Greece said yesterday that it was going to New York on the understanding that it would not recognize the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia under the name of 'Macedonia' or any of its derivatives.
Speaking to reporters after briefing the main opposition leader on the issue yesterday, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said Athens was commencing the dialogue with Skopje on the basis that "our country does not accept the term 'Macedonia"'.
Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos later reiterated the foreign minister's statement that Greece was going to New York on the understanding that it could not recognize the neighboring country under the name of 'Macedonia' or any of its derivatives.
Greece and FYROM have agreed to send their foreign ministers to New York next week to conclude an agreement which would take the first important steps toward establishing the basis for friendly relations between the two neighboring countries.
Mr. Venizelos added that although nothing had been agreed in advance, Greece hoped for a speedy conclusion of negotiations, and he did not rule out that this might happen next week.
Asked to comment on FYROM Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski's claim that Greece had "misinter-preted" certain provisions in its constitution as being "irredentist" and that a simple statement, rather than an amendment of the constitutional charter, would suffice, Mr. Venizelos said that Greece was interested in "the interpretative neutralisation of the crucial parts of the constitution, namely, the preamble, and articles 3 and 49".
"We have a laborious negotiation ahead of us and I cannot anticipate the outcome," Mr. Papoulias said after a 45-minute briefing for Miltiades Evert, leader of the opposition.
Asked whether the government would accept a composite name for FYROM, Mr. Papoulias said that the name to be decided "will be the result or consequence of a parallel negotiation that will be instituted after the agreement to be signed in New York".
Asked whether a timetable would be instituted for the negotiations on the name issue, the foreign minister said:
"This is also a thought. But first we must begin with the signing of the agreement (on the small package) and then there will be the parallel negotiation on the name". Mr. Papoulias said the accord to be signed in New York will give the ability for t here to be mutual recognition between the two countries.
Asked if the so-called small package would include the minority issue put forward by Skopje, he replied: "There are no minority issues".
Mr. Papoulias told reporters Mr. Evert "has reservations on the small package", and described the climate of the meeting as 'good' and in a spirit of "cooperation".
New Democracy spokesman Vassilis Manginas told reporters yesterday that Mr. Evert had expressed "complete opposition" to any agreement which did not include the name issue and had warned Mr. Papoulias that "otherwise developments would lead de facto to the establishment internationally of the name 'Macedonia'".
Mr. Manginas strongly criticized the government's handling of the Skopje issue and added that Mr. Evert had asked Mr. Papoulias to convey the positions of the main opposition to Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou.
New Democracy's Political Council and Executive Committee announced late last night that ND would maintain its position on the issue of Skopje concerning the "large package", because there "is a danger that Skopje may be recognized with the name 'Macedonia'."
Mr. Manginas said that "dialogue concerning ND's stance was discussed during the meeting (last night) and both bodies agreed completely on the positions outlined by ND leader Miltiades Evert during his meeting with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias this (yesterday) morning".
Commenting on Mr. Papoulias' reference to simultaneous negotiations on the name issue, Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras said the statement overturned previously established Greek positions.
"The crude American intervention overturns today not only (Prime Minister Andreas) Papandreou's commitment as to the non-negotiability of the name, but also the (1992) Political Leader's Council decision itself," he said.
Mr. Samaras called on the prime minister "to dismiss Mr. Papoulias if he does not endorse his view, otherwise he is guilty himself".
Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos called for "a continuous Greek initiative for permanent and direct dialogue, which will also include the issue of the composite name for FYROM, and whose resulting decisions must be accepted by both sides. If the name issue is not included in the dialogue, a permanent (open) wound for destabilization in both Greece and the Balkans will be created".
PASOK deputy and former EU commissioner Vasso Papandreou called for a convening of the Political Leaders' Council and discussion of the FYROM issue in Parliament, for the formulation of a national policy.
An accord to end a bitter two-year dispute between Greece and FYROM is evidence the US approach to ending the wars of former Yugoslavia is working and bodes well for diplomacy on Bosnia, a top US envoy said yesterday.
Richard Holbrooke, who is leading the US peace drive in the Balkans, told Reuters in an interview late on Tuesday night that Greece and FYROM had agreed to compromise "in the name of peace in Balkans".
"We got agreement because we linked 'Macedonia' to our diplomacy on Bosnia," said Mr. Holbrooke. "And the accord is an impetus to peace in the Balkans. This approach could snowball."
"The deal was 95 per cent done but it needed (President Bill) Clinton's push. Each side wanted the US to guarantee it."
It was sealed with a call from Mr. Holbrooke to Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou from FYROM President Kiro Gligorov's office on Monday.
