liners to call for "a quick assault" not only in Sarajevo, but in Srebrenica and Tulsa as well. British Prime Minister John Major took his NATO colleagues by surprise, by advocating the hard-liners' views with Greece and Canada persisting on peaceful means as a way to deal with the crisis. On both occasions, Mr. Papandreou raised the issue in relation to the threat of the Kossovo crisis spreading further to the South. President Clinton also pledged to consider the Cyprus issue personally, on his return from a trip to Moscow. "It is time to end this problem, since lack of solution creates other problems", the US President said. Asked by the press, Mr. Hytiris said President Clinton assured Mr. Papandreou that he should take his views into serious consideration, stressing that the two leaders would soon have the chance to meet again to discuss those issues. Athens, 12/1/1994 (ANA): "The NATO summit proved yet another lost opportunity for Greece on the Skopje question", main opposition New Democracy party said in a statement yesterday. "The Government has purposely downgraded the issue", the statement said, adding "while resolutions were passed on Yugoslavia, no official statements were made on FYROM". On the other hand, New Democracy views President Clinton's statements on Cyprus as "positive". "The NATO summit and Mr. Papandreou's meeting with President Clinton are a failure for Greece", Political Spring (POL.A) Party said in a statement. "There was no specific outcome on Skopje, or on the question of Cyprus. Fine words are not enough. It is deeds that count", the statement added. Political Spring also expressed opposition to NATO expansion by including former Warsaw pact countries, pointing out current instability in Russia and the Balkans. "It is honest collaboration on issues of defence and security, based on the American 'Partnership for Peace' model that we support", the statement concluded. Paris, 12/1/1994 (ANA / O. Tsipira): A meeting between Greek and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's representatives in New York will be requested by United nations mediator on ex-Yugoslavia, Cyrus Vance, in the next few days, UN General Secretary, Boutros Boutros-Ghali said yesterday. "I hope Mr. Vance's mediation will result in maintaining peace between the two neighbouring countries that both need each other", Mr. Ghali added. Belgrade, 12/1/1994 (ANA - N. Georgiadis): The chief of the European Union's observer mission in former Yugoslavia, ambassador Constantine Gerokostopoulos met with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kodic in Belgrade Monday, as part of the mission chief's established contacts with the interested parties. Mr. Milosevic reiterated his positions on the Bosnian issue, insisting that various details that seemed difficult to resolve would be settled when a peace plan would be signed. Mr. Kodic lauded the assumption of the mission's leadership by Greece for six months, saying he was prepares to respond positively in the framework of the mission's co-operation with Yugoslav authorities. The Greek envoy told Mr. Kodic that productive co-operation by sending of observers was also in Belgrade's interest. Mr. Gerokostopoulos also met with the Yugoslav military's liaison officer with the observer mission. During the meeting, the Yugoslav side referred to work done by observer groups covering the region of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and neighbouring Albania. In the Yugoslav officer's view, the groups' reports lacked objectivity. The new chief the EU observer mission also met Yugoslav Foreign Minister Vladislav Jovanovic. Athens, 12/1/1994 (ANA): European Parliament President Egon Klepsch, on a two-day visit in Athens, held a meeting with his Greek counterpart Apostolos Kaklamanis yesterday, to discuss co-operation between the European Parliament and national parliaments within the framework of the European Union. Speaking to the press after the meeting, Mr. Kaklamanis said one of the priorities of the Greek presidency would be to upgrade the role of the European Parliament, and that of the national parliaments in the EU. The Greek Presidency of the European Union coincided with acute unemployment and recession in the European Union, and instability and uncertainty in the southern region of the Balkans, Mr. Kaklamanis said. Greece is in a position to play a leading role in achieving peace in the region, he added. The President of Parliament said the Greek Presidency would go ahead with forming a group to reconsider the Maastricht treaty. Describing the Greek Presidency as "important" and "notable", Mr. Klepsch expressed conviction it would fully implement its promises. Mr. Klepsch invited Mr. Kaklamanis to visit the European Parliament. Mr. Klepsch, also met with main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert, as President of the European People's Party. The two men discussed the issues of Skopje, Cyprus and the ethnic Greek Minority in Albania. Greece is anticipating Europe's solidarity (in these issues) Mr. Evert said at the meeting, calling on Mr. Klepsch to show his friendly feelings towards Greece and help toward the unity of Europe. European unity "is the sole solution to the difficult problems facing today's world", Mr. Evert said. Noting the two major parties in Greece agreed on European policies, Mr. Klepsch said the Greek presidency would be "a good Presidency", expressing hope that during the next six months Greece would deal effectively with unemployment and recession in Europe, and promote a solution to the Balkan crisis, in line with its pledge to do so. Athens, 12/1/1994 (ANA): All parties, with the exception of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), unanimously ratified an agreement for Greece's accession to the West European Union (WEU), in Parliament yesterday. Ruling PASOK party rapporteur Ioannis Micheloyiannis said the signing of the Maastricht Treaty provided Greece with an opportunity to overcome reactions by the pro-Turkish lobby which undermined the country's application for accession to the WEU since 1987. The European political conjuncture in the '80s was not suitable for Greece's accession to the WEU, he said. Main opposition New Democracy party rapporteur Dimitris Avramopoulos said former Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis' threat to use a veto at the signing of the Maastricht Treaty unless Greece was admitted to the WEU, had played a decisive role in Greece's final accession to the WEU. The KKE opposed the agreement, saying WEU accession is one more link in Greece's chain of dependence. Athens, 12/1/1994 (ANA): Leading representatives of the European Socialist Party arrive in Athens tomorrow, for talks with the government on its targets as European Union presiding country. Government sources said the two-day talks would focus on EU common foreign policy, the Yugoslav crisis, trade and industry, environmental issues and Maastricht treaty implementation on economic and political union. Greece assumed the EU presidency on January 1 and is the first member-state to head the 12-member bloc since the Maastricht on European Union was ratified in November. Athens, 12/1/1994 (ANA): A "very strong" earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale was recorded 305 kilometres Southwest of Athens yesterday at 9.23 a.m.. Another tremor measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale shook the area, an hour and a half later at around 11.00 a.m. The epicentre of the quakes was in the sea area south of Messinia, west of Crete, the Athens Geodynamic Institute and the Geophysics laboratory of Thessaloniki's Aristotle University. There were no reports of injuries or material damage, a Messinia police spokesman said.