Subject: A.N.A. Bulletin 2/10/93 From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca United Nations (ANA-M Georgiadou/Reuter) - Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou yesterday proposed a UN world summit to be held in Athens in January 2000 to adopt a global agenda for the 21st century. ``We firmly believe that each member of the United Nations and all together have a moral obligation to act in order to ensure a better future for mankind``, he said in a speech to the General Assembly. ``In this respect, allow me ... to announce that the government of Greece, eager to contribute to this end, has the honour to propose the convening of an international United Nations summit in Greece in January of the year 2000 aiming at adopting a global agenda for the 21st century``. The general topic of the gathering could be ``Partners for a better world: on the threshold of the 21st century``, he said. A preparatory committee or working group of all UN members could be set up to deal with the substance as well as organisational aspects of the proposed summit. On the question of Cyprus, he said it ``still remains occupied and divided``, with 30,000 Turkish troops occupying 38 per cent of the republic. ``What is more, thousands of setlers from the mainland have upset the demographic balance of the population``, he said, referring to Turks who arrived after Turkish troops occupied the north of the island in 1974. ``We note with deep concern a complete lack of progress towards the solution of the Cyprus problem during this year``, he said, alluding to long-running UN-sponsored talks aimed at reuniting the island under a federal system. Mr Papaconstantinou said that despite the efforts of Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali and his representatives, ``talks in New York and in Cyprus came to a stand-still because of the unwillingness of the Turkish Cypriot leadership to engage in meaningful negotiations, either on the overall agreement or on confidence-building measures``. ``We join to secretary general`s call to Turkey to fully assume its responsibilities and exercise its decisive influence with the Turkish Cypriot leaders in order to achieve progress``, he said. Mr. Papaconstantinou began his address referring to the ``unprecedented historic`` Palestinian-Israeli agreement, ``the brave step towards peace`` made in Washington recently, adding:``We are greatly satisfied by the fact that these historic negotiations paved the way to peace``. On the question of Bosnia, Mr. Papaconstantinou said as soon as an agreement in reached ``we should be actively present in the huge task of rebuilding former Yugoslavia. We propose that planning should start immediately``. The European Community, he said, bears the greatest responsibility, adding that Greece had expressed its readiness to host an international meeting on restoring and rebuilding former Yugoslavia with the participation of contributing and neighbouring countries. Mr. Papaconstantinou said the granting of considerable economic and financial aid is a precondition to attaining social harmony and the strengthening of democracy. ``We should hope peace will be achieved soon and without delay. We should seriously prepare the `next day` from now``, he said. Mr. Papaconstantinou ``confirmed Greece`s sincere desire to offer its contribution in supporting (Balkan countries`) economies``. ``The cooperation of our nothern neighbours is invaluable in the futher linking of our economies with those of the countries of central, northern and western Europe``, he said. ``But our neighbours also need Greece`s cooperation to incorporate their economies in the European Community and to have access to the trade routes of the Mediterranean and the Middle East``. Referring to problems faced by Albania, Mr. Papaconstantinou said Greece was fully aware of the need to offer aid and had already helped Albania handle its grave economic difficulties and strengthen its democratic institutions. ``We again call on the Albanian government to actively implement protection of minority rights forseen by the CSCE and particularly in the fields of education and religion. The Greek minority in Albania, as well as every other minority in the world, should not lack religious freedoms and the right to education``, he said. Albania, he said, cannot deny minorities on its territory what it requests for its minorities abroad. Commenting on the Skopje issue, Mr. Papaconstantinou said: ``We express our thanks to (UN mediator Cyrus) Vance who agreed to continue these efforts according to Security Council Resolution 845 (1993). A solution to this problem will strengthen stability in the Balkan region. Greece`s position is clear: we are struggling to eliminate a possible flashpoint in the Balkans. A conflict could lead to tension with unforeseen and possibly grave consequences``. Mr. Papaconstantinou praised the work of the United Nations and, in particular, its peacekeeping work. ``The successful outcome of peacekeeping operations has strengthened the United Nations` prestige, credibility and power. However, because the United Nations` system was not ready to face such a big challenge, all seem to agree on the need to adjust and improve methods and means at the organistation`s disposal``, he said. Athens (ANA) - In statements to Greek reporters later, Mr. Papaconstantinou underlined the significance of the two proposals Greece made to the international community. He first referred to the proposal for a summit in Greece, which would include the European Community and countries neighbouring Yugoslavia, to focus on the economic, social and cultural recovery of the Balkans. He also referrd to planning for the ``next day`` after peace is achieved in Bosnia, so that the international community will not find itself unprepared as in the recent signing of