"I placed a call to Mr. Papandreou and I told him Mr. Gligorov agrees and Mr. Papandreou said 'O.K.' then I agree and then we made the announcement," said Mr. Holbrooke, a veteran diplomat. "That phone call is one of the strangest things I've ever done. "
Mr. Holbrooke said the US approach was to accept that all the disputes relating to the break-up of former Yugoslavia four years ago were interlinked.
"We used the fact that we were at a crisis point in Bosnia that made a big impression," said the assistant secretary of state.
"This was a troubled part of this region taking a step forward," said Mr. Holbrooke, adding that Mr. Milosevic had complimented the US delegation on its success during a meeting on Tuesday.
In Washington, the ANA reported State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns saying the agreement by Greece and Skopje to come to talks should be seen in the framework of efforts to avert a spreading of the war in the Balkans.
"It constitutes an effort by the United Nations and the United States to prevent the spreading of the war in the Balkans," he said.
He added that the US would be represented at the agreed meetings in New York next week by American presidential mediator Matthew Nimetz.
In a statement yesterday, European Union External Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek expressed satisfaction over the "announcement for the impending signing of an agreement between Greece and FYROM", which, "will constitute a valuable contribution to security and stability in the region".
Commission sources said yesterday that Mr. van den Broek was ready to present proposals on the activation of relations between the European Union and FYROM at the informal council of foreign ministers next weekend in Santander in Spain.
According to the sources, the proposals will cover a wide range of relations (commercial, financial and political) which "can include the expansion of the PHARE programme in FYROM, the signing of a commercial and financial cooperation accord and including the commencement of diplomatic relations between the two sides with the establishment in Skopje of an official Community representation".
A European Commission spokesman said later that FYROM President Kiro Gligorov had sent a letter to Commission President Jacques Santer and to Mr. van den Broek which contained "certain clarifications regarding the agreement due to be signed next week by Greece and FYROM as well as some indications as to how relations between FYROM and the EU can develop".
A European Commission spokesman yesterday made the point that when the Greece-FYROM agreement is signed, the Commission will re-examine its stand regarding its injunction against Greece, filed at the European Court, for the trade retorsion measures imposed against FYROM.
Reacting to latest developments in relations between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Lupcho Popovski of Skopje's opposition SDSM party said statements by FYROM Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski indicated positive conditions had already been created to resolve the long-standing "conflict imposed by Greece".
Mr. Popovski said this phase of negotiations confirmed FYROM's resolve to maintain its national identity and the state's sovereignty and independence. He said reality and pragmatism in the two countries' policy would prevail in the name of the two countries' future.
Ace Kochevski (Liberal Party) said the agreement was a very important event in the development of relations with Greece, the normalization of trade cooperation, access to the port of Thessaloniki and the settlement of border problems.
Ismet Raamdani (PDP) said the problem should be resolved through negotiations.
Petar Gosev (Democratic Party) said he had expected to hear more but was disappointed. He said it was obvious the government was not sure whether to accept what was prepared or even if what it had already accepted would be accepted by the citizens. Mr. Gosev also said the "small package" had been accepted without a solution to the issue of the name.
Ultra-nationalists VMRO-DPMNE announced that failing to inform the public about the agreement was scandalous, criticized Mr. Crvenkovski of showing irresponsible behavior and of presenting failure in foreign policy as a success.
The World 'Macedonian' Congress (SMK) said acceptance of a change of the flag, a change in certain articles contained in the Constitution and the further use of the name FYROM constituted national treason.
Marking the 40th anniversary of the 1955 pogrom in Istanbul against the Greek community yesterday, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said there was a historical continuity and persistence in Turkey's violation of international legality and law, as proven by its invasion and continued occupation of the northern part of Cyprus.
September 6 and 7, 1955, are remembered as probably the blackest days of the Greek community in Istanbul, when churches and cemeteries were burned and desecrated and shops and houses looted. Sixteen people were killed in the pogrom.
At a later trial of then-prime minister Adnan Menderes, it was alleged that the Turkish government was involved in instigating the riots.
These facts, Mr. Venizelos added, had exposed Turkey in a dramatic fashion in the eyes of the international community. The pogrom, he said, was a crude violation of international law and a violation of the Treaty of Lausanne, violations which are now evident in Istanbul, Imvros and Tenedos.
Mr. Venizelos added Turkey's continued vandalism was evident in the invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and the continued military occupation of a large portion of the island republic.
Main opposition party New Democracy also marked the anniversary.
