From: "Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa" Subject: A.N.A. Bulletin 9/1/95 Athens News Agency Bulletin --------------------------- (Apo to Ellnviko Grafeio Tupou kai Plnroforiwv, Ottaba, Kavadas E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca) * Premier satisfied with Amman meetings * Holbrooke wraps up Skopje visit * Egyptian Armed Forces Chief due in Athens today * Berisha refuses to release jailed ethnic Greeks * President Glafcos Clerides to visit London * Kranidiotis: No secret meeting or accord with FYROM * PM backs Kranidiotis denial * Clinton urges Greece to dialogue with neighbours Premier satisfied with Amman meetings ------------------------------------- Amman, 09/01/1995 (ANA-S.Liarellis): Premier Andreas Papandreou yesterday met with King Hussein to discuss the Middle East peace process and relations between their countries. Mr. Papandreou said the outcome of the peace process depended on implementation of existing agreements. Mr. Papandreou arrived on an official visit Friday, after first visiting Syria to help promote stalled peace negotiations between Syria and Israel. He said his meeting with the King was "excellent", stressing Jordan's "crucial" role in the peace process in the region. The outcome of the entire effort and the future of peace in the region depends on implementing (existing) agreements, Mr. Papandreou said. King Hussein later gave a dinner in Mr. Papandreou's honour. The Premier also conferred with Jordanian caretaker Prime Minister Abdul-Salam Al-Majali. The meeting preceded an inter- ministerial meeting chaired by the two government heads. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Papandreou said relations between Greece and Jordan were "excellent." He noted discussions included the peace process in the region and bilateral relations. In Damascus, Mr. Papandreou pledged Greece's support for Syria in the Middle East peace process during talks with Syrian President Hafez-al-Assad. However, when asked to comment on Syrian-Israeli relations, he expressed "restrained optimism". Mr. Papandreou, speaking to Greek journalists on Saturday, denied reports that he had undergone a secret heart check-up in the Jordanian capital. Foreign "circles" opposed to Greece were to blame for portraying him as ill and having to go to hospital, each time he travelled abroad, the Greek Prime Minister said. He said certain circles in the United States and Europe were against his initiatives, as they did not wish the peace process in the region to be successful. Health Minister Dimitris Kremastinos, who accompanied the Prime Minister in his trip to Syria and Jordan, said reports were part of a "political destabilisation plan." A number of international press agencies reported Mr. Papandreou had undergone a scheduled examination Saturday at the cardiology centre of Al-Hussein hospital and his condition had been found satisfactory. The check-up had been arranged with great discretion following a request by Mr. Papandreou's office at the end of December, the reports quoted medical sources in Amman as saying. Press and Information Under-Secretary Telemahos Hytiris accompanying Mr. Papandreou denied the reports calling them "totally unfounded." Mr. Papandreou is due in Athens this afternoon. Health Minister Dimitris Kremastinos and Merchant Marine Minister George Katsifaras held meetings with their Jordanian counterparts in Amman over the weekend. "We have decided to set up joint committees to propose measures. Syria wants infrastructure help to develop its pharmaceutical industry in exchange for raw materials. Jordan is interested to a larger extent in developing the pharmaceutical trade with Greece," Mr. Kremastinos said. He said Syrians and Jordanians would visit Greece for training, especially Syrians, on cardiology and Mediterranean anaemia. Mr. Kremastinos said agreements had been signed and views exchanged on many issues relating to Syria and Jordan. Holbrooke wraps up Skopje visit ------------------------------- Skopje, 09/01/1995 (ANA-M.Vichou): US Foreign Under-Secretary Richard Holbrooke yesterday wrapped up a visit to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) for talks with FYROM President Kiro Gligorov and Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski. Mr. Holbrooke was accompanied by the head of the US liaison bureau in FYROM Victor Comras. Mr. Holbrooke said at the end of the talks, the purpose of his visit had been to be briefed on the FYROM government's positions and views. "I am leaving with a very clear picture thanks to comprehensive explanations President Gligorov gave and, probably, I will be able to help more myself," he said. Mr. Holbrooke said relations between Greece and FYROM on the issue of FYROM's name had been discussed, including "possibilities of overcoming the problem." He said the US government supported FYROM's efforts to achieve that country's modernisation and consolidate an independent and autonomous state. Mr. Holbrooke added the US government would examine how it might help FYROM achieve economic development, saying "the creation of a peacekeeping group - a plan for developing countries which the Kennedy Administration had begun to implement - was discussed." He also underscored his talks with President Gligorov, in the presence of General Heyden, on improving existing co-operation between the two countries in the military sector. FYROM media reported General Heyden was US military counter-intelligence chief for Europe. Mr. Holbrooke was due to leave for Sarajevo yesterday. Egyptian Armed Forces Chief due in Athens today ----------------------------------------------- Athens, 09/01/1995 (ANA): Egyptian National Defence General Staff Chief, Lieutenant General Salah Mohamed Attia Halaby today begins a four-day official visit to Greece. General Halaby will hold talks with political and military leaders. Berisha refuses to release jailed ethnic Greeks ----------------------------------------------- Tirana, 09/01/1995 (Reuter): Albanian President Sali Berisha said relations with Greece were no longer at a crisis level but he declined to free four ethnic Greeks at the centre of a controversy between the two nations, his office said yesterday. Berisha was speaking in Tirana on Saturday night to US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke, who was on a two-day visit to Albania as part of a Balkan tour including Cyprus, Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. "Our relations with Greece are showing signs of relaxation and improvement after a grave crisis," Berisha said. Relations between Greece and Albania have long been tense and worsened last year when five ethnic Greek minority leaders in Albania were found guilty of spying for Greece and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. Berisha, who pardoned one of them on Christmas Eve, said in the meeting with Holbrooke that he stood