From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 20 Jan 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Strasbourg, 20/1/1994 (ANA - P. Stangos / AFP): The Greek European Union presidency yesterday called for greater speed in integrating three Scandinavian countries and Austria into the union, while also urging more efforts to enlarge EU southwards to include Cyprus and Malta. Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos stressed his wish to bring Cyprus and Malta into the European Union, after Sweden, Norway, Finland and Austria joined, in principle, next year. Mr. Pangalos detailed Athens' priorities for the 12-member union before the European parliament. Greece took over EU rotating six-month EU presidency on January. European parliament political groups gave Mr. Pangalos the "go-ahead" for the Greek presidency by either expressing overt support or, in certain cases, displaying a position of "favorable anticipation" to judge the Greek presidency from results rather than 'in advance'. Mr. Pangalos listed growth, competitiveness and the fight against unemployment among Community-top priorities. "The problem of unemployment calls for all the community's ability to act", he said. Mr. Pangalos outlined the Greek presidency program in the light of instability, crises and conflicts prevailing on the international scene. He laid special emphasis on the need for the European Union's institutional integration, prior to enlargement, announcing its intention to create a committee of "Wise Men" with European parliament's participation to pave the way for the 1996 inter-government conference. Despite known "reservations" by certain governments, the intention was lauded by all groups which pointed out the European parliament should play an active role on the issue. Mr. Pangalos underlined the significance the Greek presidency attributed to "White Paper" implementation on employment and growth, stressing the hope the effort would not be undermined by problems or disagreement over program financing. "If financing does not get through, then we will all fail", he said. On common foreign and security policy, Mr. Pangalos stressed Greek sensitivity in promoting peace and security in the Balkans, while working toward defusing tension in former Yugoslavia. Mr. Pangalos made a briefing on last week's NATO summit in Brussels, terming it "historic". He did so as Greek Alternate Foreign Minister, not council president. The issue will be given particular attention at a plenary session of the European parliament, since certain sides expressed "dissatisfaction" over "NATO's return to Europe", claiming it "weakens the European dimension by relegating WEU and CSCE to second place". Strasbourg, 20/1/1994 (ANA - P. Stangos): Referring to Mr. Pangalos' speech, European Socialist Party President Jean Pierre Cot expressed his conviction the Greek presidency would be a success. Referring to establishment of diplomatic relations between Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and six EU member states, Mr. Cot said "this was probably diplomatic clumsiness". He stressed his satisfaction because the Greek government declared respect for FYROM's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "We rely on you to handle the Yugoslav crisis", he said. In an address on behalf of the European People's Party, New Democracy party Eurodeputy Panayiotis Lambrias said the "change in tone" in Mr. Pangalos' speech was a "pleasant surprise", wishing the presidency "every success". However, he pointed out, financing mechanisms and the timetable for implementing programs included in the "White Paper" were not clarified, an observation also shared by other speakers. Strasbourg, 20/1/1994 (ANA - P. Stangos): Speaking to the press, Mr. Pangalos said that "the FYROM issue has nothing to do with and, in no way, can it interfere with the framework of EU peace efforts in former Yugoslavia". Replying to a question on relations between Athens and Skopje, Mr. Pangalos reiterated that "Greece supports and guarantees the existence of this state", the new republic's supplies were sent through Thessaloniki and more than half of foreign investments in the republic were Greek. On prospects and conditions for normalizing bilateral relations, Mr. Pangalos referred to the need for "substantive display" of three "goodwill" measures by FYROM - change of flag, removal of irredentist clauses in the Constitution and a guarantee on borders. "Of course, there is disagreement over the name, but we can go on living without agreeing on it", he said. Athens, 20/1/1994 (ANA): Greece acknowledges the right of European union members to exercise their own foreign policy, while drawing their attention to provisions of the Maastricht Treaty, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday, commenting on British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd and German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel's visits to Ankara. Mr. Hurd arrived in Ankara yesterday, while Mr. Kinkel is due to join him at a tripartite meeting with Turkey's Foreign Minister Hikmet Cetin, today. European