From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 30 Mar 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, US Skopje envoy confers with PM, Papoulias ----------------------------------------- Athens, 30/3/1994 (ANA): A United States special envoy arrived in Athens yesterday to assist in efforts aimed at the resumption of United Nations sponsored talks between feuding neighbours, Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). After talks with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias told the press that Matthew Nimetz, assigned by US President Bill Clinton to help mediate the dispute, "has not made any concrete proposal" and that during the talks there was an exchange of views on the issue. Mr. Papoulias said that Mr. Nimetz had not asked for an immediate lifting of the Greek retortion measures against FYROM. "I cannot tell whether there are any signs of compromise (from Skopje). However there are people in Skopje who also believe that a solution should be found," Mr. Papoulias added. He also told the press that he thought the time of Mr. Papandreou's visit to the United States was a reasonable time limit for settling the issue. Mr. Nimetz held earlier separate talks with Mr. Papoulias. "This is a dispute ... that affects the peace and security in the region, and that alone is of concern to the United States," Mr. Nimetz told the press. "Our goal is to assist in achieving the solution under the aegis of (UN mediator) Cyrus Vance acting under the Security Council resolution. We will persevere in these efforts and I am very hopeful that positive results will come out of that," Mr. Nimetz told reporters. Mr. Papoulias said the talks were positive and welcomed Washington's efforts to help find a solution to the dispute between Greece and FYROM. Mr. Nimetz came to Athens after meeting with FYROM President Kiro Gligorov and Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski in Skopje. According to a Reuters's dispatch from Skopje, Mr. Nimetz described the talks as "very cordial and extensive." "We consider that we have very friendly relations with both parties, and that this is a matter of real concern for the region and the entire world," he said, adding that US President Bill Clinton was particularly interested in the case. Mr. Crvenkovski said after the meeting that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was happy the US had its own mediator in the dispute, and reaffirmed that "the best place for resumption of the talks is under the auspices of the UN". He underlined however that his country could do little while under the pressure of 'sanctions'. Greece imposed trade sanctions, as retortion measures, on February 16 barring FYROM from using the port of Thessaloniki, through which some 80 percent of its trade usually passes, in an effort to fight continued Skopje intransigence. Athens wants the republic to change its name to prove it has no territorial ambitions on Greece's province of Macedonia, and also change its flag and amend its Constitution. Speaking to reporters after talks here with visiting Mexican Foreign Minister Manuel Tello, Mr. Papoulias described the US initiative as "a sincere attempt to find a solution to the Skopje problem". Mr. Papoulias also described as "positive" the ideas of UN mediator Cyrus Vance, adding that they constituted a basis for further efforts toward a solution. He reiterated that the position adopted by a number of Greece's European Union partners was not helping the US efforts. On many occasions, Mr. Papoulias said, the EU has sought US help in solving problems, as in the case of the Moslem-Croat rapprochement. "Here," he continued, "we have a self-instigated effort by the US to find a way out of the impasse." Mr. Tello said that Greece and Mexico enjoyed "excellent" relations and had similar positions on many issues. "This is also true in the case of Skopje and we will not take any initiative which does not have the support of the Greek government," Mr. Tello said. Mr. Papoulias thanked Mr. Tello for his country's stance on the Skopje issue and said Greece supported Mexico's efforts to develop its relations with the EU. Gov't rules out temporary lifting of retortion measures ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 30/3/1994 (ANA): The government said yesterday there was no question of its temporarily lifting trade sanctions against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, also brushing aside the possibility of Greece's being taken to the European Court over the issue. Asked if European Union External Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek had conveyed a proposal for lifting sanctions at talks with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou here Monday, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos replied: "The issue of a temporary lifting measures against Skopje was not raised, nor is there any question of the measures being lifted temporarily." He said Mr. van den Broek had not conveyed any compromise proposal on the Skopje issue, but had simply expressed his opinion and impressions from the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ioannina at the weekend. He was told that the government would not make any unilateral move, unless Skopje first provided concrete examples of good will as demanded by Athens, Mr. Venizelos said. The spokesman said Mr. van den Broek had met with Mr. Papandreou in his capacity as Commissioner responsible for EU external affairs, and not within the framework of the mediation mission entrusted to him by the Commission. "Mr. Hans van den Broek must comprehend Greece's position and the situation in the region," Mr. Venizelos added. The view that Greece's measures violate EU law was both "legally groundless and unacceptable", the spokesman said, adding that "if someone wants to take Greece to the European Court, let them do so, but they should fully bear in mind the legal facets. Not only do Greece's measures not violate EU law, he said, "on the contrary, they have also more than sufficient grounds in both EU and international law". Mr. Venizelos reiterated that the government laid particular emphasis on the initiative of UN special mediator on the Skopje issue, Cyrus Vance. Greek foreign policy, he went on, took into account national interest, "but above all, it takes into consideration the history of the region in order to safeguard stability in the long term." "Such a policy," Mr. Venizelos said, "cannot be under threat of reference to the European Court." In a related development, asked to comment on a boycott of products of certain EU countries announced by two Athens radio