From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 28 Feb 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Greece to submit legal arguments for retortion by Wednesday ----------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 28/2/1994 (ANA) - The government will submit to the EU Commission its legal arguments on the retortion measures it took against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) by Wednesday at the latest. Greece has already submitted its European partners its political argumentation on the retortion measures against Skopje, in a letter to European Commission President Jacques Delors by Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. The letter also included the government's official statements and positions, which had mainly prompted its recent decision to bar imports and exports to and from Skopje through the port the Thessaloniki. The legal aspect of the retortion measures, which the government does not underestimate, is very well documented and is, therefore, causing no concern, Administration sources said. The issue is scheduled for discussion at the European Commission's weekly meeting Wednesday. It will decide on whether or not it should refer Greece to the European Court. The government, however, made it clear that it would not lift measures, unless FYROM showed concrete evidence that it would comply with Greece's terms. Greece insists the former Yugoslav republic amend its constitution, remove a Greece symbol from its flag and cease hostile propaganda against Greece, as preconditions for resumption of a UN dialogue. Greece insists that the use of the term "Macedonia" applies only to its northern province of that name, and accuses Skopje authorities that use of the term implies territorial designs against the northern province of Greece. Meanwhile, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos on Saturday said the government would not make known the contents of its letter to the European Commission President Jacques Delors. Mr. Venizelos said reasons of diplomatic discretion did not permit the government to release its reply, since Mr. Delors chose not to make it known. In an answer to a press question on the seven-day deadline to lift the retortion measures, allegedly put by European Commissioner Hand van den Broek, Mr. Venizelos said this was not an ultimatum but "reasonable time he thought the committee will need to study Greece's legal argumentation". "It means nothing else", Mr. Venizelos said. Over 400 tons of food sent to FYROM, 250 more to follow ------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 28/2/1994 (ANA) - More than 400 tonnes of food supplies have been carried to FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), during the 10 days that followed a Greek government decision barring the new Balkan state from using the northern Greek port of Salonika. A total of 15 trucks crossed the Evzones border post since March 16, carrying food supplies to the neighbouring Balkan republic, customs officials said. Another 250 tonnes of European Union aid earmarked for the Former Yugoslav republic will be sent to Skopje through Thessaloniki by March 16. Greece has barred the neighbour state from using the port of Thessaloniki, expect for humanitarian aid, in retortion to Skopje's "growing intransigence and aggressive attitude". The measure was coupled with the closure of the Greek consulate in Skopje. Evzones customs officials said about 50 trucks bound for Skopje remain stranded at the border due to inappropriate travel documents referring to their destination as "Macedonia" than "The Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia". Samaras charges van den Broek not impartial ------------------------------------------- Athens, 28/2/1994 (ANA) - Political Spring (Pol. A) party leader Antonis Samaras, speaking in Florina, yesterday accused EU Commissioner van den Broek of being unable to play an impartial role in the mediation between Athens and Skopje. Mr. Samaras reiterated his proposal for raising the Skopje issue again in a European Union context, saying UK Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd's visit to Athens as a variation to Mr. van den Broek's mission. Greek Australians stage protest march against Skopje recognition ----------------------------------------------------------------- Melbourne, 28/2/1994 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis): Over one hundred thousand overseas Greeks braved heavy rain yesterday to march in protest against the Australian government's decision to grant full diplomatic recognition to Skopje under the name of FYROM. The rally was led by Archbishop Stylianos of Australia, the clergy, Greek-Australia MPs and other Greek community officials. "Hellenism fully recognises the sacred right to living and prospering of the newly-established state of Skopje, but not under a false identity, misleading symbols or unbounded irredentism", Archbishop Stylianos said. In an address to the protesters, he called on the Australian government "whose citizens include Greek-Australians" to honour and keep its declared pledges regarding differences between Greece and Skopje. Victoria State Prime Minister Geoff Kennet, who marched with the rally and is due to visit Greece in April, criticised in a speech the Labour government for "betraying the Greeks and violating its pledges". The rally also approved a resolution according to which "Australians of Greek origin demand from the Labour Government of Australia to freeze the commencement of dialogue to establish diplomatic relations with Skopje until the Skopje leaders satisfy a set of prerequisites". Meanwhile government sources yesterday expressed concern at the majority of voters now turning against the Labour Party, which they supported in past elections, due to the mishandling of the Skopje issue. In another development, 3,000 Greek Australians protested outside the West Australian Parliament in Perth, against the manner of handling the Skopje issue by the Australian government. UK Foreign Secretary in Athens for talks on EU ---------------------------------------------- Athens, 28/2/1994 (ANA) - British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd arrived in Athens yesterday, for talks on EU issues and Skopje. Mr. Hurd will meet today with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias, Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis and conservative Opposition leader Miltiades Evert. Speaking to the press at Athens airport, Mr. Hurd expressed concern at Greek retortion measures against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) saying they might endanger the new state. "I think some way must be found of enabling discussions over Greek anxieties to start again, because we all know they are real. They have been expressed for some time now. Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia need to find a way of discussing matters again", Mr. Hurd said. "But that is not a reason for endangering this very vulnerable country in the centre of the Balkans", he added. Mr. Hurd expressed satisfaction at the Greek presidency of the European Union, adding several EU issues would be discussed at his meeting with Mr. Papandreou today. Greece has barred the neighbouring state from using the port of Thessaloniki, except for humanitarian aid, in response to what Athens branded Skopje's "continued intransigence and aggressive behaviour". Mr. Papandreou announced the decision on March 16, together with the closure of the Greek consulate in the capital of the neighbouring Balkan republic. Athens wants the former Yugoslav republic to change its flag, name and amend the Constitution, which reflects territorial designs on Greece's northern province of Macedonia. Mr. Hurd will fly back to London late today. Arafat appeals to PM for EU protection of Palestinians ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 28/2/1994 (ANA) - Palestinian Liberation Organisation President Yasser Arafat yesterday said Jewish settlements were "one of the most dangerous threats" to the ongoing peace process in Middle East, in a letter to Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou in his capacity as President of the European Union. The letter, dated February 25, was released yesterday. It referred to the massacre, Friday, of more than 50 Palestinians in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. "I am convinced that you will wish to make every effort to remove the sources of the crisis, for the settlements are one of the most dangerous threats to the progress of the peace procedure. Indeed, a threat of actual failure", Mr. Arafat wrote Mr. Papandreou. "The massacre took place before the eyes and with the knowledge of the Israeli army, which has checkpoints and observation posts both at the entry sites to the old town of Hebron and those to the mosque itself", the PLO leader charged in his letter. "The army did not intervene to stop the massacre and seize the settlers: on the contrary, the security forces opened fire on the Palestinian crowd in order to protect the gang of settlers as they fled". "The army also shot citizens during clashes which took place in Gaza and at the West Bank, and stormed the Great Mosque of Al Aqsa in Jerusalem, causing many deaths and casualties throughout the region", Mr. Arafat added. "There is no doubt that this crime, perpetrated by the settlers, raises the question of settlements and settlers in the context of the current negotiations and demands a radical solution ... The settlers must not be allowed to endanger the fragile peace process which is now unfolding, and to undermine the foundations we wish to lay for a new period of rapprochement, good neighbourly relations and co-operation in Palestine and in the Middle East", Mr. Arafat wrote. "To this end, I believe that the Palestinian people should be afforded international protection as a matter of urgency, until we are able to achieve security, stability and prosperity", he said. All party group sets out foreign issues at Boston meetings ---------------------------------------------------------- New York, 28/2/1994 (ANA - M. Georgiadou) - Three Greek MPs, D. Palaiothodoros (PASOK), V. Polydoras (New Democracy) and C. Rigas (SYN) presented Greek foreign policy positions in the Balkans - particularly on the Skopje issue - at the Institute of Foreign Policy Analysis in Boston, Thursday. On Friday, the three MPs attended a reception given in their honour by the Hellenic Resources Institute, and spoke at a gathering of the Greek community in Boston, stressing the stabilising role which Greece could and would like to play in the Balkans.