From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros)
Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Sat, 15 Jan 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa).

Athens News Agency Bulletin, 

     Athens, 15/1/1994 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias
said yesterday the Greek presidency will be activated on
resolving the Yugoslav crisis, adding "resolving it is the prime
target and, despite all difficulties we will encounter, there is
hope we will offer something more". Mr. Papoulias announced that
international mediators David Owen and Thorvald Stoltenberg will
arrive in Athens at noon tomorrow, at the invitation of the
Greek presidency, for extended talks on efforts to resolve the
Yugoslav issue. "It is the Greek presidency's first move on
former Yugoslavia", he said. There would either be a special
Foreign Ministers' Council or he would be visiting the three
capitals of sides involved, depending on developments, he said.
Mr. Papoulias said the Greek presidency had ideas to broaden a
Franco-German plan to resolve the crisis.

     Speaking at a briefing meeting with the presidency of the
European Parliament's socialist group, he reviewed the situation
in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, the Balkans, targets of the
Greek presidency, and developments in central and eastern
Europe, Russia, the Middle East and South Africa. "Being a
Balkan country with its own sensitivities, Greece is well aware
of the problems in the region, and is much closer to those
problems than any other partner is. Any new ideas capable of
helping to resolve the problem are discussed at every
ministerial session", he said.

     Mr. Papoulias also briefed the socialist Eurodeputies on
Greece's positions on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
(FYROM), saying he had met with "positive response". He added
that when he told socialist group president Mr. Cot that Greece
guaranteed FYROM's borders, because it wanted that state to
exist, he had an impression his interlocutor was hearing of the
issue for the first time.

     Mr. Papoulias declined comment on a statement by Mr. Cot at
noon yesterday, that recognition of FYROM did not constitute a
blow to Community solidarity. "Greece believes that the
recognition of Skopje (FYROM) is a great blow to European
solidarity, coming at a time in which our partners should
display greater reserve", he said.

     Commenting on a statement by FYROM President Kiro Gligorov
suggesting a summit meeting with Prime Minister Andreas
Papandreou, Mr. Papoulias said an official Greek reply would be
given today. FYROM President Kiro Gligorov in an interview to
the Italian daily Republica yesterday, called for an "urgent
meeting" with Mr. Papandreou for negotiations on the Skopjan
issue. "Before making such a statement, Mr. Gligorov should do
something else", he said, adding that the FYROMian leader should
carry out goodwill steps towards normalising relations with
Greece. Mr. Papoulias said there was no secret contact with
mediator Cyrus Vance. "Greece has suspended the dialogue until
Gligorov effects the steps we have asked for, namely goodwill
steps", he said.

     Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos also met with
the presidency of the European Parliament's socialist group,
providing a briefing on institutional reforms, enlargement and
co-ordination between the European Union's Greek presidency and
the European Parliament.


     Athens, 15/1/1994 (ANA): Government spokesman Evangelos
Venizelos yesterday replied to Skopjan President Kiro Gligorov's
request for an urgent summit with Premier Andreas Papandreou,
recalling. "Greek positions are well known. What matters now is
for Skopje to take same practical steps. We note, however, Mr.
Gligorov seems to understand the importance of Skopje's
relations with Greece".

     FYROM President Kiro Gligorov has extended an invitation to
Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou for an urgent meeting for
negotiations on the Skopjan issue, in an interview published in
the Italian newspaper 'Republica'. "I am ready to meet with Mr.
Papandreou at any time", said Mr. Gligorov. "Dialogue is the
only wise manner to solve open issues, otherwise the crisis will
escalate thus risking to flood the trend of chaos we see now in
the Balkans", he added. "I believe we could find a solution to
the issues that divide us, either one at a time or in some kind
of package", continued the FYROM President.

     Athens, 15/1/1994 (ANA): "The Government does not indulge in
secret diplomacy. Consequently, there are no secret dealings
between United Nations Bosnia mediator Cyrus Vance and the Greek
government", government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said
yesterday". "The government does not link a solution to the
Bosnian problem with that of Skopje", Mr. Venizelos concluded.


     Athens, 15/1/1994 (ANA): The Political Committee of the
European Union's Council of Foreign Ministers, will meet in
Zappeion Hall on Monday and Tuesday next week. Subjects to be
discussed include the Yugoslav problem, relations between the
"12" member states and the Middle East. Discussion will also
include the framework of consultations between the troika of the
European Union (Belgium, Greece and Germany) and East and
Central European States. The Political Committee consists of the
general directors of foreign ministries of the 12 member-states,
who will prepare the agenda of the Council of Foreign Ministers.