"Today is the 40th anniversary of that dark day in the modern history of Hellenism, September 6, 1955, when, by design of the Turkish state, a pogrom was carried out against the Greeks of Constantinople which resulted in uprooting and dramatic shrinking of the Greek Orthodox community of The City.
"Unfortunately, 40 years later, Turkey - having made the Greeks of Constantinople, Imvros and Tenedos disappear with its policies... while the Moslem minority of Western Thrace flourishes and develops - continues to provoke with its stance and dispute our national rights."
The Political Spring party submitted a proposal in parliament to establish September 6 as a Day of Memory.
National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis yesterday expressed fears that NATO air strikes against Bosnian-Serb positions might create "a particularly heavy climate" at Friday's meeting in Geneva of the Bosnian, Yugoslav and Croatian foreign ministers if they were to continue until then.
He added, however, that there was "a note of optimism" springing from the will of all sides for negotiations to continue.
The meeting in Geneva was clinched by US peace envoy Richard Holbrooke in his shuttle mission to former Yugoslavia last week. It will focus on laying the groundwork for future negotiations on the Yugoslav conflict.
Mr. Arsenis underlined the need for the creation of a NATO "Political Council" to re-examine the situation from time to time given that the procedure had become "excessively automatic", having passed into the hands solely of the NATO and UN military commanders.
"The political dimension is also necessary in order to re-examine the situation," Mr. Arsenis said, adding that he would raise the issue of "this institutional gap" at the informal meeting of NATO defense ministers in the United States on October 4-5.
He expressed the hope, however, that by then the situation will have changed.
Mr. Arsenis said that efforts were continuing from many sides including Greece and former US President Jimmy Carter "albeit for a de-escalation of the air strikes".
Replying to questions, Mr. Arsenis said that the present air strikes were on a "limited scale", without ruling out the possibility of a generalization of the attacks to include other military targets with the aim of weakening the Bosnian Serbs militarily in certain sensitive areas.
Mr. Arsenis said NATO Secretary-General Willy Claes was correct in saying that the air strikes had the unanimous approval of the 16 Alliance member states.
He added however that when NATO foreign ministers last July approved the UN Security Council resolution on the Bosnian crisis, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias had expressed Greece's "serious reservations" about the use of military force and had insisted on a political solution.
These positions, he said, have been recorded in the minutes.
The UN Security Council resolution empowered the UN military command in Bosnia to ask the NATO military commander in Naples to order air strikes against targets in Bosnia under certain conditions.
Mr. Arsenis reiterated Greece's opposition to Turkey's military presence in Bosnia, within the framework of the UN peacekeeping force, "which is why we did not accept the passage of Turkish warplanes through Greek airspace on their way to Italy".
He clarified that Athens was in favor of the participation of neighboring countries "if there is an agreed peace plan" but opposed such participation "in the case of a plan for the implementation of a peacekeeping programme".
Greece said yesterday it had denied national airspace entry to Turkish warplanes taking part in NATO military operations in former Yugoslavia.
"The Greek government on September 3 turned down a Turkish request for Turkish warplanes taking part in military operations in former Yugoslavia to pass through national airspace," a Foreign Ministry statement said.
It reiterated Greece's position on the Yugoslav crisis, saying Balkan states should refrain from military involvement in Bosnia.
Noting the Greek government's peace initiatives in the region, the statement said these initiatives "are recognized by all, except Turkey, which supposedly cares about the Alliance's solidarity and creates commotion in order to serve its own purposes."
Turkey on Monday protested the denial by the Greek authorities to permit Turkish planes to cross Greek airspace en route to Italy saying Greece's stance "will inevitably have a negative influence on the decisions and solidarity of the Alliance."
More than 100 tons of humanitarian aid - including food, clothes and pharmaceuticals - and the sum of five million drachmas has been raised by the Coordinating Committee of the Prefecture of Thessaloniki for the refugees of Krajina.
The aid shipment will be transported today to the region were the refugees are located by a Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) train and handed over to a Red Cross team.
Meanwhile, a group of doctors comprised of members of the "Medicins sans Frontieres" and "Doctors of the World" organizations are preparing to travel to where the refugees are located.
In a message marking the start of the 60th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), which he will inaugurate tomorrow evening, Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou called for the support of the Greek people in tackling the many and difficult challenges facing the country.
"The responsible and active participation of all, businessmen and working people alike, (is required) in tackling the multiple and difficult challenges we are facing." the premier's message read.
Mr. Papandreou referred to the targets and priorities of government policy which is securing employment, development, productivity, restructuring, remedying economic imbalances in conjunction with the safeguarding of social sensitivity and Greece's position in the enlarged European Union, the Balkan region, eastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean.