behind the decision not to release the four others. The five, all leaders of the ethnic Greek organisation Omonia, were jailed in September from between six and eight years for spying for Athens and possession of arms. President Glafcos Clerides to visit London ------------------------------------------ Nicosia, 09/01/1995 (CNA-ANA): President Glafcos Clerides was due to leave late Saturday for London, for talks with British Premier John Major. The talks, scheduled for January 10, are expected to focus on developments in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem and, in particular, growing US interest to that end, coupled with UN backing for a resumption of discussions between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides. London discussions are likely to include an exchange of views on Cyprus' bid for full membership of the European Union, in light of the forthcoming meeting of EU ministers later this month, under French EU presidency. The President, accompanied by Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides, will have a working lunch with Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd Tuesday. He will also attend functions organised by the large Greek Cypriot community in Britain. Mr. Clerides' visit comes only a few days after a meeting here with US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke, in a bid to pave the way for a visit by presidential emissary Richard Beattie later this month, in what is widely seen as a US initiative to break the current deadlock. Kranidiotis: No secret meeting or accord with FYROM --------------------------------------------------- Athens, 09/01/1995 (ANA): Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis yesterday categorically denied any meeting or understanding between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). "I categorically deny that there has been any secret meeting or understanding between the Greek and Skopjan sides," Mr. Kranidiotis said, shortly before leaving for Brussels for talks with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppi on Cyprus' relations with the European Union and Turkey's customs union with the EU. Referring to reports claiming secret talks on the FYROM issue, he said that, in the framework of the CSCE in Budapest on December 5-6 1994, FYROM President Kiro Gligorov had been present with his foreign minister, as had also been all leaders of CSCE member-states. "Mr. Gligorov was intransigent toward Greece in his address before the plenary session," Mr. Kranidiotis noted. "At the official dinner afterwards, Mr. Papoulias and I met Mr. Gligorov and his foreign minister at a purely social event and exchanged words of courtesy," he added. Referring to developments on the FYROM issue, Mr. Kranidiotis expressed the view that, in recent months, considerable progress had been achieved on the issue, the climate had improved and there was greater understanding of Greek positions. PM backs Kranidiotis denial --------------------------- Athens, 09/01/1995 (ANA): Meanwhile, in Amman, Mr. Papandreou told reporters that he had given the Greek people a pledge that, as long as he was premier, there would be no secret diplomacy or covert contacts with President Gligorov. He added that, apart from the UN process through Cyrus Vance and Matthew Nimetz, there had been no other contact with Mr. Gligorov, adding that if that were to happen it would not be kept secret. Referring to the issue of Mr. Kranidiotis' meeting Mr. Crvenkovski, Mr. Papandreou said if he were in Budapest and Mr. Gligorov came, he would greet him. Mr. Papandreou ruled out a meeting with Mr. Gligorov at present, as a summit encounter without foundations was extremely dangerous, since failure would mean a bigger problem, citing as an example that no summit between Syria and Israel took place. He noted direct contact with FYROM was not considered appropriate at present but, if some reason emerged in future, he would deem it suitable for Greece to make a move. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos likewise denied "secret contacts" with FYROM, adding that "Greek positions are known, they have been set out in public repeatedly, as also in the course of various diplomatic contacts." "Greece continues to spare no effort in seeking a solution to the Skopje (FYROM) issue, based on its firm and steadfast positions," Mr. Venizelos said. Meanwhile, main opposition New Democracy party Deputy and former Cabinet member Sotiris Kouvelas blamed the government for lacking a policy on the FYROM issue. "I am afraid the government is not capable of either secret or open diplomacy. I would not mind if a responsible government conducted diplomacy of any sort," Mr. Kouvelas said. The opposition Political Spring (Pol.An) party Saturday called on the government to either confirm or deny Mr. Kranidiotis' meeting with President Gligorov. "Mr. Kranidiotis appears to discuss 'solutions' with Mr. Gligorov and Mr. Crvenkovski which, in the past, the government had strongly claimed it had rejected," Pol.An said. Clinton urges Greece to dialogue with neighbours ------------------------------------------------ Athens, 09/01/1995 (ANA): US President Clinton has called on Greece and Turkey to avoid conflict and pursue dialogue, and on Greece to begin dialogue with Albania to help in the effort for Balkan stability. In an interview carried in the Sunday edition of the Athens daily "Kathimerini", President Clinton said he was concerned at growing tension between Greece and Turkey which, he noted, might risk an incident in the Aegean. He called on both sides to pursue dialogue by adopting a code of conduct based on mutual good behaviour endorsed by Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and his then Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz in 1988. The president also asked Athens to open unconditional dialogue with Albania. "The key to improved relations lies in co-operation instead of isolation," President Clinton said. He added he hoped for a swift and just solution to the dispute between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Athens wants FYROM to change its flag carrying Ancient Greek symbols, its name and its constitution which reflects territorial designs against Greece's northern province of Macedonia. Athens imposed trade sanctions as retortion measures on the neighbouring state last February. President Clinton's interview prompted stern reaction among opposition parties in Greece. Political Spring blamed President Clinton for prompting Greece "to pursue unconditional dialogue with Albania, Skopje and Turkey, by overlooking the fact that our country does not claim anything more than respect for International Law." The Communist Party of Greece accused the United States of "continued intervention in the Balkans, leading to a crisis in the region, including problems with our neighbours." APOGEYMATINH.