Distancing himself from previous statements by "Albanian officials" that Greece and Serbia were following a destabilisation policy in the region, Albanian President Sali Berisha told the ANA yesterday that the best response to these claims was the recent thaw in relations between Tirana and Athens.
"The best denial to these positions is the improvement in Greek-Albanian relations," Mr. Berisha told the ANA's Gerasimos Zarkadis in an exclusive interview. Mr. Berisha said that Greece could contribute to defusing tension in one of the region's hot-spots, Serbia's troubles province of Kosovo, by encouraging Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic to begin talks with Ibrahim Rugova, the leader of the Albanian minority.
Mr. Berisha said Albania was not seeking a change in the borders but a democratic solution to the problem. "Based on these principles, we could alter the situation. This crisis must end because it is a threat to the entire Balkans," Mr. Berisha said. He said he told Mr. Papoulias an inter-Balkan conference of foreign ministers should take place. "If we cannot solve the big problems, we can at least solve the small ones, which some day might turn into big ones," he said.
Mr. Berisha expressed regret at the absence of inter-Balkan co-operation, an absence that began in the period of the communist regimes, and could play a significant role today. One thing was certain, he added. "Greece's relations with Albania will have positive effects on the southern Balkans. "It is my personal conviction that co-operation, rather that conflict, must prevail among the Serbs and Albanians in the future."
He said the Albanians realised that co-operation should prevail, "but the restoration of the ethnic rights of the Albanians in the Kosovo is very important for the entire region".
Mr. Berisha said the recent arrest of seven extremists near the Greek-Albanian border by Greek authorities was a "message to all those seeking the deterioration of Greek-Albanian relations". "This gesture (the arrest of the 'seven' in Delvinaki) on the part of the Greek side clearly proves the (Greek) government's desire to stop the extremists, which is of great importance for the future of Greek-Albanian relations," Mr. Berisha said.
"The politicians on both sides must have the courage to take a stand against such persons who attempt to create problems in our relations. The arrest of the seven comprises a very important event and a message to those seeking the deterioration of relations between the two countries. I believe, though, that they will not succeed because the Greek government had the courage to condemn their actions."
Describing the turn-about in Greek-Albanian relations with the recent visit to Tirana by Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias as "spectacular', he said that the problems considered a major ones by the Albanian side were the rekindling of the Northern Epirus issue, which harm, as the said, Greek-Albanian relations, and legalising the status of Albanian workers in Greece.
He said that "minor negative incidents" over the past four years failed to dampen the overall positive relations between the two countries and underlined his conviction that "if the two countries work together they can solve the problems existing between them since there is a mutual political desire".
The Albanian leader stressed his government's European orientation, and expressed agreement with a recent statement by Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi that the duration of Archbishop Anastasios' tenure as the head of the Orthodox Church of Albania "is a matter for the autocephalous Church ".
Noting his belief that Greece's relations with Turkey were important, Mr. Berisha advocated the advancement of multilateral co-operation in the Balkans. Mr. Berisha said the improvement in relations between Athens and Tirana came about " on the basis of the friendship and co-operation that has existed for centuries between the two peoples and countries".
"But if you also make an account of those relations over the last four years you will ascertain that despite whatever problems, the overall account is very positive," he said. Albania, he said, "opened its doors after 50 years of isolation and suffered a real economic, social and political earthquake."
"We lived through the toughest dictatorship and found ourselves in the worst possible situation a country can find itself in. Who helped us? The Albanians were leaving the country by the thousand and reached Greece, where they were well received by the Greeks, the Greek families and organisations. This comprises one more step in the positive history between the two peoples.
"Tomorrow, history will not write about one or another minor negative incident but it will have retained that fact that in this difficult period for the Albanians, the Greek people helped them in many ways," Mr. Berisha explained.
"Of course there have been problems, but I do not agree at all with the view of looking only at the negative aspects, because we must see the relations in the their entirety and not only the individual elements.