networks, Mr. Venizelos said that Greek foreign policy was exercised by the government, not by mass media. Greek compromise plan accepted, EU enlargement on course -------------------------------------------------------- Brussels, (ANA/Reuter): - A plan to enlarge the European Union next January seemed back on course yesterday after all 12 EU countries approved a Greek compromise plan to resolve a voting row among EU member states. A spokesman for the EU's Greek presidency said that all EU countries except Britain replied before the 16.00 GMT deadline accepting the compromise plan. San Jose conference ends 'successfully' -------------------------------------- Athens, 30/3/1994 (ANA): The 10th San Jose ministerial conference ended in Athens yesterday and Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos told the press "we finished a particularly successful conference between the countries of the European Union and the countries of Central America." The Conference, attended by European Union Foreign Ministers and Foreign Ministers of Central American countries, focused on political developments and economic relations of interest to the two sides. The countries from Central America participating in the Conference were: Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama as well as Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico which co-operate with the aforesaid Central American countries. A joint communiqui issued at the end of the Conference said: "Ministers stressed the social dimension in the process of sustainable development. In that connection, they emphasised the importance attached in the Community co-operation programmes to support for indigenous peoples and to the fight against poverty and they agreed that their efforts should be stepped up in those areas," it added. "In the same context," it said, "Ministers welcomed the setting up by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) of a Central American facility for social investment against poverty. In this connection, European Union Ministers were prepared to examine the terms of any support for the structuring of that facility." "Ministers also noted with satisfaction the setting up of the technical secretariat of the Regional Council for Social Affairs (CRAS)," the communiqui concluded. A statement by the ministerial conference, condemning the murder of Mexican presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colossio, said: "The Ministers and the Vice President of the European Commission participating in the San Jose X Conference, held in Athens (Greece) on 28 and 29 March 1994, condemn the despicable murder of Luis Donaldo Colossio, candidate in the forthcoming Presidential elections in Mexico and extend their deepest sympathy to the Government and people of Mexico, and to his family." Greek reaction hinges on Turkish foreign policy ----------------------------------------------- Athens, 30/3/1994 (ANA): Greece is closely following developments in Turkey, and government reaction will vary according to developments in Turkish foreign policy, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday. Commenting on elections results in Turkey, Mr. Venizelos told the press Greece refrained from intervening in domestic affairs of a neighbouring country, stressing Greek policy aimed at stability in the region. The spokesman reiterated that any improvement in Greek-Turkish relations depended on a settlement of the Cyprus problem "which is one of invasion and occupation". He declined to comment on the electoral result in Italy, noting that Greece currently held the rotating European Union presidency. Romanian president: Athens visit "of special significance" ------------------------------------------------------------ Bucharest, 30/3/1994 (Macedonian Press Agency/ANA): Romanian President Ion Iliescu attaches special significance to the two-day official visit he begins in to Greece today. In an exclusive statement to the Macedonian Press Agency, he underlined the indissoluble ties between the two countries, expressed appreciation for Greece's steadfast support and efforts for Romania's accession to European agencies, and his willingness to discuss all problems relating to the Balkan region and ways of enhancing peace. President Iliescu's visit to Athens, and his talks with President Constantine Karamanlis and Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, assumes a special note, coming in the wake of Turkish President Suleyman Demirel's visit to Bucharest on March 23-25. President Iliescu had told Mr. Demirel Romania reiterated its position that no Balkan country should become involved in the Yugoslav problem. Replying to a question by the Macedonian News Agency on the importance of his visit to Athens and results he expected, President Iliescu said: "The visit I will pay to Greece on March 30 and 31 has a special political significance regarding both bilateral relations and general developments in the Balkans. "At present, relations between the two countries, which I would describe as excellent, are based on strong and long-standing tradition. Throughout history, there have been innumerable instances in which our countries supported each other in a spirit of friendship and solidarity. During both world wars co-operation was at its peak, Romania and Greece proving forerunners of development and co-operation in the Balkan region. "Relations between Romania and Greece developed rapidly at all levels after the December 1989 revolution, establishing a climate of mutual confidence. We will focus on making use of this during my visit, to achieve further improvement," he added. "We will use this opportunity not only to underscore such relations of friendship and co-operation, but also determine practical ways of development at political level, economic co-operation, and expand cultural and human contact. We appreciate Greece's steadfast support to Romania, solidarity for our efforts to accede to the European Union and become fully-fledged members of the Council of Europe. "The Greek Parliament was the first to ratify Romania's association treaty with the European Union. Greece also supported the concept of removing NATO discrimination against countries of central and eastern Europe. We believe your country will be able to make a considerable contribution at all stages of Romania's efforts for accession to Euro-Atlantic structures. "During our talks, we will undoubtedly refer to facets of problems relating to the complex situation in our region. We hope to contribute through dialogue and an exchange of ideas to seeking better solutions to enhance and stabilise peace in this part of Europe."