From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 10 Mar 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Papoulias optimistic on Skopje settlement prior to Vance meeting ---------------------------------------------------------------- Strasbourg, 10/3/94 (ANA-F.Stangos/Reuter) - Greece said yesterday it was optimistic that it could find a political solution to the dispute with its northern neighbour, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). "The Greek side has hopes, good faith, a constructive attitude and is optimistic", Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias told a European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg on Greece's retortion measures against FYROM. Mr. Papoulias was speaking in his capacity as Foreign minister and not as European Union Council of Ministers President. He is due to meet today in Geneva with United Nations special mediator for Skopje Cyrus Vance. Mr. Papoulias outlined the Greek government's positions, stressing that Greece did not aim the trade blockade measures to serve economic targets, adding they were "political measures of self-defence constituting the ultimate measure in protecting national interests which began to be in jeopardy through Skopje's (FYROM's) continuing and unacceptable intransigence and its insistence on expansionist claims". Mr. Papoulias reiterated that he remained in constant contact with European Union External Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek and Cyrus Vance whom "I will meet in Geneva today". Mr. van den Broek said the European commission is in close contact with the governments of the two countries, and is continuing its efforts for a peaceful solution to the problem in co-operation with Mr. Vance. Of course, he said, the Commission is opposed to the unilateral blockade measures taken by the Greek government and calls for their immediate lifting, but to such extent as it happens to be a decision of a political nature, the EU's Council of Ministers had also to examine the issue. Mr. van den Broek expressed the hope the measures will be lifted for procedures to start on normalising relations between the two countries for stability to be achieved in the region. Mr. Vance will meet with Skopje Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski in Geneva tomorrow, to brief him on his contacts with Mr. Papoulias. Government Spokesman -------------------- Athens, 10/3/94 (ANA): Meanwhile in Athens, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said the efforts being made by the United States and the European Union to resolve the Skopje issue were "moving in the same direction". Mr. Venizelos described the efforts as "positive, provided they accept the Greek position concerning the establishment of preliminary conditions for dialogue". The axis of related efforts, Mr. Venizelos added, was Cyrus Vance "who has a mandate from the UN". He said that the effort to mediate the dispute between the two countries would "evolve" in two phases, which were establishing preliminary conditions and dialogue -"the substance of which is already known". Replying to press questions, Mr. Venizelos said it was not in the government's intentions to temporarily lift trade restrictions imposed against Skopje as a goodwill gesture. He reiterated that Greece would lift the retortion measures against FYROM only when Skopje had provided concrete examples of good will "through deeds". In February, Greece barred the neighbouring state from using the northern post of Thessaloniki and closed its consulate in the capital, in response o Skopje's growing intransigence and aggressive behaviour. Greece insists that the use by the new state of the term "Macedonia" should apply only to its northern province of the same name, also accusing Skopje authorities use of the term implies territorial designs against this Greek northern province. Athens insists former Yugoslav republic amend its Constitution, remove a Greek symbol from its flag and cease hostile propaganda against Greece as preconditions for a resumption of UN-sponsored dialogue. Meanwhile, Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras yesterday cautioned the government "for the last time" that if Greece backed down from positions on the Skopje issue "we will be abandoning our last defence, with dramatic consequences for the nation". "Keep the issue in Europe. Europeans and the Americans want the embargo to be lifted. We are demanding the immediate change of the (neighbouring state's) name. One can no longer take place without the other", Mr. Samaras said. In Brussels, the European Peoples' Party yesterday refrained from submitting a draft resolution measures against FYROM, in response to efforts by a New Democracy group of Eurodeputies. Clinton: no relations with Skopje without 'tangible concessions' --------------------------------------------------------------- Washington, 10/3/94 (ANA/D. Dimas) - "We have received something more than mere assurances that there will be no establishment of diplomatic relations, if there are no specific and tangible concessions" on the part of Skopje, stated Orthodox Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America, after an hour-long meeting between President Clinton and a numerous delegation of Greek Americans, including Senator Paul Sarbanes. "President Clinton will see to it that all obstacles raised by Gligorov are removed", added the Archbishop. The Greek delegates, some of them Republicans, expressed "great and full satisfaction" at the stand adopted by the President on the Skopje and Cyprus issues, promising "to do everything possible" for finding "appropriate solutions". Absent from the meeting were representatives of the American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association (AHEPA) who, in a statement, said their absence was duo to President Clinton broken pre-election pledge not to recognise Skopje. Greeks, foreign nationals pay final tribute to Melina, funeral today ---------------------------------------------- Athens, 10/3/94 (ANA): Thousands of Greeks defied foul weather