"Our country is experiencing an era of serious shakeups with very important consequences for its international position and the prosperity of its citizens," Mr. Papandreou said. He referred to the "great and laborious effort" started by the government " to live up to the pressures and challenges of the times."
The effort, he said, "has (had) serious results so far."
Mr. Papandreou underlined the dynamic presence of northern Greece in economic developments in Greece and the Balkans and to prospects provided.
"Political normalization in the wider region, which we hope will be achieved as soon as possible, will give our country even more important prospects. Their utilization requires mobilization, hard work, responsibility and correct choices," he said.
The prime minister will arrive in Thessaloniki, accompanied by his wife and a large number of government ministers, this afternoon.
He will officially open the TIF tomorrow evening at the Ioannis Vellides Conference Centre.
Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides will also attend the official opening as will Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev, who will arrive in the northern capital tomorrow morning.
The premier will deliver his speech, which traditionally outlines economic and government policy, aims and targets for the coming year, at an official dinner in his honor on Saturday night.
He will return to Athens on Sunday afternoon after holding a press conference at noon.
The government yesterday decided to increase funds to promote Greece as a holiday destination.
Funding for advertising campaigns abroad has dropped below the corresponding expenditures by the country's major competitors in recent years. The decision was taken at a meeting attended by five ministers focusing on tourism policy and measures t o upgrade the quality of services provided. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said that there had been an overall discussion of all the issues concerning the country's airports, ports and the organization of tourist services, adding that final decisions would soon be taken.
Tourism Minister Nikos Sifounakis said that specific measures concerning other tourism matters would be taken at meetings to be held during the next two months.
Mr. Papantoniou declined to specify the exact amount to be allocated for the promotion of Greek tourism before the state budget has been finalized.
Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday received former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev at his residence in Ekali and discussed international developments and the situation in the Balkans.
Mr. Gorbachev also met with Parliamentary President Apostolos Kaklamanis to discuss the problems in the Balkan region as well as other issues relating to the functioning of democracy.
Mr. Kaklamanis characterized Mr. Gorbachev as a personality of international prestige, underlining that he was the instigator of historical radical change, which helped in the realization of human aims such as freedom, social justice and democracy.
Mr. Gorbachev said there was agreement between the two men on the contemporary and future role of democracy.
Mr. Gorbachev also held meetings with PASOK Secretary Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras and Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos.
The "Athens Meeting", which had drawn world personalities such as former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, ended with an official dinner last night.
In discussions yesterday, National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis, Press Minister Evangelos Venizelos, PASOK Secretary Akis Tsohatzopoulos, main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert and Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos were the main speakers.
Theodoros Pangalos, a former minister and vociferous dissident of the ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), yesterday resigned from the party's Central Committee, one day after being blasted by the Executive Bureau for his criticism of government policy.
Late on Tuesday, Mr. Pangalos came under heavy fire from the Executive Bureau, which called his recent verbal attacks against Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis "unethical and vulgar".
Mr. Pangalos and Mr. Laliotis crossed swords last week over the contract for the new Athens airport at Spata.
In his resignation letter, the former minister blamed the Executive Bureau for "the developments in PASOK from its re-election to its present state". He said he would remain "close to the people" and "continue to participate in their struggle".
Mr. Pangalos remains a member of the party and retains his seat in parliament.
The announcement by PASOK's Executive Bureau said:
"Theodoros Pangalos' unethical and vulgar attack against Mr. Laliotis constitutes a direct blow against PASOK and its government and attempts to revoke a leading choice."
The announcement said the new international airport was a crucial and vital project for the country's development and the consolidation of its geopolitical position. It added that the contract ratified in Parliament was extremely beneficial for national interests and was the result of indisputable and absolutely transparent processes. The contract, it said, implemented PASOK's policy commitment in the best possible way and was sealed with the Cabinet's unanimous decision.
It went on to say that, "violating every moral and political principle, Theodoros Pangalos was deliberately trying to deal a blow to the Movement's (PASOK's) unity, autonomy and collective entity".
In a written announcement, Industry and Commerce Minister and Executive Bureau member Costas Simitis expressed regret over Theodoros Pangalos' resignation.
Mr. Simitis said personal abuse did not constitute political discussion, adding that the feud between Mr. Laliotis and Mr. Pangalos, and the way it occurred, was harmful for PASOK which could not afford the luxury of confrontations of such a kind.
He said intra-party dialogue on the country's major issues was the sole way of setting out views.
Referring to the same issue, PASOK deputy Vasso Papandreou said developments in PASOK were profoundly negative. She said she had repeatedly spoken of the need for major changes in the operation of both the government and the party. Ms Papandreou said it was high time they tackled the country's problem and not fratricidal policy.
