From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 27 Jun 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, EU Corfu Summit ends in success, "important decisions" taken ------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 27/6/1994 (ANA): The European Summit in Corfu ended successfully Saturday, after taking important and historic decisions and issuing a 31-page text of conclusions. Commission President Jacques Delors told a joint press conference with Premier and EU President Andreas Papandreou that Greece had carried out the presidency "successfully", and thanked Mr. Papandreou for the work accomplished. Greece formally hands over the rotating six-month EU presidency to Germany on July 1. "Important decisions" had been taken at the Corfu Summit, Mr. Delors noted. Mr. Papandreou termed the summit on the Ionian island "very important". Expressing satisfaction on results achieved by the Council, Mr. Papandreou underlined Britain's "responsibility" for the Summit's failure to appoint a new Commission president to succeed Mr. Delors. In the conclusions, the "Twelve" lauded the accession treaties of Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway and the "Partnership and Co-operation Agreement" with Russia. They expressed both optimism for European economic recovery, and concern at problems relating to unemployment, narcotics and organised crime. On common foreign and security policy, the Twelve voiced concern over the continuing war in former Yugoslavia, and satisfaction with significant progress achieved in promoting Cyprus and Malta accession applications. Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs Theodoros Pangalos attributed positive results achieved at the summit to close co-operation among the 12 EU leaders in Corfu, emphasising they were the "culmination of timely and efficient preparation which virtually began last October". In a brief span of only six months, marked progress had been achieved on major issues of concern to EU member governments, such as recruiting the 'Twelve' as also other European countries, with Russia foremost, for the peacekeeping process in former Yugoslavia. In addition, the Paris Conference on stability in Europe pact had been prepared, co-operation on security policy and common foreign policy enhanced, matters concerning the second stage of EMU (economic and monetary union) advanced, and a Regulation of the Cohesion Fund adopted. Highlights of the "Presidency conclusions" of the EU summit in Corfu: ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 27/6/1994 (ANA): On the White Paper, the European Council adopted a list of points designed to give new impetus to the action plan to boost growth, competitiveness and employment. These include encouragement of reforms in Member States intended to improve efficiency of the systems of employment, specific measures with regard to fully exploiting the employment potential of small and medium-sized enterprises, reinforced co-ordination of research policy and rapid implementation of high priority trans-European projects in the field of transport and energy. They also decided on fully exploiting the possibilities and opportunities offered by the information society and giving encouragement to the new model of sustainable development including the environmental dimension. Special emphasis was given to the development of new employment with regard to efforts to promote youth employment and combat long term unemployment. On measures to encourage employment, the European Council recommended the reduction of non-wage labour costs, mainly on the less skilled. On the trans-European networks for transport, energy and environmental projects, the European Council agreed on a first priority list of 11 major transport projects. Two of the projects include the creation of a motorway linking the Greek port city of Patras to the Bulgarian border and a west-east motorway corridor dubbed Via Egnatia. Among the eight energy projects, given priority status by the European Council, are an electricity interconnection between Greece and Italy, and a natural gas network in Greece. On the Bangemann report on information society, the European Council considered that the unprecedented technological revolution in the area of information opens up vast possibilities for economic progress and employment, adding that the private sector should respond to the challenge. Foreign and security policy --------------------------- Athens, 27/6/1994 (ANA): On issues of common foreign and security policy the European Council confirmed the importance it attaches to close links with its Mediterranean partners and its wish to develop them still further. The Council noted with satisfaction progress made in negotiations with Morocco and Tunisia on new partnership agreements. Negotiations for these accords will be completed before the end of the year. Next EU enlargement to involve Cyprus and Malta ----------------------------------------------- Athens, 27/6/1994 (ANA): On applicant countries the European Council welcomed significant progress made regarding the application by Cyprus and Malta for accession to the European Union and considered that an essential stage in the preparation stage could be regarded as completed. The European Council said it would do its utmost to ensure that negotiations with Malta and Cyprus with a view to the conclusion of the fourth financial protocols, intended in particular to support the efforts of Malta and Cyprus towards integration into the European Union, are brought to a rapid conclusion. The European Council noted that in these conditions the next phase of enlargement of the Union will involve Cyprus and Malta. It reaffirms that any solution of the Cyprus problem must respect the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of the country in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions and high