US envoy Miller hears Athens' complaints over recent Turkish behaviour

Athens 12/03/1999 (ANA)
Turkey must cease "its futile effort to link its pre-election campaign with statements against Greece", Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis told visiting special US State Department envoy for Cyprus Thomas Miller yesterday.   "Greece condemns terrorism, but Turkey must not disorient public opinion with statements on this issue," he said after two hours of talks with Mr. Miller on Greek-Turkish relations, Cyprus and the Kosovo problem. He also said Washington had a role to play in improving Greek-Turkish relations. "We are in favour of good relations with Turkey and are trying to improve them in a constructive manner, but the US must also play a role in this," he stressed.
Responding to questions, Mr. Miller, who also visited Cyprus and Turkey, said "we shall do everything we can" to bring about the necessary de-escalation of tension in Greek-Turkish relations.  He added that Greek-US relations were strong, that the Cyprus issue had become stagnant for too long, but noted that the situation
in the broader region was worse a few years ago.
Regarding the situation in the Balkans, Mr. Kranidiotis said stability should be pursued on the basis of the principles of international law and good neighbourliness, and that Greece and the US would maintain constant contact on the issues.