Union countries are independent and sovereign states, Mr. Venizelos said. However, the Maastricht Treaty which refers to a common foreign and security policy is also a fact, he emphasized. Asked if there was any tension in Greek-Turkish relations, he said "there are only articles in the Turkish press which attempt to give such an impression". Meanwhile, in Strasbourg, Alternate Foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos said the German and British initiative was "unexpected". He added he would be briefed by his colleagues Claus Kinkel and Douglas Hurd, "so that I may outline to them my own views". Athens, 20/1/1994 (ANA): The greater part of the Greek contingent - some 70 men - serving with the multinational peacekeeping force in Somalia are due home tomorrow, National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis announced yesterday. Thirty men would remain behind and most probably be flown back in the first fortnight of February, he added. Athens, 20/1/1994 (ANA): Greece might reconsider vetoing Skopje's bid to join the CSCE, provided the neighboring state offers concrete examples of goodwill as demanded by Athens, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday. In that case, Greece would be prepared to enter into dialogue with Skopje at the UN. "on the basis already laid down by us", the spokesman added. Asked whether or not the main opposition New Democracy party had requested an official briefing on the Skopje issue, Mr. Venizelos said that as requested by ND, the issue would be debated in Parliament next Monday. Skopje, 20/1/1994 (ANA - M. Vichou): A report in yesterday's "semi-official" newspaper "Nova Makedonia", generally believed as voicing Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) President Kiro Gligorov's views, stressed unreserved support for a compromise with Greece on the question of symbols and clauses of the constitution. The report said following indications from its Western allied (the European Union and the US), Greece had been led to a U-turn in its policy towards FYROM climaxing with what it called the Greek prime minister's "amazing phrase" that "support for the new Balkan state's independence is in Greece's interest". Calling for reconsidering Greek conditions, it proposed an amendment to the controversial clause in FYROM's constitution to be identical with that of Greece. Referring to the flag issue, it proposed a "simple golden sun against a red backdrop and not the serrated sun of Vergina. We ran into historic ignorance, and we stuck a thorn into our healthy leg. We now need courage and a cool head to pull it out in time". Athens, 20/1/1994 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias will visit the US for talks with American officials prior to Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's trip to Washington, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday. Mr. Papandreou's visit has been scheduled for March, the spokesman added. Mr. Venizelos reiterated that Mr. Papoulias would be visiting the US at the end of January in his capacity as president of the European Union Council of Ministers. Athens, 20/1/1994 (ANA): The first round of consultations to conclude a Stability Agreement opened in Athens yesterday with participation by Poland, Hungary, Romania, The Czech Republic, Estonia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Slovenia and Latvia. On the agenda yesterday was the preparatory meeting to be held in Paris in April under the aegis of the Greek Presidency. The Paris Conference will take place also with the participation of EU's 12, GSCE's 18 and international organizations. Honorary Ambassador Stephanos Spathatos, who is representing Greece at the consultations, said the meeting yesterday was "excellent". The Stability Agreement, better known as the Balladur Initiative, was first laid on the table at the Copenhagen EC Summit in 1993. It calls for adopting border inviolability and settlement of nationalistic differences. The Agreement, regarded as a basic element for "common action" by the European union will, after it becomes enforced, promote stability, enhance democratic procedures, and facilitate development of regional co-operation in central and eastern Europe. A second meeting at ambassadorial level will be held in Athens in mid February, sources said. Tirana, 20/1/1994 (ANA - G. Kyrousis): Addressing the opening of the Joint Greek-Albanian inter-government committee's 4th session, Alternate National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said "all conditions exist today, for a substantive strengthening of Greek-Albanian economic co-operation". Mr. Papantoniou met Albanian Prime Minister Aleksandr Meksi, the foreign affairs, agriculture, transport, finance and energy and iron ores ministers, the deputy prime minister and the governor of the state bank. The Greek delegation examined the entire spectrum of bilateral economic relations with the Albanian side, with particular emphasis on specific Greek plans and proposals for common Greek-Albanian road projects which will be proposed for financing through European Union