level agreements. On the Middle East peace process, the European Council said it looked forward to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip and Jericho. Recalling the adoption by the Council on April 19 of a joint action in support of the Middle East peace process, the European Council welcomed the creation of a Palestinian police force and restated the Union's willingness to provide further assistance to move the peace process towards a successful conclusion. On relations with Central and Eastern European and Baltic states, the Council endorsed the Copenhagen meeting in June 1993 as the framework for deepening relations with these states. On Rwanda, the European Council expressed horror at the genocide taking place in that country. It said those responsible should be brought to justice and appealed urgently to all parties to the conflict to stop the wanton killing of civilians and to come back to the negotiating table to work for peace and security on the basis of the Arusha agreement. It welcomed the adoption of Security Council Resolution 929 authorising the establishment of a temporary operation to protect displaced persons, refugees, and civilians at risk in Rwanda. The European Council also welcomed the signing of an EU Partnership and Co-operation Agreement with Ukraine saying it would help pave the way for the development of a full and fruitful co-operation relationship between the Ukraine and the Union. It hailed steps already taken by the Ukraine towards the full implementation of a nuclear and conventional disarmament agreement and called for early Ukrainian ratification of the non-proliferation treaty. The Council expressed its concern with the global issue of nuclear safety in the Ukraine. It recommended that the Chernobyl nuclear plant be closed definitively and as early as possible. It said it was prepared to provide substantial help in a comprehensive plan to be discussed with its partners in the forthcoming G7 Summit. On North Korea, the Council voiced deep concern at the Republic's failure to allow IAEA inspectors to complete essential activities, making it impossible to conclude whether or not diversion of plutonium from peaceful uses has taken place. It said continued failure of the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea to comply with provisions of the DPRK-IAEA safeguard agreement is contrary to its international obligations. On Former Yugoslavia, the Council expressed deep concern over developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina. It urged the Bosnian parties to build on the cease-fire agreement of June 8, 1994. The Council welcomed progress made in the reconciliation between Bosnians and Bosnian Croats based on the agreements for the establishment of the Bosnian-Croat Federation. The European Council condemned the continuing manifestations of intolerance, racism, and xenophobia, and confirmed its determination to step up the fight against these phenomena. It welcomed a Franco-German initiative against racism and xenophobia. On progress on an action plan against drugs, the Council said it was satisfied with progress made for the prevention of drug addiction, the reduction of drug trafficking and action on an international level. It expects work to be accelerated so that the Essen European Council will be able to record that concrete measures have been taken in all areas covered by the action plan. The creation of a Reflection Group to prepare the 1996 intergovernmental conference was approved. The body will consist of representatives of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the President of the Commission. It will be chaired by a person appointed by the Spanish government and begins work in June 1995. Two European Parliament representatives will participate in the work of the Reflection Group. The Reflection Group will examine and elaborate ideas relating to the provisions of the Treaty on European Union for which a revision is foreseen and other possible improvements in a spirit of democracy and openness, on the basis of the evaluation of the functioning of the treaty as wet out in the reports. It will also elaborate options in the perspective of the future enlargement of the Union on the institutional questions set out in the conclusions of the European Council in Brussels and in the Ioannina agreement. On the outstanding issue of the selection of a new European Commission president, the European Council took note of the intention of the upcoming Germany (EU) presidency to establish bilateral contacts with delegations in order to prepare a decision on the designation of the future President of the Commission at an extraordinary European Council to be held in Brussels on July 15. Britain vetoes European leaders' choice of Delors successor ----------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 27/6/1994 (ANA): European leaders failed Saturday to choose a successor to outgoing Jacques Delors in the European Commission presidency due to a British veto on the candidate supported by the other 11 member states after complex marathon negotiations during a two-day European Union summit on Corfu. The task now passes in to Germany, which takes over the EU presidency from Greece on July 1. Germany has stated its intention to call an extraordinary summit on July 15 in Brussels to resolve the issue. Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, current president of the European Union, Saturday afternoon announced the failure of the efforts to select a new Commission president at the end of the two-day EU summit. Earlier, in an attempt to break the stalemate, two of the three candidates -- Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers and EU Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan of Britain, backed throughout two sessions of negotiations by one country each, The Netherlands an d Britain respectively -- pulled out of the race. But consensus reached another snag when Britain persisted in its refusal to back front-runner Belgian Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene, who insisted that he would not back out of the contest. Mr. Dehaene's spokeswoman, Monique Delvoux, said: "Dehaene remains a candidate. You will understand that, after yesterday (Friday) evening, he is not going to withdraw." She was referring to the 10 out of the 12 EU leaders' support Mr. Dehaene emerged with at the end of two sessions of negotiations that lasted early into Saturday morning. Shortly after the resumption of talks later Saturday, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Martino announced that Mr. Lubbers had withdrawn from the race for the election of a new Commission president. He said Mr. Lubbers had stressed the need for "wide consensus" on the person to succeed Mr. Delors. Commission spokesman Niko Wegter confirmed Mr. Lubbers' decision. After Mr. Lubbers' withdrawal, the Dutch vote went to Mr. Dehaene, leaving only Britain opposed to the front-runner. "We have nothing against him personally, but the way the thing has been handled and the way his candidature has come forward means he would not be operating with the common accord he needs," British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd told BBC radio. "He could not, over these next five years, really get into the position where he represented all member states," Mr. Hurd said. "We are talking about five years in the life of the European Union which are going to bring very substantial problems and issues," he said. Commenting on British unwillingness to agree with the rest of the EU member states on Mr. Delors' successor, a Commission spokesman said: "When a Prime Minister is weak he has to show that he is strong." Major firm on veto ------------------ Athens, 27/6/1994 (ANA): A British spokesman said Britain's Prime Minister John Major was firm on not supporting Mr. Dehaene, saying there were several "talented figures" in the European Union that could fill the post of European Commission president. The spokesman said Mr. Major was disappointed with the manner in which the process of finding a replacement for Mr. Delors had been conducted. "I would never support a candidate that was promoted in the way we saw," the spokesman said, referring to Mr. Major's speech before his European counterparts. "I could support Lubbers but not Dehaene. It is not a personal matter. We have several talents in Europe. We will find someone else," he said. According to a REUTER dispatch, Mr. Major has been under intense pressure to reject Mr Dehaene from the Euro-sceptic wing of his divided Conservative party, which sees the Belgian candidate as a "dangerous enthusiast for deeper European integration." Mr. Major favours a multi-speed, multi-layered Europe, opposing more integration and arguing the EU would break up unless it was allowed to develop more flexibly. Greek presidency spokesman -------------------------- Athens, 27/6/1994 (ANA): Meantime, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos told a news conference that the Greek presidency had proposed an extension of Mr. Delors' tenure in a bid to break the deadlock. He expressed disappointment on the failure to find a replacement and questioned the German initiative on a follow-up summit in July. "We don't understand what will have changed between now and July 15. If consensus was not reached on the candidates nominated months ago, how can we expect agreement on new candidates who have not even been named yet," Mr. Venizelos said. He said the deadlock could have a negative effect on the image of the European Union. Reactions --------- Athens, 27/6/1994 (ANA): European Union President and Greek Premier Andreas Papandreou expressed disappointment Saturday at the failure of the Summit to reach consensus over who will succeed Mr. Delors. They were speaking at a joint press conference with Mr. Delors marking the end of the two-day EU Summit in Corfu. Mr. Papandreou said the Greek Presidency did everything possible to achieve consensus over the issue. "Unfortunately we did not reach consensus because Britain did not accept the proposal of the 11 (other) European leaders on the issue," Mr. Papandreou said. Replying to press questions, Mr. Papandreou said Britain's position stemmed from "a different perception" of what the European Union is all about. "The issue now remains open," he added. Mr. Papandreou said a European Union summit will take place on July 15 solely focusing on producing a unanimous decision on Mr. Delors' replacement. Mr. Papandreou said he believed the 11 European Union leaders would continue to support Belgian Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene as Mr. Delors' successor. "I don't know what Britain will know on July 15 that it does not know now," Mr. Papandreou said. Mr. Dehaene described the failure to reach consensus as "a negative development for Europe". He expressed hope a successor would be agreed on during the German presidency before July 20, "otherwise we will be heading for a crisis with the European Parliament..." The Europarliament that emerged from the June 12 Euro-elections and enters into session July 20, must endorse the EU leaders' selection of Commission president as well as the new Commissioners. Mr. Dehaene thanked the ten leaders who supported his candidacy, clarifying that he personally had not proposed the candidacy. "At the request of certain of my colleagues, I was and remain available in the event there should be consensus," Mr. Dehaene said. French President Francois Mitterrand said that the Greek presidency bore absolutely no responsibility for the fact that consensus had not been reached on the issue of Delors' successor. Replying to press questions, Mr. Mitterrand described the Greek presidency as "very good and very productive", adding that the results of the Corfu Summit had also been good. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl rejected as "untrue" charges by British Premier John Major that there had not been adequate consultations over the candidacy of Mr. Dehaene. Mr. Kohl said that he had informed Mr. Major of his intention to propose Mr. Dehaene long before his meeting with President Mitterrand at which they jointly decided to back the Belgian prime minister. He said the fact that eleven countries had supported Mr. Dehaene's candidacy was the best answer to the "crazy" claims of "Franco-German hegemony". EU-Cyprus talks a 'slow process', 'something special about it' - Mitterrand ---------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 27/6/1994 (ANA): French President Francois Mitterrand Saturday expressed regret that the procedure for Cyprus' accession to the European Union is not proceeding at an even more rapid pace than it does, in a statement to ANA. However, he acknowledged, some progress has been made. "It is a slow process. It is indeed a fact that difficulties do exist, as there seems to be something special about the situation in Cyprus," he said. "On the other hand, some progress has been made on accession prospects, although no specific dates can be set as yet. It remains true that the procedure is not moving fast enough and I regret this," President Mitterrand added. Meanwhile, European Affairs Minister Theodoros Pangalos said that the next phase of EU enlargement would most certainly include Cyprus and Malta. Pangalos: Cyprus, Malta next EU candidates ------------------------------------------ Athens, 27/6/1994 (ANA): Referring to Cyprus full EU membership prospects after the Corfu summit, Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos stated yesterday in Corfu that Cyprus and Malta were now clearly considered candidates to be included in the next round of negotiations for enlargement. Concerning the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said he had briefed his EU partners on the course of negotiations with Cyrus Vance and that he would be again in New York in a few days' time to meet with Mr. Vance and Mr. Nimetz. Decision to include Cyprus, Malta in next EU accession round a "great Greek presidency success" ----------------------------------------------------------------- Nicosia, 27/6/1994 (ANA/G.Leonidas): Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides said yesterday the European Council's decision to include Cyprus and Malta in the Union's next enlargement round was a "great success" and thanked the Greek EU Presidency for its efforts to achieve this end. In a statement to the press, President Clerides emphasised Greek Premier Andreas Papandreou's important role, as well as those of Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos in the taking of the EU Council's decision. Referring to earlier statements by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash saying that Cyprus' course towards the European Union "should be stopped" even by force, President Clerides said that Mr. Denktash "lacks sense". Opposition parties criticise Gov't over summit -------------------------------------------- Athens, 27/6/1994 (ANA): The New Democracy party (ND) and Political Spring party (PolA) leader Antonis Samaras yesterday levelled strong criticism against the government for its handling of the EU presidency and the Corfu summit. A two-page statement by ND acknowledges that the Greek presidency may have achieved certain positive results, such as the EU enlargement and the strengthening of relations with Russia, but assessment of a series of negative aspects leads one to conclude that "Greece today is internationally isolated". During Greece's six-month rotating EU presidency, the statement said, Greece was referred to the European Court, has been isolated from Europe, its role in linking the Balkans with Europe completely ignored, a definite time for a start of negotiations for Cyprus' entry into the EU not set, reform of the Common Agricultural Policy not promoted and pressure not exercised for providing effective protection of ethnic Greeks in Albania. Mr Samaras told a press conference the government had misrepresented facts and displayed hypocrisy in relation to the results of the Corfu summit. Coalition of the Left and Progress Nikos Costantopoulos described the Greek presidency as "one more lost opportunity" and proof of lack in strategy regarding Europe and Greece's position in it. Replying, Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said both Mr Evert and Mr Samaras criticism of the government for its handling of the issues of FYROM and ethnic Greeks in Albania was really too much, considering the record of the party they both belonged when it was in government. Pangalos at UN Economic, Social Council meeting ----------------------------------------------- United Nations, 27/6/1994 (ANA/M.Georgiadou): Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, fresh with experience from Greece's presidency of the European Union, is to attend the three-day annual session of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), opening today. Discussion between the foreign ministers of the 54- member Council will centre on the fight against unemployment and the carving of new orientations in development. ECOSOC president Richard Butler of Australia has stated the biggest challenge facing the Council this year concerns restoration of its role in the global economic, trade, developmental and social arena, and establishment of new systems and principles of co-operation. "The international community will have to engage in severe self-criticism and answer the question, what did we do wrong, what mistakes we have made, and what are the reasons and causes of problems such as the wealth gap and the poverty which are increasingly assuming more tragic dimensions".