the Palestinian-Israeli agreement. Mr. Papaconstantinou said, in his view and in the view of many member states, as ascertained in bilateral meetings and contacts he held in New York in his capacity as EC troika member, the Cyprus issue is ``next in turn``. It is the pending issue which will actively preoccupy the international community following progress in the Palestinian issue, he said. Speaking of his visit to Luxembourg to support the Commission`s avis on Cyprus` accession to the Community, Mr. Papaconstantinou said the issue has now entered an ``active accession orbit``, referring to continuous contacts he has had in New York with his Cypriot counterpart Alecos Michaelides. Athens (ANA) - Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis has sent a message of condolences to his Indian counterpart P.V. Narashima Rao on the deaths of thousands of people killed in a massive earthquake Thursday. ``The great natural disaster that has plundered your country has caused the deepst grief in Greece. On behalf of the Greek people I would like to express my deepest grief and sympathy for the victims of the catastrophe``, Mr Mitsotakis said in the message. Coalition of the Left and Progress Leader Maria Damanaki has also sent a message of condolences. Ms. Damanaki said the thousands of victims and great catastrophes have once again ``brought into the open the miserable living conditions prevailing in the developing world which make the role of the Left in bridging the gap between North and South dramatically urgent``. At least 6,000 people were killed and thousands more injured in the earthquake that primarily hit the towns of Umbarga and khilari, two remote areas some 450 kms east of Bombay. Athens (ANA) - National Defence Minister Ioannis Varvitsiotis yesterday received a courtesy visit from NATO Deputy Secretary General Amedeo de Franchis, currently in Athens to attend the 39th General Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association. Mr. Varvitsiotis present Ambassador de Franchis with a commemorative plaque at the end of their meeting. Athens (ANA) - Western European Union Secretary General Willem van Eeckelen yesterday said the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) should transform itself into a ``two pillar organistation``, one American and one European. Addressing the 39th General Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA), which ended yesterday, Mr. van Eeckelen said that it would be ``diffucult to imagine Europe without defence, but also difficult to count on a long-term US presence in Europe``. Such a presence could be possible if the responsibilities of the United States were better defined as ``complementary`` to those of European States, Mr. van Eeckelen said, adding that the Western European Union and NATO are not competing against each other. ``In those operations in which the United States will actively participate, NATO will present the best option. In other operations in which Europe will hold the main role, it will be the Western European Union``, Mr. van Eeckelen said and observed that ``the US role is becoming less dominant`` while countries like France and Spain seem to have less problems concerning NATO actions. Criticising the western nations` unwillingness to intervene in Yugoslavia to put and end to the conflict, Mr. van Eeckelen said that the ``principal error`` in this crisis was ``the unwillingness to include the use of force as an option for the West to achieve a political solution``. In a press conference marking the end of the sessions, ATA president Tapplet Bennett said that participants in the Athens assembly amended the association`s statutes allowing eastern countries to become full members. The assembly sessions which have been attended by 400 politicians, professors and military officials from NATO member coutnries, as well as from the former eastern European states, came to a close yesterday in Athens. Athens (ANA) - Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis will address a rally of New Democracy party supporters in Thessaloniki tonight. He will attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow morning, accompanied by Deputy Premier Tzannis Tzannetakis, to open the new speedway at Orhomenos and then visit Nafpaktos, Messolonghi, tour the Chryssovitsa irrigation project, visit Agrinion and address another rally in Kalamata in the evening. On Monday the prime minister will visit the prefectur of Epiros, including the towns of Aktion, Arta, Ioannina, Igoumenitsa and Preveza in his shedule. On Thuesday he will tour the prefecturs of Drama, Serres and Kilkis. Athens (ANA) - Main oppostion PASOK leader Andreas Papandreou will address a rally tomorrow evening at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Maria Damanaki is to address a rally in Ioannina -- her constituency -- tonight. Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga will speak tomorrow at a KKE gathering in Volos. Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras will hold his main pre-election gathering at the Panathinaikos Stadium tonight. Athens (ANA) - The first seminar of the Balkans Journalists Confederation opened yesterday in Thessaloniki with thw participation of representatives from all press unions in the Balkans. In an opening speech, Antonis Kourtis, president of the Macedonian-Thrace Press Union (ESHEMA), addressed the role of the Balkans press in dealing with critical problems facing the region. The confederation, founded on the initiative of ESHEMA, aims at coordinating common action in the cultural and professional fields. The seminar is also attended by International Press Association Secretary General, Aidan White. Mr. White expressed his satisfaction at the establishment of the onfederation and pledged support, particularly in the field of educational programmes. (I.X.)