programs. In the sector of commerce, Greece will continue to provide incentives for enterprises wishing to spread their activities to Albania, while Greek banks have shown great interest in establishing branch offices in Albanian cities. The Greek side proposed creation of a mixed committee on transferring know-how to Albanian's agricultural production, and continuing co-operation in electric power production. A mixed committee of experts was also proposed on the modernization of Albanian ports. Albanian Industry and Commerce Minister Salim Belortaya termed economic co-operation with Greece "considerable", adding that 14 per cent of official Albanian trade was carried out with Greece and 15 per cent of all foreign investments was also made by Greek investors. A protocol on economic co-operation between Greece and Albania will be signed this morning and, it will be followed by a meeting between Mr. Papantoniou and Albanian President Sali Berisha. Athens, 20/1/1994 (ANA): Former premier Constantine Mitsotakis yesterday accused Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou of being directly behind a "disgraceful attempt at mud-slinging", regarding publication of an archaeologists' report Tuesday, raising doubts on the legality of this antiquities collection. Speaking at a specially convened press conference, Mr. Mitsotakis cautioned Culture Minister Melina Mercouri to turn the archaeologists' finding over to the public prosecutor within 48 hours, otherwise he would do so himself, in order, to clear up the matter "once more", and take legal proceedings against Ms. Mercouri and her associates. He declined to identify the latter. According to the findings of a team of archaeologists, many of the items in Mr. Mitsotakis' antiquities collection came from ancient graves in the Chania area of Crete. Mr. Mitsotakis said the investigation had not revealed anything new, but was merely "scientific corroboration" of the origin of the ancient objects. Mr. Mitsotakis invoked law 5351/1932 to reiterate collectors were not obliged to trace the origin item they collected. Athens, 20/1/1994 (ANA): National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis yesterday denied press reports claiming infringements of the Athens FIR and violations of national airspace by Turkish warplanes had increased. Mr. Arsenis added the number of infringements and violations was "as usual" and, in all cases, Turkish aircraft had been intercepted by Greek fighters. "Turkey's stepped up campaign of words reflects an attempt by Ankara to draw the international spotlight towards it, using tension in Greek-Turkish relations as a pretext to exploit Greece's prominence as presiding country of the European Union". Mr. Arsenis also attributed Ankara's tension campaign to Turkish government efforts to divert public opinion from "burning" domestic and economic issues, including the Kurdish problem. Asked to comment on Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller's statement Tuesday, Mr. Arsenis said "it is -to say the least- ridiculous for anyone to claim Greece has hostile intentions toward Turkey". "Greece is peace-loving and its defense doctrine is based on safeguarding Greek territory ...", he added. Ms. Ciller reportedly Tuesday told the parliamentary group of her True Path Party, concern at Greece and Russia had prevented Ankara from redeploying more troops to fight Kurdish guerrillas in the southeast. Athens, 20/1/1994 (ANA): The Chief of the US General Army Staff, General Gordon Sullivan will have talks with the political and military leadership of the National Defense Ministry today, as part of his official visit to Greece, National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis announced yesterday. General Sullivan began his two-day visit to Greece yesterday. He is also scheduled to visit military units and tour archaeological sites. Ankara, 20/1/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's is 'positive', the Turkish Foreign Ministry said yesterday. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Ferhat Ataman declared Mr. Papandreou's statement at a press conference on January 17 had been examined in detail. The Greek Prime Minister said the Aegean continental shelf between the two countries had not yet been defined, adding drillings west of Thasos island were being carried out within the Greek territorial waters. He added, "it seems Mr. Papandreou does not wish to create tension in Greek-Turkish relations, and this constitutes a positive element. It reflects political reality, as well as the legal and practical situation governing the continental shelf in the Aegean". He then recalled a statement by Mr. Papandreou that "Greece had the right to carry out drillings beyond the six-mile limit" and said "Turkey's stance on this issue was quite clear. Sections of the shelf beyond the six-mile limit, constitute disputed regions which have not been defined between the two neighboring countries". "According to an agreement signed in 1976, the two sides have been bound not to carry out any oil search beyond their territorial waters", the spokesman said.