From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 21 Apr 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Papoulias confers with Christopher, "reserved optimism" on Skopje ----------------------------------------------------------------- Washington, 21/4/1994 (ANA-D.Dimas/S.Liarellis,V.Mourtis): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias expressed "reserved optimism" on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Yugoslavia (FYROM) issue, following meetings yesterday with his US counterpart Warren Christopher, and President Bill Clinton's Special Representative on FYROM Matthew Nimetz. Commenting on Mr. Christopher's earlier statement that a preliminary agreement could be reached soon between the two parties, Mr. Papoulias said "my optimism is very reserved". He said no significant progress had been noted on the issue so far, but that efforts were still being made, as the problem was complicated. Mr. Papoulias clarified that Mr. Christopher's statement expressing hope that a preliminary agreement could be reached between the two parties, referred to an agreement prior to the final settlement. Replying to a press question whether or not the issue of FYROM recognition by the US had been raised at the meeting, Mr. Papoulias said he had stated the Greek view on the issue. Mr. Papoulias noted he had not requested Mr. Christopher to postpone diplomatic recognition of the neighbouring state. Asked whether or not the United States would exert influence on Skopje to resolve the issue, Mr. Papoulias said it "is a matter concerning the US." He added, however, "the US should intervene with Skopje to resolve the issue." Asked whether or not pressure was exerted on Greece to lift trade sanctions imposed by Athens last February as retortion measures against FYROM intransigence, Mr. Papoulias said: "We took a measure and will carry on with it," he said, ruling out the possibility that Greece might temporarily lift retortion measures against FYROM. Referring to recent developments in Albania, Mr. Papoulias said he had asked the US to intervene in order to protect the rights of the ethnic Greek minority there. Before the meeting, Mr. Papoulias told the press Greece had made the necessary demarches with the Security Council. Turning to Greek-Turkish relations, the Minister said he had expressed Greece's great concern at recent incidents in Istanbul's Phanar district. Mr. Papoulias accompanies Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou on his official visit to the US. Mr. Papandreou is scheduled to have talks with President Clinton tomorrow. Christopher statement --------------------- Washington, 21/4/1994 (ANA-D.Dimas/S.Liarellis,V.Mourtis): Prior to the meeting with his Greek counterpart, US Secretary of State Warren Christopher told the press differences between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) had been narrowed and negotiations had been showing progress. "I've had a report from Matthew Nimetz, the President's Special Representative on FYROM, and he feels that differences have been narrowed between Greece and FYROM," Mr. Christopher told reporters. Mr. Christopher also expressed hope that Greece and FYROM could come to an agreement," at least a preliminary agreement, that would result in the lifting of the embargo," adding that he would raise the issue in the meeting with Mr. Papoulias. "We are all anxious to see these barriers (between Greece and FYROM) resolved, so we can move forward to normal relationships with FYROM," he concluded. Tension sources in Greek-Albanian relations remain, ethnic Greek arrests condemned ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 21/4/1994 (ANA): The government said yesterday that "many sources of tension" remained in relations between Athens and Tirana, also condemning arrests of ethnic Greeks in various parts of Albania as violations of international law. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos reiterated a Greek proposal for a meeting between the Greek and Albanian foreign ministers to defuse tension between the two Balkan neighbours which has recently escalated. He also referred to yesterday's meeting in Ioannina between delegations from the public order ministries of the two countries, and the participation of diplomats to probe a recent attack against a conscript training centre at Episcopi, Albania on April 10 which fuelled the tension. Mr. Venizelos reiterated Greece would not accept the idea of an international or CSCE committee being formed to look into the incident. Albania has accused Greece of instigating the attack in which, according to Albanian television, two soldiers were killed and three others wounded. Greece has flatly rejected Albania's claims as completely unacceptable. Commenting on the arrests of ethnic Greeks in Albania, including officials of the minority "Omonia" party, the spokesman charged Tirana with violating international law. According to an ANA despatch from Tirana, at least 15 ethnic Greeks had been arrested by noon Tuesday, amidst fears that mass arrests would continue through the night. In Gyrokastr, near Episcopi, Albanian police broke into the regional offices of the "Omonia" party without search warrants, confiscating files and arresting the chairman and three party members. Speaking in Washington yesterday, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias expressed the government's outrage over "unprecedented and continuing persecution of the Greek minority by Albanian authorities. He said the arrests violated fundamental human rights and individual freedoms. "The Greek people, that hosts thousands of Albanian citizens in Greece, thereby also supporting the Albanian economy, feels offended by the conduct of the Albanian authorities against ethnic Greeks," Mr. Papoulias said. The Greek government, he added, would take all necessary steps to protect internationally recognised rights of the ethnic Greek minority. Meanwhile, delegations from the public order and foreign ministries of the two countries met under strict security in Ioannina, northern Greece yesterday to probe the April 10 incident. According to press sources, the issue of the increasing number of Albanians illegally entering Greece was also raised. At the end of the meeting, the head of the Albanian delegation said his country insisted the Episcopi attack had been carried out by Greek commandos. He also claimed to have submitted evidence in support of Albania's claims to the Greek delegation. The head of the Greek delegation, Brigadier Angelopoulos, chief of state security, said he would convey the Albanian views to the Public Order Ministry. If Albanian persecution continues, S. Council next step ------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 21/4/1994 (ANA): If recent provocations against ethnic Greeks in Albania continue, then Greece must have recourse to the UN Security Council, a New Democracy statement said