"Neighbours are neighbours, and we cannot say that there no problems among neighbours. That which is certain, however, is that there is a firm political will on the part of both sides to resolve the problems, "Mr. Berisha said.
"We were ready to receive the foreign ministers, Karolos Papoulias, and solve the problems and he arrived here in the same spirit," Mr. Berisha said, adding that the "spectacular change" in relations between the two countries was achieved" without prior consultation" because "we realised that above and beyond the minor incidents, there are much stronger and important interests which must be advanced."
"The significant success of the visit was not prepared by a working group , but is due to the realisation by both sides that we must work seriously to promote our relations. When Mr. Papoulias saw that the desire existed on the Albanian side, he agreed to the signing of a friendship and co-operation pact," Mr. Berisha said.
Asked how for away he saw solutions to the problems, such as those of the Greek minority, Mr. Berisha said that problems had "their own dynamic, because there is always development within time". Citing as an example the problem of the Albanian workers in Greece and that of the Greek ethnic minority in Albania, Mr. Berisha said "there have been significant changes with regard to these issues in the past three years and there will be positive changes in the future". "We must be patient," he added.
Questioned on whether Greece could contribute to the normalisation of Albania's relations with Serbia, given its good relations with both countries, Mr. Berisha said he did not advocate the view that "if someone is friends with Serbia he cannot be my friend too".
Mr. Berisha noted that the UN, the United States or the European Union could play the role of mediator in this issue. As for the Greece, he added, it could contribute by encouraging Mr. Milosevic to open dialogue with Mr. Rugova with the participation of one of the UN, US, or EU, and, as a member of the EU, by presenting the difficult situation of the Albanians in Kosovo. "I also consider important Greece's relations with Turkey, and absolutely believe there is a real basis for significant co-operation", he said.
Asked whether Mr. Milosevic had made any goodwill gestures towards Albania, Mr. Berisha replied that the abolition of the exit visa requirement for the Albanians of the Kosovo could be a first step.
Questioned whether Albania would respond to a gesture form Belgrade, he said: "It is my personal conviction that co-operation, rather that conflict, must prevail among the Serbs and Albanians in the future". As for a way out of the general crisis in the Balkans, Mr. Berisha said the example of northern Europe should be followed. "The Balkans can escape the significant crisis threatening the region through the process of incorporation into the European Union. It is the only way, otherwise the Balkans will be consumed by nationalism," he said.
Mr. Berisha said the prevailing trend in the Balkans advocated incorporation into the EU, and warned that if the initiative was left up to the nationalists who opposed incorporation, "they will deprive the Balkans of its future". Greece, he added, as the only Balkan country belonging to the EU," must help the incorporation of the other countries into Europe".
Mr. Berisha also said the agreed with certain political observes who believed nationalistic forces in the Balkans were realising that hard-line nationalism was counterproductive and starting to soften their stance. "But we must all encourage that tendency. We should not fear European incorporation. The more we push in that direction, the more certain our future is," Mr. Berisha said.
Athens came to a standstill yesterday as hundreds of people turned out to pay a last tribute and escort veteran socialist deputy Yiannis Alevras to his final resting place. Draped with the Greek flag, Alevras' casket was drawn on a gun carriage from the city's cathedral to the Athens First Cemetery. Politicians, union representatives and friends followed the procession as huge crowds lined along the streets to applaud and shower his coffin with flowers. Flags flew at half mast and banks staged a three-hour work stoppage to honour the founding member of Greece's Federation of Bank Employees (OTOE).
In a obituary, President of the Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis described Alevras as a "quiet, honest, moderate and sincere yet unconventional and a fighter." Ruling PASOK party Secretary General Akis Tsohatzopoulos expressed his regret at the "loss of a great comrade and a true friend."
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert said that Alevras "always sought the right and democratic solution," adding that "the way in which he exercised politics constitutes and example for the younger politicians."
Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras said Alevras taught younger politicians that "politics is not a game and a projection of personal ambition, but the way to social struggle and national interests."
Dimitris Kostopoulos of the Communist Party of Greece referred to Alevras' struggle as a trade unionist and praised his work as a parliamentarian. Grigoris Yiannaros of the Coalition of the Left and Progress referred to the leading role of Alevras in the consolidation of the trade union movement in Greece, and to his struggles for the upgrading of the Parliament's structures.
General Confederation of Workers of Greece President Christos Protopapas also referred to Alevras' struggles for OTOE during the period 1960-63 and to his struggles to consolidate a trade union movement in Greece.
Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday attributed the cancellation of UN-sponsored talks on the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to "back-pedalling" by the Skopje government. The talks, under the aegis of UN mediator Cyrus Vance, were scheduled to begin Thursday in New York.
Mr. Papoulias expressed the view that German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel's visit to Skopje next week "could pave the way for developments", adding that Athens was in contact with the German foreign ministry on the issue.
The Athens-based German-language newspaper Athener Zeitung has reported that Mr. Kinkel was set to undertake an unofficial mediation initiative between Athens and Skopje. Citing Mr. Kinkel's "particular interest in the region", the paper said Mr. Kinkel, who is scheduled to meet FYROM President Kiro Gligorov and Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski in April, had informed Mr. Papoulias of his planned trip during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Carcassonne, France recently. Mr. Papoulias was speaking to reporters after briefing President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on developments in all foreign policy issues.
Describing the meeting as "useful" Mr. Papoulias expressed the government's satisfaction at Thursday's non-bonding opinion of a legal adviser to the European Union's Court of Justice in Luxembourg who said that Greece's trade sanctions against FYROM did not violate EU law.
On the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Richard Holbrooke to Athens the US official would not be bringing any proposals. He predicted however that his talks with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou this evening.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of the Left and Progress issued an announcement describing as "positive" the non-binding opinion of a legal adviser to the European Union's Court of Justice, and called on the government to promote a policy of normalisation of relations with Skopje.
UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali was named yesterday as one of the winners of the three biannual Onassis International Awards. Mr. Boutros-Ghali was awarded "The Onassis Prize for International Understanding and Social Achievement" for contributing "to the initiation of certain solutions to a number of international problems concerning the wider area of the Mediterranean".
"During the three years for his election to the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations, he was the first to move forcefully in giving new dimensions to the role with the UN are called upon to assume after the end of the Cold War and an the threshold of the 21st century," a statement said.
The prizes, each accompanied by a sum of US Dollars 250,000, were announced by Stelios Papadimitriou, president of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation.
Professor Jacqueline de Romily, member of the Academie Francaise, was awarded "The Onassis Prize for Culture (Arts and Humanities )" for her "exceptional contribution to the study and dissemination of ancient Greek culture" and "her struggle to preserve the teaching of the ancient Greek and Latin languages in high schools and colleges".
Professor Jorg Imberger of the University of Western Australia and Professor Panayiotis Varotsos of Athens University shared. "The Onassis Prize for the Environment'.
Professor Imberger was honoured for "his works both in the filed of Environmental Fluid Dynamics and its applications". The professor has carried out research providing engineering tools for the management of coastal waters and the design of reservoir management techniques.
Professor Varotsos shared the prize "in recognition of his work regarding the method for predicting earthquakes known as VAN" which "has been acknowledged by the Scientific and Technical Commission of the UN as a realistic hope and vital contribution to natural disaster reduction".
Greece's recently-elected President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will present the prizes at an awards ceremony on July 11 at the Pnyx Hill near the Acropolis.
Accepting his award in a statement, Mr. Boutros-Ghali said he looked forward to being in Athens for the award ceremony.
The awards by the Liechtenstein-based foundation were set up under the will of shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis in memory of his son, Alexander, who was killed at the age of 23 in an aircraft crash at Athens airport.
