From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 4 Jul 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Greece calls on FYROM to adopt 'constructive attitude' after EU court ruling ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 4/7/1994 (ANA): Greece reiterated yesterday the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) issue was political, calling on FYROM President Kiro Gligorov to "adopt a constructive attitude" at UN-sponsored talks in New York. "The issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is political and does not lend itself to pressure of a legal nature. Therefore, Mr Cyrus Vance's mediation efforts should continue," government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said. Commenting on reactions in Skopje, the FYROM capital, in the wake of European Court decision last week rejecting a Commission request for an injunction on Greece's trade sanctions imposed as retortion measures against FYROM, Mr Venizelos said: "Mr. Gligorov should breed no illusions among FYROM public opinion and, instead, adopt a constructive attitude at New York mediatory talks." Political parties in Skopje have reacted sharply to the European Court decision. Petar Goshev's "Democratic Party" which, according to latest opinion polls, is gaining ground in voters' preference, described the ruling as "an act of phenomenal cynicism and a great defeat for justice in Europe", and calls on President Gligorov's government to bring the embargo issue before the UN Security Council "as a matter of special importance to the security of the region". The MAAK party calls the ruling "an expression of cynicism and duplicity on the part of the European Union" toward FYROM, adding the Skopje government should seek other economic and political options not based on the European Union. The extra-parliamentary "Labour Party" stresses the ruling shows FYROM "lying on the fringe of EU interests and expecting any assistance from it would be utopia". Papoulias --------- Athens, 4/7/1994 (ANA): Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias reiterated the political facet of Greece's success at the European Court, adding it would no doubt affect the future course of Greece-FYROM relations. "Mr Gligorov will, at long last, have to reconsider Greek proposals for normalising the situation", he said. He declined to equate Skopje reactions with those of the European Commission, adding the Court's decision had proved an unpleasant surprise to those who believed sanctions might be imposed on Greece. Mr Papoulias is scheduled to hold talks with UN mediator Cyrus Vance in New York from July 14 through 17. Albanian deputies abstain from FYROM Parliament ----------------------------------------------- Skopje, (ANA/M.Vichou): Twenty-three ethnic Albanian deputies yesterday decided to abstain for an indeterminate period from FYROM Parliament. They issued a statement declaring that their decision was prompted by a recent ruling by a court imposing sentences of 5 to 8 years on 10 Albanians accused of "setting-up a paramilitary organisation and taking part in unconstitutional activities." Papoulias in Alexandria for Forum meeting ----------------------------------------- Alexandria, Egypt, 4/7/1994 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias arrived yesterday in Alexandria, to attend the First Mediterranean Forum on political, economic, cultural and environmental co-operation at foreign minister level today and tomorrow. Mr. Papoulias heads the Greek delegation. Apart from Greece, the forum will be attended by delegates from Algeria, Egypt, France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey. The delegations will meet today with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Diplomatic sources said that all other Mediterranean countries wished to participate in the Forum. From Egypt, Mr. Papoulias will fly to Geneva today, to take part in a meeting of the "contact group" which deals with a settlement of the Bosnian problem. In an earlier statement, Mr. Papoulias described the meeting of the "contact group" as a "golden opportunity" because of Serb compromise. "That's why sides remaining intransigent should be pressed," he said. Commenting on a statement by Russia's special envoy Vitaly Churkin that should efforts not succeed in Bosnia, sanctions would have to be imposed on all sides, Mr. Papoulias said an assessment should be made on who is responsible for the efforts' failure. He added that the embargo already imposed on Serbia should be kept in mind. Commenting on his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hikmet Cetin in Tbilisi last week, Mr. Papoulias said he had an impression Mr. Cetin believed Ankara was pursuing a more moderate policy line toward Greece. The Foreign Minister said the issue of free navigation in the Bosporus Straits was raised at the meeting of the Black Sea Economic Co-operation Council meeting in Tbilisi. Greece, Bulgaria and Russia adopted a common stand that the Montreux Treaty should be strictly followed, he said. Mr. Papoulias stressed that whatever rule blocked free navigation was unacceptable to Greece. Greek Albanian relations ------------------------ Athens, 4/7/1994 (ANA): Commenting on a Tirana Parliament decision declaring June 27 an anniversary to commemorate the "genocide" of the "Tsamides" Albanian Muslim minority, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said there was an attempt on Albania's part to create a climate of tension between the two countries. Tsamides collaborated with Axis occupation forces during World War II. They fled Greece together with withdrawing German forces. Mr. Venizelos also reiterated Greece's will for an improvement in Greek-Albanian relations saying such improvement presupposes respect of the rights of the Greek ethnic minority in Albania. Cabinet reshuffle this week, of "limited nature" ------------------------------------------------ Athens, 4/7/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou will reshuffle his cabinet this week, Under-secretary to the Prime Minister Telemahos Hytiris told reporters on Saturday, adding the new government will be sworn in at the end of the week. Mr. Hytiris said the reshuffle would be of a "limited nature". Mr. Papandreou will have a final round of consultations and make assessments before announcing the names of the new ministers, Mr. Hytiris said. Corfu honours Prime Minister ---------------------------- Athens, 4/7/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou was yesterday declared an honorary citizen of Corfu by unanimous decision of the city municipal council. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Papandreou said he was moved by the honour, and that he always draws strength from the people of Corfu and the beauty of the island. Referring to the recent European Union summit, he said it was the best on record and, as German Chancellor Helmut Kohl said, it could be surpassed only with difficulty. Mr Papandreou said he had not yet finalised plans for an impending government reshuffle. He was due back in Athens last night. Cassandra mines to be sold in international auction --------------------------------------------------- Athens, 4/7/1994 (ANA): "The government has decided to transfer Chalkidiki Cassandra mines to private enterprise on the understanding their viability is ensured and staff keep their jobs," Under-secretary of Industry, Energy and Technology Christos Pachtas said Saturday in Chalkidiki. Mr. Pachtas added an international call for tenders will be issued within two months, when an international auction will open for bidding on the mines. "Reduced prices of mine output had made it difficult for the business to carry on under present conditions," he noted. EU group acknowledges "drastic improvement" at Leros institution ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 4/7/1994 (ANA): Drastic improvements have been brought to the Leros psychiatric institution, President of the Board of Administrators Gregory Siomopoulos said yesterday, quoting an independent European Union group of experts. Mr. Siomopoulos added that the group which visited the institution from June 27 through 30, said in its report "drastic improvements have been brought to inmates' living conditions." An international conference on "Psychiatric Reform in Leros as an international example" will be organised on the island at the end of the year, following the findings of the EU experts' group, Mr. Siomopoulos said. Progress had also been acknowledged by the international press, he added, quoting an article in the "Guardian", June 2 edition, tilted "The liberation of the damned". Greece has faced severe criticism in the past for failing to improve conditions in the Leros hospital.