yesterday. Persecutions on the pretext of the Episkopi incident, for which Greeks are not responsible, and has also been condemned by us, are unacceptable, the statement said. ANA Yennimatas condition "stable, under control" --------------------------------------------- Athens, 21/4/1994 (ANA): National Economy Minister George Yennimatas' condition remains stable and under control, according a medical bulletin issued last night. "National Economy Minister George Yennimatas' condition remains stable and under control, while treatment against an infection for which he was admitted is being continued with satisfactory results", a bulletin read out by Evangelismos Hospital President Vassilis Theodorou said. Mr. Yennimatas was rushed to Evangelismos hospital on Monday, suffering from acute breathing problems. He is fighting a long battle against lung cancer. ND stresses importance of PM's Washington talks ----------------------------------------------- Athens, 21/4/1994 (ANA): The conservative New Democracy party said yesterday the outcome of talks between Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and US President Bill Clinton in Washington this week, would affect the course of Greece's dispute with the Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia (FYROM). "We hope that the prime minister's visit to the United States will prove successful. If the meeting does not provide a positive solution to the Skopje issue, then the case will definitely deteriorate," a New Democracy said. Mr. Papandreou arrived i n Washington yesterday for talks tomorrow with the US president on the Skopje issue, the on-going Cyprus dispute and the Yugoslav crisis. It is the first time Mr. Papandreou visits the White house since two consecutive Republican administrations refused to invite him for strong anti-American rhetoric in the '80s. US factor to be activated further, Clinton writes Iakovos --------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 21/4/1994 (ANA): US President Bill Clinton has written Orthodox Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America, expressing hope differences between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) would be settled through goodwill negotiations. The President added the purpose of Washington's recognition of FYROM was for the neighbouring country to show flexibility on the symbols and Constitution issues, noting also the US factor would be activated even further within the framework of the UN effort to settle the conflict through Mr. Cyrus Vance. The US views the issue of concluding diplomatic relations with FYROM in that perspective, President Clinton stressed in his letter to the Archbishop. ND deputy to sit as independent MP ---------------------------------- Athens, 21/4/1994 (ANA): Main opposition New Democracy (ND) deputy for Serres, Christos Kalaitzidis, yesterday declared himself an independent MP in a letter to Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis criticising "the parties of the establishment" and "political conduct, which should belong to the past". Mr. Kalaitzidis asserts that "the suffocating atmosphere prevailing in the country, handling national issues on purely internal party considerations and, above all, the way in which issues of morality are addressed, lead to political suffocation". He also referred to "party mechanisms of the establishment which dictate views and eliminate all genuine and free expression". Describing this weekend's ND party congress as "rigged" and a forum for a "settling of accounts", Mr. Kalaitzidis claims that "our participation would only result in their legitimization". Meantime New Democracy asked Mr. Kalaitzidis to resign his parliamentary seat "if he respects the Greek people's mandate." According to an announcement yesterday "the New Democracy respects the decision of each member of the parliament and will not comment on the statements of Mr. Kalaitzidis." Following his declaration of independence, ND now has 110 seats in Parliament. German House C'ttee greenlights Greece WEU membership ----------------------------------------------------- Bonn, 21/4/1994 (ANA-P.Stangos): The German Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday gave the "go-ahead" for the ratification of the West European Union's (WEU) enlargement treaty under which Greece is to become regular member. Turkey is accorded associate membership. The treaty also provides association status for East European and Baltic countries which have concluded what are termed "European agreements" with the European Union. The Committee proposal, endorsed by a large majority, will be put to the vote at a Parliamentary plenary session scheduled for April 28. Arsenis denies knowing proposal to join Turkey, Bulgaria in Bosnia force report ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 21/4/1994 (ANA): National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis said yesterday he had no "official information" of a report concerning a Turkish-Bulgarian proposal to establish a peacekeeping force comprising Greek, Bulgarian and Turkish troops to join UN forces in Bosnia. Mr. Arsenis reiterated Greece's firm position opposing involvement of any Balkan country in the Bosnia crisis. Pangalos refers to queries on UN peace force effectiveness in Bosnia ----------------------------------------------------------------- Strasbourg, 21/4/1994 (ANA-M.Savva): EU Council of Ministers President Theodoros Pangalos said justified queries have been raised on the role and effectiveness of UN peacekeeping forces as bloody events in Bosnia have caused the situation to deteriorate, in Strasbourg, yesterday. Speaking at a European Parliament plenary session Mr. Pangalos said there was need to reconsider European Union's efforts to keep peacekeeping process "alive." Terming the proposal for allotment of territory (51 per cent to the Croat-Moslem Federation and 49 per cent to Bosnian Serbs) "a realistic approach", Mr. Pangalos expressed support for a political solution which should include all warring sides. In a supplementary speech, Mr. Pangalos said it had been proved so far that "no parliament or government has an intention of sending tens of thousands of troops to Bosnia." Consequently, he added, there is no option for a military solution since "a military solution does not necessitate air strikes alone, but also despatch of troops". "What matters at present, is to raise the strength of the UN peacekeeping force," he stressed. Mr. Nianias, Democratic Renewal Party, ironically referred to "grandiose western diplomacy" calling on the European Union to "clarify its targets." Mr. Efremidis, another speaker, also expressed support for a political solution and condemned air strikes. So did Alecos Alavanos, who further criticised Britain and France which, although permanent members of the Security Council, had agreed to the despatch of Turkish troops to Bosnia with the risk of further aggravating the crisis.