From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros)
Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 24 Feb 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa).

	Athens, 24/2/94 (ANA) -- European Foreign Affairs Commissioner
Hans Van den Broek yesterday began marathon mediation talks
between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
(FYROM) in a bid to resolve a dispute between the feuding
neighbours, a week after Greece banned the former Yugoslav
republic from using its northern port of Thessaloniki. Mr van
den Broek had two-and-a-half hours of consecutive talks with
Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Andreas
Papandreou, after arriving from Skopje, where he met with FYROM
President Kiro Gligorov. The EU Commissioner handed the Premier
a letter from Mr Gligorov, contents of which were not released
by the government. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said
after the talks, that the Prime Minister had "received the
letter-with official and express reservation concerning the
name- so that it may simply be studied in regard to its
contents". Diplomatic sources said a verbal reply would be given
today by Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias. The sources added
that Mr van den Broek's initiative continues, noting that Mr
Gligorov committed diplomatic impropriety by releasing parts of
the letter, whilst the EU Commissioner was still on his way to
Athens from Skopje. Mr Gligorov also showed signs of
provocativeness and intransigence toward the commissioner.

	Mr van den Broek told the press after the talks, normalisation
of relations between Greece and FYROM was critical for the new
Balkan state's survival. "The European Union, as a whole,
considers it is of the utmost importance that a peaceful
solution be found", Mr van den Broek said. "We are in full
agreement with Greece, and President (Kiro) Gligorov also
agrees, that good neighbourly relations between Greece and the
former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia are essential to the
survival of FYROM, and for stability in the region", he added.
"Let me make clear that what the European Commision is trying to
do is solve the problem in only two days- a problem that has
existed for a long time ", Mr van den Broek said. "What we are
trying to do, is to be helpful in bringing about dialogue
between the two parties. And we hope to see the parties around a
table again, as soon as possible, in constructive negotiations
for a durable solution", he added. The Commissioner said he had
conveyed a letter by Mr Gligorov after his talks in Skopje. Mr
Papoulias said an official response would be announced today. Mr
van den Broek said he would be meeting again with Mr Papoulias
and Mr Papandreou today, before leaving for Brussels via Skopje.


	Skopje, 24/2/94 (ANA-M.Vichou) -- In a letter to Premier
Andreas Papandreou, released in Skopje early last night-while Mr
van den Broek was still on his way to Athens to hand it to the
Premier- FYROM President Kiro Gligorov said his country was
ready for unconditional talks with Greece over its name and
flag. Mr Gligorov stressed his "willingness to sign an agreement
with Greece guaranteeing the inviolability of existing borders
between the two countries", adding he agreed "the UN or European
Union should act as guarantors of the agreement, should this
prove necessary". "We are again trying to continue dialogue
between our two countries without prior conditions on our
respective positions as soon as possible, on matters on which we
differ, including issues relating to the use of symbols,
denomination and the like", Mr Gligorov wrote. He added dialogue
should continue in the framework of the UN though mediation by
Mr Cyrus Vance. "In this respect, we particularly appreciate
action by the European Union and willingness on the part of
other international factors to seek the best solutions in the
framework of dialogue referred to above", Mr Gligorov stressed.
"For this reason, I propose a meeting between the Foreign
Ministers of our two countries in any European capital, which
should contribute to the dialogue between the two countries", Mr
Gligorov added.


	Skopje, 24/2/94 (ANA-M.Vihou) -- Visiting EU External Political
Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek told reporters before
flying to Athens, that his talks with Mr Gligorov had been
constructive. "I had two hours of intensive, and constructive
talks in which views were exchanged with Mr Gligorov ", he told
the press. He stressed his mission "is to see how we will help
Athens and Skopje resume dialogue on a number of sensititive
issues", adding "I believe normalisation of relations between
the two states is necessary for stability and security of the
region". The Commissioner underlined that relations of good
neighbourliness between the two countries will prevent
escalation of conflict in the region. "I think both countries
realise that they inhabit a dangerous region", he added. " I
didn't come here hoping we can solve all problems between Athens
and Skopje over the past two years", Mr van den Broek said. "But
we will try to help create conditions that will allow dialogue
to begin". " I believe that in this way we will contribute
toward normalisation procedures and establishment of relations
of good neighbourliness between Athens and Skopje".


	Athens, 24/2/94 (ANA) -- The government said earlier yesterday
it would welcome a reply from Skopje indicating it was prepared
to provide concrete examples of good will, just a few hours
before EU External Political Affairs Commissioner Hans van den
Broek was due here for talks. Government spokesman Evangelos
Venizelos said Mr van den Broek, who conferred with the Skopjan
leadership yesterday, may convey just such a reply. Greece has
firmly insisted that Skopje provide concrete examples of good
will as a condition for any resumption of dialogue between the
two countries within the framework of the UN. Mr Venizelos said
that Mr van den Broek's mission was " of a purely political
nature". Replying to questions, the spokesman acknowledged
Greece recently rejected a proposal by the Dutch Commissioner to
undertake a similar initiative. The proposal had been rejected,
Mr Venizelos said, because Skopje refused to comply with rules
of international law. The spokesman accused Skopje of engaging
"destabilizing activity" in the region which "might potentially
assume alarming dimensions". 