     Athens, 15/1/1994 (ANA): The presidency of the European
Socialist Party's parliamentary group yesterday expressed
complete confidence in "the very well prepared" Greek presidency
of the European Union. The socialist parliamentarians arrived in
Athens for talks with government officials on the programme of
the Greek presidency. In his opening speech, the president of
the Europarliament's Socialist Group, French Eurodeputy Jean
Pierre Cot said he was confident the Greek presidency would be
successful since it enjoyed "many important advantages". The
European Socialist agreed with the priorities set by the Greek
presidency, particularly with the emphasis it had placed on
combating unemployment, promoting the social dimension of
Europe, implementing the White Paper and contributing to the
institutional democratisation of the European Union, he said.

     Mr. Cot added Europe was "lucky" Greece was presiding over the
European Union in the first half of 1994, "since Prime Minister
Andreas Papandreou will lay emphasis on efforts for peace in
former Yugoslavia". "We have confidence in this respect also,
that the Greek presidency will contribute so that significant
progress may be achieved in peace efforts", he said.

     Former European Parliament president and member of the
presidency of the European Socialist Party's parliamentary
group, Spanish Eurodeputy Baron Crespo said "Greece deserves
Europe's support and solidarity, for it has an immense task".
Mr. Crespo underlined the need to complete negotiations on
European Union enlargement with EFTA countries during the first
half of 1994. He also expressed hope preliminary negotiations on
EU admission of Cyprus and Malta would proceed quickly.

     Replying to questions, both Mr. Cot and Mr. Crespo said the
Socialist group did not consider the recent decision of a number
of European countries to establish diplomatic relations with
Skopje, as a blow against EU solidarity. On Nato's recent
decision to give the green light for air strikes in Bosnia under
U.N. authority, Mr. Crespo commented that "no specific decision
has been taken". He expressed the view, however, that "air
strikes cannot be the answer to the problem". Mr. Crespo
concluded that due to its proximity to the area and "precise
historical knowledge", Greece could make an important
contribution to peace efforts in Bosnia.


     Athens, 15/1/1994 (ANA): Parliament President Apostolos
Kaklamanis yesterday stressed the benefits of co-operation
between the European Union and the United States for a solution
to the 19-year-old Cyprus problem. Addressing the opening
session of the interparliamentary conference of the European
Parliament and the conference of the European Parliament and the
United States Congress, Mr. Kaklamanis expressed Greece's desire
that a Cyprus solution based on the principles of International
Law and the UN resolutions be found soon.

     In an obvious reference to the Yugoslav crisis, Mr. Kaklamanis
said Greece, which neighbours with the main areas of conflict,
attached special importance to matters of international security
and respect of borders among the states of the region.

     Greece could also play a positive role in promoting peace in
the Balkans and the Middle East Moreover, he continued. "It is
my conviction that the friendly bonds between the peoples of
Europe and the United States will be further strengthened after
the meeting", Mr. Kaklamanis said, adding discussion between US
President Bill Clinton and Greek Premier Andreas Papandreou, as
current president of the EU, on the sidelines of the NATO summit
in Brussels earlier this week, had been "particularly positive
and useful for strengthening relations and co-operation between
the two sides".


     Athens, 15/1/1994 (ANA): Turkey is the only country in the
world occupying militarily the territory of an independent
state, European Union Council of Ministers president Theodore
Pangalos said yesterday. Addressing the interparliamentary
conference of the European Parliament and the US Congress, Mr.
Pangalos also criticised Ankara for not honouring its signature
on such treaties as the Convention on Human Rights. Mr. Pangalos
also said the Greek presidency of the European Union would aim
at securing "vigorous intervention" on the part of the EU, in
order to reach a settlement of the festering Cyprus problem.

     The fact that the EU recently decided to appoint an observer
as Commission representative to the U.N. sponsored talks, was "a
first step", Mr. Pangalos added. "We shall try to take the
second step at the EU-Cyprus meeting in May, by securing a
general commitment on the commencement of negotiations for
Cyprus' entry to the Union", he added. The Greek government was
convinced the Cyprus problem could be resolved by peaceful
means, Mr. Pangalos concluded.