From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros)
Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 27 Apr 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa).

Huge crowd pays final tribute to George Yennimatas

	Athens, 27/4/1994 (ANA): Thousands of Greeks yesterday paid a
final tribute to George Yennimatas, National Economy Minister
and one of Greece's most popular politicians. Huge crowds lined
along the streets of Athens and showered the minister's
flag-draped casket with flowers as it was moved through the city
on a gun- carriage. Hundreds of dignitaries and official
representatives followed the procession to the Athens First
Cemetery. At the Acropolis, and at all state offices, the Greek
flag flew at half-mast. Yennimatas, 55, died Monday after a
three-year battle with lung cancer. His death followed that of
his wife who also died of cancer. Recent opinion polls showed
the socialist minister as the second most popular politician
after President Constantine Karamanlis.

	Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, on an official visit to the
United States, expressed sorrow over the death of his loyal
friend, but offered no clue as to who may replace him. He called
Yennimatas a "charismatic politician" who had made a great
impact wherever he worked. "He had a bright future ahead of
him," said Mr. Papandreou. "Now the hard battle is over, but we
can't believe you have lost," President of the Parliament,
Apostolos Kaklamanis said in an obituary address. Referring to
Yennimatas' political and social work, Mr. Kaklamanis said he
was a "charismatic" man.

	Representing the government and the Prime Minister and
President of the ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK),
Environment Public Works and Town Planning Minister Costas
Laliotis said: "Our sorrow and our feelings can be summed up in
two words: Silence and remembrance." Mr. Laliotis called
Yennimatas a "pioneer," a "worthy leader" and a "passionate
patriot and democrat." Representing the Main Opposition New
Democracy party, former minister George Souflias saluted his
"friend George, a valiant Greek, a man full of love and passion
for his country." "He has left us a rare legacy," Mr. Souflias
said. "His moral stature and the words he so often used to
utter, that we should learn to live according to the way we
think, otherwise sooner or later we will learn to think they way
we live."


PM underscores Greece's role as Balkan investment corridor

	New York, 27/4/1994 (ANA/V. Mourtis, S. Liarellis, D. Dimas):
Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, now on a visit to the US,
yesterday said Greece could become a corridor for investments in
the Balkans, since it has been upgraded considerably as a
country receiving foreign investments. Addressing about 700
businessmen, senior members of multinational companies and
bankers from the US and Greece in New York, Mr. Papandreou said
Greece attaches definite importance to preventing the war from
spreading in the Balkans, and to active support for peace,
noting it was swiftly growing into the most developed European
centre of a rising regional market, which included Bulgaria,
Romania, Albania and, soon it is hoped, former Yugoslavia. "A
few years ago, Greece, a country of 10 million inhabitants, was
the most isolated member of the European Community, sharing no
common land-borders with any other member-state.

	Today, it is rapidly becoming the most developed European
centre of an  emerging regional market that includes Bulgaria,
Romania, Albania and, hopefully, in the near future the new
states of former Yugoslavia," Mr. Papandreou said. "Those
countries together comprise a market of 70 million people.
Furthermore, trade and investment are being established quickly
in many of the Commonwealth of Independent States (former USSR)
and the Black Sea Countries," the Premier added. "To the east,
Cyprus, Israel and the Arab states are important potential
partners in extending this regional market into the Middle East
and in North Africa," Mr. Papandreou went on. "Greece is already
playing an active and dynamic role in expending and integrating
this market. Many of the Greek businessmen who are with us
today, have been protagonists in that process," the Premier
pointed out.

	"Between 1988 and 1992, the average annual growth rate of Greek
exports to Bulgaria reached 41%, to Romania 37%, and to Albania
46%. Greek enterprises are investing heavily in the region,
forming profitable joint venture. Thus, in Bulgaria, Greece is
ranked second, after Germany, in its foreign direct investment
contribution, participating in 1,000 joint ventures, with a
total stock of invested capital amounting to $47 million," the
Premier pointed out. "The same trend is evident in Romania, in
Albania, and throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Our trade
partners in Europe, Asia and the US find it advantageous to use
Greece as a springboard to enter these new markets. As the
effective market is expanded, Greece's attractiveness as a host
country for foreign direct investment is significantly
upgraded...... We have to seize this historical opportunity and
translate it into concrete economic initiatives," Mr. Papandreou
stressed.

