Subject: News I, 28/07/93 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). To: macedonia@husc.harvard.edu (macedonia list.) Date: Wed, 28 Jul 93 15:01:44 EDT bulletin, 28/07/1993 ( ) ------------------------ A.N.A. Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--Greece aims to create a ''climate of understanding and cooperation'' in the Balkans and is awaiting a ''level-headed'' attutude from Albania's leadership which will contribute to the restoration of smooth bilateral relations, the foreign ministry said yesterday. Commenting on recent statements by Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi, foreign ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou said:''We consider Mr Serreqi's statement proof that Albania places great significance on its relations with its neighbours''. Referring to Mr Serreqi's statements concerning ''property claims'' in Greece, Mr Papaconstantinou said Greece was willing to examine issues concerning the property of Albanians in Greece ''in conjunction with issues concerning the property of Greeks in Albania''. Commenting, however, on Mr Serreqi's claims of property ''claims'' of the so-called ''Tsamides'' minority in Greece, the spokesman said that ''we are not aware of such claims in our country by this imaginary minority''. ''Greece'', he said, ''has made every possible effort for the development of relations with Albania on the basis of the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and respect for human and minority rights as provided by the CSCE and other international treaties''. ''Greece wants to create... th econditions for the consolidation of peace and development in the region. ''Greece is not putting forward unjust claims, as claimed by Mr Serreqi, but rather expects Albania to overcome the prejudices and practices of the past and show in practice that it safeguards and respects all the rights of the Greek minority, wherever it may be in Albania and not only within arbitrarily-designated minority zones, just as the Albanian government demands the same for the Albanian minorities in former Yugoslavia'', the spokesman said. He said that Greece wanted ''to reverse the climate of tension and distrust which continues to be cultivated in relations between the two countries, to the detriment of the Greek minority in Albania''. Greece is waiting for Albania's leadership to display the required level-headedness and contribute to restoring smooth bilateral relations, for the benefit of developments and prosperity of the Albanian people and for stability in the region ,he added. Mr Papaconstantinou said the Greek government supports the rights of Albania's Orthodox Church to freely carry out its work. ''We cannot overlook, however, that the restrictions on the work for its reconstruction hamper the Greek minority in exercising its religious rights and result in the creation of a climate of insecurity among its members. In this context, the transfer to Albania- following the request of the Albanian Church--of clerics from Greece on a temporary basis, would assist in the reconstruction of the Orthodox Church of Albania and in meeting its immediate needs during this period of transition when local clergymen and church officials are being trained''. The spokesman said that Greece ''supported and continues to support'' Albania's efforts for reconstruction and democratization, and sought collaboration with Albania in all sectors. ana The Hague, 28/7/93(Macedonian Press Agency)--CSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities Max van Der Stoel today begins his second trip to Albania, undertaken on the invitation of Albanian President Sali Berisha. Mr Van Der Stoel, speaking in a radio interview, ,said he had been invited to examine th eproblems facing the Greek minority. He added that the problem was serious and causing particular concern to the Greek government, which has stipulated six conditions for the restoration of friendly relations between Greece and Albania. ana Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--Greece yesterday expressed its disappointment to the Ukraine over Kiev's intention to recognise Skopje under the name ''Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia''. Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou said that the ministry had expressed the government's disappointment to the Urkainian Ambassador in Athens. Mr Papaconstantinou said that his ministry had learned of the Urakin'es intention to recognize Skopje and had ''lodged the necessary protests with Kiev''. He said the Greek government had expressed the view to the Ukraine that its decision did not contribute to the procedure begun by the UN with the mediation of Cyrus Vance. However, Mr Papaconstantinou went on, the Ukrainians had assured Athens that there was no question at the present time of Kiev establishing diplomatic relations with Skopje. ana Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--The foreign ministry expressed its satisfaction yesterday at views expressed by Danish Tourism and Communications Minister Arne Melchior on Athens's dispute with Skpje on the issue of the former Yugoslav republic's name. Mr Melchior strongly supported Greece's case in a letter to the Danish paper ''Berlingske Tidende'', saying that the creation of a state with the name Macedonia in the region could ''only be considered a provocation''. Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou said that Mr Melchior's comments were positive not onlyh on the question of the recognition of Skopje but also on Greece's support of the embargo. ''Mr Melchior's comments outline the situation justlyh and realistically'', Mr Papaconstantinou added. ana Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--The government yesterday expressed the hope that the Yugoslav authorities would change their stance and allow CSCE observers into Kosovo and Vojvodina. Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou made the satement following the Yugoslav government's decision not to allow the CSCE team of observers, which included a Greek, to continue their mission in Kosovo and Vojvodina. ana Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--Greece attributes special importance to Greek expatriates who stand by their homeland in all crucial moments, Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou told the sessions of the 6th International Conference of Panmacedonian Unions yesterday. Mr Papaconstantinou returned from Kastoria yesterday afternoon, where he had declared the conference officially opened. He was accompanied by Undersecretary to the Prime Minister's office and New Democracy Parliamentary Group Secretary Constantine Simeoforidis and ND party director general Constantine Pylarinos. Macedonians, he said, had helped Greece on the Skpje issue by managing to influence the governments o fcountries they live in with huge rallies and giving international public opinion a special message. Mr Papaconstantinou presented the 250 delegates from Greek communities around the world with government foreign policy positions and a corresponding analysis. We discovered, he said, about one million Greeks in the former Soviet Union who had been moved to various parts of the then vast Soviet Union by Stalin, adding that the govenrment was trying to locate them now. The diaspora, Mr Papaconstantinou said, totalled some five million. The conference, which formally started in Thessaloniki Sunday, will continue in Kastoria today while meetings will follow in Florina and end in Kozani on Sunday night.It considered to be a serious effort to strengthen relations between expatriates and the motherland. Asked by the press whether reports were true that there was pressure for Skopje to be recognised in September, Mr Papaconstantinou said:''I do not know of any such pressure, I have no information at all. I velieve that (mediator Cyrus) Vance, who is vacotioning, has ont yet started contacts. I cannot see from where pressures have been exerted''. Government spokesman Vassilis Manginas sent a message to the conference stressing that all Hellenism is by the expatriates'side. Mr Manginas hailed the work of the expatriate media in particular ''which pioneer in every national mobilisation and constitute the expatriates'main means of communication with Greece''. ''The Greek people and the government is constantly by your side, making every possible effort to strenghten inviolable bonds joining us'', the message said. ''Each one of you, the Church, your organisations and the media representing you constitute the power which stopped and overturned the plans of those who either maliciously or out of ignorance attempted to distort history. Your influence on centres of decision-making and the public opinion of the countries you live in was decisive'', he said. ana Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--Greece yesterday expressed confern over the worsening situation situation in southern Lebanon and condemned both the attacks against Israel and th e''disproportionately escalated response''to those attacks.Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Papaconstantinou added that Greece continued to hope that the opposing sides would show restraint ''so as not to jeopardize the Middle East peace process which must be safeguarded by all''. ana Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis sent a message of congratulations to British Prime Minister John Major yesterday, following the successful outcome of a vote of confidence in the British government by Britain's parliament. Mr Major won a parliamentary confidence vote on Friday which will clear the way for the British ratification of the Maastricht treaty. The premier's message reads:''I warmly congratulate you for your success which marks a further step forward and encourages our efforts for the attainment of our common European goals. ''The achieved result crowns your personal tireless efforts and political handling and brings all of us much closer to the realization of the European union''. ana Athens, 28/7/93(ANA)--Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis met with a delegation from the Cyprus Committee of Relatives of the Missing yesterday. The premier expressed the government's and his own personal interest in the issue and assured the delegation that the government fully supported efforts to deal with the matter. Mr Mitsotakis was also paid a visit by departing Spanish ambassador for Athens Enrique Mahou. ana Melbourne 28/7/93(ANA)--The Greek and Greek Cypriot Australian community in Victoria commemorated the ''black anniversary'' of Turkey's invasion of Cyprus in style last Sunday, with thousands taking part in the events. Events included a memorial mass for the fallen and Archbishop Makarios, the first president of Cyprus, followed by a march and a concert by Cypriot composer Mario Tokas at the Melbourne Town Hall. This year's events were organised by the Coordinating Committee for the Cyprus Struggle. Especially impressive was the presence at the march of 1,619 black-clad women, who, carrying photographs, candles and flowers, reminded marchers and onlookers of the 1,619 people still missing after Turkey's occupation. The march was led by Cypriot youths dressed in traditional constume carrying the Greek, Cypriot and Australian flags. On the steps outside the state parliament, the crowd, estimated at between 3,000-7,000 people, was addressed by various Australian government officials and politicians and representatives of the Greek and Cypriot communities. Events closed with the national anthems of Australia and Greece and the approval of resolutions to be sent to Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis, Australian Prime Minister Paul keating and chief opposition parties, UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali and the European Commission President Jacques Delors.