	Asked to comment on a letter Tuesday from European Commission
President Jacques Delors to Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou
expressing concern over Greece's retortion measures against the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Mr Venizelos said
that the letter focused solely on the legal dimension of the
issue. "Whereas it is above all a political issue, just as the
nature of the EU is above all political " the spokesman added.
At legal level, Greece could put forward many arguments which
provide solid support of its position, he continued. Mr
Venizelos said that the political aspect of the issue should not
be restricted, "so as not to create an impression retortion
measures are of a trade or customs nature". The spokesman cited
examples of other countries which had raised questions of
legality within the EU, such as Denmark, which delayed ratifying
the Maastricht Treaty for one year, and Britain which has still
not ratified the Social Protocol.


	--- Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said that retortion
measures taken by Greece against FYROM were "reasonable and
fair" and Athens continued to desire good relations with the
neighbouring state. Mr Papoulias was speaking to reporters after
briefing President Constantine Karamanlis on the Bosnian crisis,
the Skopje issue and the meeting he was to have last night with
EU External Political Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek.
He said that Mr Karamanlis had expressed no reservations about
the retortion measures which included suspension of goods
traffic to and from FYROM through the port of Thessaloniki, and
closure of the Greek Consulate General in Skopje. Mr van den
Broek's role "must be positive in this situation, which has been
created with Skopje", Mr Papoulias said, adding that "we are
waiting to hear his views". Mr Papoulias said that Mr van den
Broek, "whose role is to normalise the situation which has been
created", would also be conveying Skopje President Kiro Gligorov's
views to Athens.   


	Brussels, 24/2/94 (ANA) -- Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros
Pangalos told the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs
Committee yesterday "the provocative stance of (Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia President) Kiro Gligorov and recognition
of the former Yugoslav republic by six European Union countries
and the US, had forced Greece to resort to implementing Article
224 of the Treaty. Otherwise tension would have become
uncontrollable". Addressing Committee members of his capacity as
Alternate Foreign Minister and Council of Ministers President,
Mr Pangalos said that ascertaining that the name issue had come
to a deadlock, Athens had "made a positive gesture. It told the
international Community and Skopje that both they and Greece
could carry on under the provisional name-FYROM- with which the
republic was accepted at the UN". "In this way, we could
establish trade and inter-border relations, Skopje's documents
could be accepted in Athens, etc. In exchange we requested that
three gestures be made by the former Yugoslav republic," he
said. "However, Skopje authorities refused to appreciate the
significance of the gestures requested of them, namely a change
of symbols and the flag, guarantees on the inviolability of
borders and interpretation or amending the preamble to their
constitution , as this would facilitate bilateral contacts
accession to the CSCE and start of UN sponsored dialogue". "Had
they realised this, matters would have been different today", he
added. Mr Pangalos expressed the hope that FYROM will adopt a
constructive attitude and called on the Skopje authorities to
prove they do not have irredentist intentions. At this point, Mr
Pangalos referred to an opinion poll released recently, that 67
per cent of Skopjan consider establishment of good relations
with Greece of vital importance. "The Skopjan can only have one
friend in the region, Greece", Mr Pangalos said, adding
Bulgaria, Albania and Serbia "will merely tolerate them".


	Athens, 24/2/94 (ANA) -- Formalities were under way yesterday
to carry 374 tonnes of European Union humanitarian aid stored at
Thessaloniki port warehouses to Skopje, port officials said. Two
Greek trucks hired by Skopjan companies already crossed the
borders into the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
yesterday, with 60 tonnes of past and concentrated milk. More
trucks were expected to follow yesterday and today, the
officials added. Humanitarian aid such as food and medical
supplies are excluded from the retortion measures announced by
Greece against FYROM last week.


	Athens, 24/2/94 (ANA) -- Government spokesman Evangelos
Venizelos yesterday told the press Greece was not bound in its
capacity as President of the European Union to participate in
initiatives to end the Bosnian crisis. Mr Venizelos was replying
to a press question relating to Russian President Boris
Yeltsin's recent decision not to include Greece in a list of
countries to take part at the International Convention on
Bosnia. He lauded initiatives to end hostilities in Bosnia.  


	Athens, 24/2/94 (ANA) -- The Aktion Air Base remains available,
provided it will not be used for eventual air attacks on Bosnia,
a National Defence General Staff spokesman reiterated yesterday.
AWACS will change their base on March 3, in accordance with
annual planning. Each base is treated as a separate item for
discussion.