PASOK's Central Committee Secretary Akis Tsohatzopoulos said "Mr. Pangalos' resignation is the natural consequence of his isolation."
Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos declined any comment on Mr. Pangalos' resignation, saying it was something concerning PASOK as a party.
He also said the government had no comment to make on the Executive Bureau's decision, saying it moved within its own competence and expressed PASOK's position.
Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos said the issue had two sides. The first was that PASOK's crisis was turning into a government crisis and the second was that these issues burdened the morbid climate already existing in public life. He said there was an intense political crisis and the Greek people were faced with major problems, adding that the government should preoccupy itself with them.
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert held 45-minute talks with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides on the sidelines of the "Athens Meeting" yesterday, briefing him on his recent trip to Paris and French President Jacques Chirac's posit ions on the Cyprus issue.
Mr. Evert said Mr. Chirac "dissociated Cyprus' accession to the European Union from a solution to the Cyprus problem", expressing the conviction that "Mr. Clerides must have been satisfied by French positions."
Mr. Clerides said the briefing was interesting and added "I am fully satisfied with the result of this conversation." He said an in-depth exchange of views was held on the situation governing the Cyprus issue and on prospects for progress.
Former prime minister and honorary leader of New Democracy Constantine Mitsotakis also held talks with Mr. Clerides yesterday on the Cyprus issue, in conjunction with developments in the Balkans and Europe.
Mr. Mitsotakis termed the exchange of views "useful and beneficial" and said that he and Mr. Clerides reached the conclusion that "Hellenism should continue to struggle for a solution to the problem which can not remain unresolved indefinitely at a time when there is such mobility around all issues and issues in the Middle East and the Balkans are being led to a solution."
He said it was Greece's duty "to struggle together, unyielding to the end, for the just causes of Hellenism in Cyprus."
Mr. Clerides said he briefed Mr. Mitsotakis on his positions and that they unanimously agreed that "the course is correct."
Mr. Clerides said there should be close cooperation between the governments of the two countries, adding that "we must fight the big battle for Hellenism united."
Referring to developments in former Yugoslavia, Mr. Mitsotakis reiterated that:
"It is at its most crucial turning point. We are either going towards peace or a Balkan war and I believe that the policy followed in the Balkans at present is correct. The Americans have realized which is the correct policy. They are relying on President Milosevic and New Yugoslavia and I think that peace prospects are good."
The European Commission has decided to give Greece a one-week extension to a deadline to privatize the Skaramangas Shipyards.
During Alternate Industry Minister Christos Rokofyllos' visit to Brussels on July 26, Community Competition Policy Commissioner Karel van Miert had made it clear the Commission would take Greece to the European Court if it did not privatize the Skaramangas Shipyards by September 6 at the latest.
The latest extension brings the deadline to September 13.
The Greek shipbuilding and repairs sector was shaken by the decision by the Peratikos Group to close the Elefsina Shipyards and withdraw its bid for Skaramangas on August 14. Since then, the government has been in continuous contact with European Commission officials, briefing them on various proposals and primarily on its decision to opt for the proposal by the Kalogeridis Group to buy the Skaramangas yards for 8 billion drachmas.
Consequently, the Commission agreed to an extension of the time limit to give the Greek government time to better assess its options and examine the solvency of prospective buyers.
According to reports yesterday, the Kalogeridis Group has requested a one-week extension to enable a discussion on the Skaramangas Shipyards issue to take place.
Alternate Minister Christos Rokofyllos was due to meet representatives of the Group today.
About 30 members of the Greek branch of Greenpeace staged a demonstration outside the French Embassy yesterday, protesting France's resumption of nuclear tests off the Mururoa Atoll in the south Pacific yesterday.
Demonstrators wore white uniforms with yellow blouses and carried a photograph of French President Jacques Chirac with an inscription reading "Stop him!".
They formed a human chain around the embassy in downtown Athens, unfurling a banner outside the embassy's entrance that read "No to nuclear tests" and stuck anti-nuke stickers on the embassy railings.
Greenpeace has so far collected 150,000 signatures in Greece against nuclear tests.
The Political Spring party yesterday issued a statement condemning the French nuclear detonation yesterday.
"The nuclear test held today (yesterday), despite world outcry, constitutes an unfortunate blow to the era's demand for denuclearization and is a disappointment to international opinion," the statement read. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) also announced its opposition to nuclear testing and condemned France for ignoring the protests and demonstrations.
The only solution is an agreement which forbids the production of nuclear weapons, destroys already existing ones and gives international guarantees of its implementation, the announcement added.