From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 19 Jan 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Washington, 19/1/1994 (ANA - D. Dimas): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias will meet with US Secretary of State Warren Christopher in Washington on January 31 in his capacity as European Union Council of Foreign Ministers president. Mr. Papoulias may meet on the same day with other US national security officials for talks on matters included in the US-European political agenda. It is expected matters of direct Greek concern will be raised during Mr. Papoulias' talks in Washington in the wider framework of security and peace in the region. Athens, 19/1/1994 (ANA): The government's position on the Skopje issue remains unchanged, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos reiterated yesterday. The spokesman was commenting on press reports which, he said, "create an impression of change as regards the resumption and subject of dialogue (between Athens and Skopje)". Mr. Venizelos yesterday reiterated a statement by Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou who said that if dialogue were to resume, the issue of the name would be raised in order to convince Skopje it was in its interest to adopt another name. The spokesman underlined Greece would not recognize a state under the name of 'Macedonia' or any derivative of that word. The Greek government's position, he said, does not concern negotiation on the name, as was the case in the dialogue procedure begun by the previous conservative government which has remained "in abeyance" since May 1993. Asked if any resumption of dialogue would be on a bilateral level, Mr. Venizelos replied it was premature to speak of the level and procedure of the dialogue. Replying to other questions, the spokesman said he believed it was possible Skopje might accept to engage in dialogue that would not include negotiation on the name. Mr. Venizelos said that "the present situation" would dictate acceptance by Skopje of Greece's proposal, not because of Greece's capacity to influence economic developments in the neighboring state, but by virtue of international law, particularly article 4 of the U.N. charter. Above all, Mr. Venizelos reiterated, it is necessary for Skopje to provide practical examples that it is prepared to abandon its intransigence and provocativeness. Underlining that there was no secret or "behind-the-scenes" dimension to Greek diplomacy on the Skopje issue, Mr. Venizelos said that all messages to the Skopje government were conveyed through "public dialogue". Replying to other questions, Mr. Venizelos said use of the name 'Macedonia' by Skopje constituted "a vehicle for hostile propaganda, irredentist designs and disturbing stability in the region". Meanwhile, Alternate Foreign Minister Theodore Pangalos said yesterday Greece would not raise the issue of changing Skopje's name at the European Union summit in Corfu. Explaining the government's decision, Mr. Pangalos said refusal by even one EU member-state would mean defeat for Greece. Mr. Pangalos was speaking to members of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee during yesterday's discussion on the Greek presidency of the EU. Mr. Pangalos said it was not possible for Greece to ask the summit "to christen" Skopje giving it a specific name that did not include 'Macedonia' since the neighboring state had already been recognized by the U.N. and Greece as the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". All EU member-states had adopted the position that each country should be able to use a name of its own choice, Mr. Pangalos said, adding: "I believe we would be faced with a refusal on the part of our partners and, consequently, I don't see any reason for suffering such a defeat, since we have no chance of success". United Nations, 19/1/1994 (ANA - M. Georgiadou): UN Chief's spokesman Joe Sills yesterday told the press that Cyrus Vance, the special mediator (for Skopje), continued his contacts with both sides in an effort to recommence consultations between Athens and Skopje. But, Mr. Sills said, he was not authorized to elaborate on the matter. He did stress, however, that Mr. Vance "is working hard" on the issue (of the dialogue) and would be in a position to make an announcement in coming days. Athens, 19/1/1994 (ANA): The first round of official consultations for signing a Stability Agreement in Europe begins on the initiative of the Greek Presidency at Zappeion Hall today. Consultations, to be held at ambassadorial level, will be attended by nine countries directly concerned, namely Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, a Foreign Ministry said. The consultations will be followed by bilateral meetings for holding a preparatory conference in Paris in April. Athens, 19/1/1994 (ANA): The Greek Air force has standing orders to intercept aircraft which violate national airspace, in accordance with National Defense Ministry policy, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos declared yesterday, when asked to comment on the manner in which the government responded to recent violations of Greek airspace by Turkish fighters. "There is neither slackening, respite, nor negligence on the matter. The government pursues a steady course of safeguarding the nation's sovereign rights without deviation", Mr. Venizelos said. Athens, 19/1/1994 (ANA): Foreign Under-secretary George Papandreou leaves for Stockholm today, for two days of talks with the Swedish government. In addition to separate meetings with Swedish government officials on bilateral matters, Mr. Papandreou will participate with Alternate Foreign Minister Theodore Pangalos in talks with the Swedish government, on EU enlargement through accession of Scandinavian countries. Athens, 19/1/1994 (ANA): Merchant Marine Minister George Katsifaras today had talks with visiting Ukrainian Industry Minister Dimitri Chernenko, on ways of improving bilateral co-operation in shipping. They according agreed on commencing negotiations to conclude a bilateral agreement on shipping co-operation. Athens, 19/1/1994 (ANA): The seals and vessels belonging to the antiquities collection of former premier Constantine Mitsotakis are from ancient graves which have been spoliated in the area of Chania, Crete, according to the findings of a team of archaeologists. Announcing the results of the archaeologists' investigation, conducted January 10-14, Culture Minister Melina Mercouri said the findings of the team would be passed on to the public prosecutor. The investigation focused on comparing objects on display in museums on Crete with similar antiquities in the Mitsotakis collection. Ms. Mercouri said that during the former premier's term in office (April 1990-October 1993), Mr. Mitsotakis added a total of 289 ancient objects to his collection. She said that the ministry would take all necessary administrative measures for protecting all antiquities in the collection, adding the validity of Mr. Mitsotakis' collector permit would be re-examined. The former premier later blasted his socialist successor Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou for the "despicable" action taken against him. "As a Greek I am embarrassed to have such a prime minister who uses mud against a political rival", Mr. Mitsotakis said. He warned that the mudslinging campaign waged against him would eventually "boomerang on his (Papandreou's) own head". The 75 year-old ex-premier told reporter in Chania, Crete, collectors were not obliged to investigate the origin of their collections. "Why should I care where such items come from, since, by law, a collector is not obliged to investigate their origin. And, of course, not all of the items in the possession of collectors come from museums or collections", he said. Mr. Mitsotakis also accused Ms. Mercouri saying she had told parliament that the antiquities collection was "legal". Main opposition New Democracy deputy Dora Bakoyanni, Mr. Mitsotakis' daughter and a former culture minister, accused the government of using the issue of her father's antiquities collection for political reasons. Ms. Bakoyanni said that collectors were not obliged to know the origin of each ancient object. Once an object has come into the possession of a collector, she added, the latter was obliged, in co-operation with the Culture Ministry, to ensure that the object would become the property of the Greek people. She described the controversy surrounding the former premier's collection as "a cheap and miserable attempt at achieving political exploitation". The Coalition of the Left and Progress later said the findings of the report created "a major issue of ethics and political propriety" for Mr. Mitsotakis. It also called on the former premier to provide evidence on how he had obtained the antiquities, also urging the government to take effective measures to protect Greece's cultural heritage from illegal archaeological excavations.