	He also paid particular attention to the role the port of
Thessaloniki could play, adding it has been the most important
centre in the Balkans since the 17th century. Thanks also to
European Union funds, Mr. Papandreou said, Greece offers
incentives to enterprises, strengthens the labour force's output
capacity, upgrades and extends services, supports market
liberalisation, broadens insurance coverage for businessmen and
promotes the use of the drachma. Mr. Papandreou also referred to
the recent signing of a business co-operation protocol between
the US Private Overseas Investment Organisation and the Greek
Export Credit Guarantee Organisation, adding that both he and
President Clinton hailed the initiative to create a high-level
business council by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce.


Greece satisfied over acknowledgement on Skopje stance

	Athens, 27/4/1994 (ANA): Greece yesterday expressed
satisfaction at developments in the issue of the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), "because its positions were being
understood." "Greece's positions on the issue are being
understood, the mediating procedure  is in progress and (the
government) is deliberating with mediators who are acting in a
professional manner," government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos
said. He told questioners no meeting had yet been arranged
between UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali and Premier
Andreas Papandreou, currently on a visit to the US, adding,
however, "it is possible that (such a meeting) will take place".
In reference to a reported dispute between Skopje and Sofia on
whether or not the official language of FYROM is a dialect of
Bulgarian, Mr. Venizelos said: "The elements which constitute a
state's existence produce ideology and, consequently, they might
also engender propaganda. That is why the issue of Skopje's name
is matter of concern to Greece." The language dispute came to a
head during an official visit by FYROM President Kiro Gligorov
to Bulgaria which began yesterday. Bulgarian officials have
declined to confirm or deny that a last-minute cancellation of
the signing ceremony was due to the disagreement.


FM-Ghali meeting to climax round on Skopje

	United Nations, (ANA/M. Georgiadou): UN Secretary General
Boutros Boutros Ghali is expected to hold separate talks today
with Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and Skopje Foreign
Minister Stevo Crvenkovski, the UN Chief's representative Joe
Sills said yesterday. Tomorrow, Mr. Ghali is expected to hold
talks with Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, currently in
the US on an official visit. UN Skopje mediator Cyrus Vance on
Monday had separate meetings with Mr. Papoulias and Mr.
Crvenkovski. Diplomatic sources said yesterday that no new
proposals will be laid on the negotiations table regarding the
Skopje issue. "...there is no new formula, just various
proposals, aimed at reaching a convergence of views...," the
sources said. They noted that "at this moment there are four
strategic positions on the issue, namely those of the Greek and
Skopje governments, the United Nations position and the Clinton
initiative." "Each side pursues its own interests," they added.
The sources refused to elaborate on the Clinton initiative,
saying that "the US President has shown interest in the issue by
appointing a special mediator, Mr. (Matthew) Nimmetz."
Diplomatic sources said that an unexpected meeting between Mr.
Vance with Mr. Nimmetz and Mr. Crvenkovski took place late last
night.


Greek-Turkish relations still hinge on Cyprus settlement, Venizelos to Ciller

	Athens, 27/4/1994 (ANA): Greece yesterday responded to a
statement by Turkish Premier Tansu Ciller on the Cyprus issue by
reiterating desired improvement in relations with Turkey hinged
on a settlement of the problem. "If the Turkish Premier wishes
to undertake initiatives, she should first understand that the
Cyprus problem is one of invasion and occupation. She should,
therefore, display a positive attitude which would be linked
with (UN-pro-posed) confidence building measures," government
spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said. "In addition," the spokesman
went on, "respect for UN resolutions and human rights takes on
particular significance if Turkey wishes to improve relations
with Europe and European culture." Mr. Venizelos said that it
was "a constant aim" of the Greek government to seek improvement
in Greek-Turkish relations, but that this would rest solely on a
settlement of the Cyprus problem.

	In an exclusive interview with the Turkish daily "Hurriyet"
published Monday, Ms. Ciller said that "we are much nearer a
solution to the Cyprus problem than at any time in the past".
Appealing for support from the Turkish people and Parliament,
Ms. Ciller said that the problem "has been lying before us with
obstacles for 20 years... I am resolved to move towards a
settlement". Asked whether or not Turkey's acceptance of the CBM
package mi-ght lead to restoring Greek-Turkish relations, Mr.
Venizelos replied that "the issue should be treated as a
transitional stage which would be meaningful only if it led to
an overall settlement". "Besides," Mr. Venizelos added,
"reservations expressed by Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides on
this issue are borne in mind."