yesterday to bid a sombre farewell to singer, actress and Culture Minister Melina Mercouri. Greeks, old and young, were joined by foreign tourists in endless lines outside the chapel next to Athens Metropolitan Cathedral to lay flowers on her flag-draped coffin. Mourners laid hundreds of roses, carnations, and anemones, here favourite flower, outside her Athens apartment and government buildings where she served as Culture Minister at various times since 1981. At the Parthenon, the Greek flag flew half-mast. An ambassador in the world of arts and a strong advocate of democracy, Mercouri was loved in Greece where she was commonly referred to by her first name. She died at New York's Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on Sunday after post-operative complications. She was 68. Mercouri will be buried today at the Athens First Cemetery next to her father and grandfather. The funeral service will be held at 2 pm, to be followed by a procession to the cemetery. Greece's largest Union, the General Confederation of Greek workers, announced a two-hour work stop-page beginning 13.30 today, while Education Minister Dimitris Fatouros said all state schools would be closed. Public corporations and state offices will also close from 13.00. Mr Dassin was also visited yesterday by Greek composer Manos Hatzidakis, singer Nana Mouschouri, former French Culture Minister Jack Lang and other friends. Cyprus President signs condolences book -------------------------------------------- Nicosia, 10/3/94 (ANA/CNA): Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides signed a book of condolences in memory of Melina Mercouri, here yesterday. The President said later the Cabinet would discuss ways in which Cyprus could pay tribute to her memory. "Cypriot Hellenism heard the news of the death of Melina Mercouri with great sadness because we knew her closely, and were aware of her battle for Cyprus and for social justice", Mr Clerides said. Describing her death as "a great loss", the President said that his Cabinet would look into ways the government and the people of Cyprus could honour Mercouri. Minister of Education and Culture Claire Angelidou will represent the government at the funeral today. Labour MPs pay tribute to Melina --------------------------------- London, 10/3/94 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis): Labour Party MP Edward O'Hara tabled a motion in the British House of Commons yesterday, expressing sorrow over Melina Mercouri's death, recognising and appreciating her struggles for democracy and various cultural issues and her crusade for restoring the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. "That this House notes with regret the death of Madame Melina Mercouri; records its admiration for her career as an actress of international standing; remembers her courage in opposition to the Fascist junta which ruled Greece between 1967 and 1974; respects her subsequent application, of her fighting spirit as Greek Minister for Culture, to many cultural issues and, in particular, her campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece; and mourns the passing of a character larger than life, who embodied in so many ways the spirit of Hellenism", the motion said. The motion was also signed by 17 other MPs including internationally renowned actress Glenda Jackson. Papoulias addresses Europarliament, hopeful over Norway EU accession ------------------------------------------------ Strasbourg, 10/3/94 (ANA / F. Stangos): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias representing EU presidency, said he expected membership negotiations with Norway would be concluded shortly, in a speech before a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday. "I expect to conclude in the course of the next few days. I don't think the whole thing will founder over a few tonnes of sardines. That's not going to be a major stumbling block" he said. "I think we are doomed to succeed", he said, adding, "We shall have to live with makeshift institutional arrangements", he said referring to the row over the voting system. Discussion also included problems raised by institutional adaptation of EU enlargement that obstruct the completion of negotiations. "The Greek presidency is proud that negotiations on the admission of four new members had been essentially completed within two months", Mr Papoulias said, noting with regret the "unfortunate conclusion" of consultations at the Council of Ministers Tuesday, on the institutional aspects of the process of enlargement, which could have "serious consequences on Europe's future political prospects". He stressed that enlargement negotiations were conducted on the basis of compatibility with established norms, and requested that the same apply on the issue of the number of votes required for a special majority in Council of Minister decision, i.e., that the ordinary 71 per cent of total votes required be maintained. Referring to Britain and Spain, which oppose the proportional increase of the votes necessary for the formation of a 'suspensive minority', he called on all sides to consider their responsibilities, expressing the hope that an agreement would be reached at next Tuesday's informal Minister's Council meeting and negotiations with Norway would also be successful. Referring to preparatory work for the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference which will revise fundamental institutional provisions of the Maastricht Treaty, he renewed an earlier Greek proposal that this process should begin in time, by setting up an ad hoc committee of representatives of member-countries, the Commission and observers from new member states, in close collaboration with the European Parliament. Mr Papoulias stressed the political facet of current enlargement, which "must constitute the first stage of a process of gradual enlargement that should include other European countries that fulfil economic and political conditions for EU accession, such as Cyprus and Malta" and, at a future stage, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.