Greece yesterday described as "very important" the European Parliament resolution condemning Turkey's military drive into northern Iraq in pursuit of rebel Kurds.
"This resolution must be taken into serious consideration by all and by Turkey in particular," government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said.
The spokesman added that the resolution showed that the problem in relation between Europe and Turkey had nothing to do with the course of Greek-Turkish relations "but rather (is connected) with the protection of human rights". Mr. Venizelos said that "heavy pressure" was being exerted on Turkey over its military intervention in Iraq.
In the resolution adopted Thursday by 411 votes to 0, with six abstentions, the European Parliament condemned the military operation and the ensuing" violations of international and human rights". The assembly also reiterated that it would withhold approval of a proposed customs union between the EU and Turkey.
The fourth session of the Hellenic American High Level Consulting Committee (HLCC) will take place in Rhodes from April 10 through 11 to examine issues of bilateral defence co-operation. The Greek delegation will be headed by National Defence Under-Secretary Nikos Kouris and that of the US by Assistant Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
The Committee's operation is anticipated by the Mutual Defence Co-operation Agreement (MDCA-90) between Greece and the US while the last session took place in the US in February last year.
Greece's permanent representative to the United Nations Christos Zaharakis met with mediator in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) issue Cyrus Vance on Wednesday, in the presence of President Clinton's envoy on the issue, Matthew Nimetz, diplomatic sources said yesterday.
According to the same sources, Mr. Vance confirmed that there seemed to be no prospects for the holding of direct talks under his auspices between Greece and FYROM at present, as the Skopje government had not replied in writing to the UN invitation.
Mr. Vance is also reported to have said that in repeated telephone conversations with him, Skopje officials said that due to a charged political climate and difficulties at home, they were not in a position to respond to the invitation for the time being.
Other sources said, however, that FYROM is hoping to secure some negotiating advantage, perhaps a gesture in the form of a temporary lifting of trade sanctions by Greece, which might feel generous enough to do so in the wake of the European Court of Justice Advocate-General's favourable statement of opinion Thursday on the issue.
Nevertheless, the same sources ruled out that Greek might make any form of concession to the other side, without tangible returns, "at least the flag, as a 'dowry'", they said.
Draft resolutions submitted to Congress by both Republican and Democratic parties stress that in view of FYROM's continuing inflexibility in its relations with Greece, President Clinton should not have proceeded to the diplomatic recognition of FYROM, and should withdraw it.
Another resolution calls for the exercise of US influence in support of Greece's negotiations with FYROM, in the search for a solution promoting a close and co-operative relation between the two countries.
As part of its renewed satellite policy, Hellenic Radio and Television S.A (ERT) will transfer its satellite programme from the satellite EUTELSAT F-4 transmitting from 7 degrees eastern to the satellite EUTELSAT II-F2 at 10 degrees eastern. The transfer will take place today at 3 a.m., Athens time.
Parabolics Offset Countries Antennas 0.55m Germany, Switzerland, Austria, N. Italy, Czech Republic, W. Poland, Denmark Norway, E. France, Paris. 0,74m 0.63m Center and W. France, E. Spain, Corsica, S. Italy, Hungary, Central and E. Poland, S. Finland, E. and Central Sweden. 0.83m 0.70m Albania, FYROM, Central and W. Turkey NW. Africa, Syria, N. Israel, Lebanon, Crete, Romania, Western areas of ex-Soviet countries, Great Britain. 0.93m 0.80m East Turkey, North-West Africa, Syria, North Israel, Lebanon. 1.20m 1.00m Moscow and Caspian 1.30m 1.10m N. Africa 5.60m 5.00m Central Sudan. 5.80m 5.00m Central areas former USSR.
NEW SATELLITES ELEMENTS:
1. Satellite EUTELSAT II-F2
2. Orbital position 10 degrees eastern
3. Pictures frequency 11596 Ghz
4. Polarisation X (horizontal)
5. Coverage Wide beam
6. Channel's Width 36 MHz.