From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 10 Nov 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Zagreb, 10/11/1993 (ANA - N. Georgiadis / K. Christodoulou): Greece's Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday met with Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic. Zagreb is Mr. Papoulias' third stop on tour of Balkan capitals. Earlier in the day he held talks in Podgorica with Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic. Mr. Papoulias is expected to meet with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman today. In statements after talks with Mr. Granic, Mr. Papoulias said there were many possibilities for the development of Greek-Croatian relations, adding that the talks focused on the Bosnian conflict and on issues of common interest. Greek sources said that a Greek embassy will soon be opened in Zagreb, and a Greek minister will visit the Croatian capital for talks on economic issues. In Podgorica, the first time a Greek foreign minister had visited Montenegro, Mr. Papoulias said the upshot of talks he had with Montenegro's political leadership was that it was necessary for sanctions on New Yugoslavia to be reconsidered in the framework of European union. Mr. Papoulias expressed the Greek government's serious reservations on the political gains the international community received from the imposition of the sanctions. The government, he said, has decided to open a consulate general in Montenegro, adding that Greece was in the process of sending humanitarian aid to the republic. Greece, he said, will also help in resolving problems faced by Montenegro since 70 per cent of its fleet is immobilised at various ports due to the embargo. Mr. Papoulias said that the Community should reconsider and possibly revise decisions on sanctions against Yugoslavia, which also have repercussions for Montenegro. On the question of Kosovo, Mr. Papoulias reiterated the Greek government's position that Balkan flashpoints should be eliminated. The Greek government, he said, cannot overlook the fact that Kosovo is a flashpoint for the Balkans; he expressed the wish for appropriate solutions to be found for a peaceful settlement of the crisis in the event of friction. President Bulatovic briefed Mr. Papoulias on the disastrous consequences faced by his country as a result of the sanctions, expressing his satisfaction at Greece's response. He also expressed the wish for greater co-operation and the strengthening of relations between Greece and Montenegro. The Greek delegation's plane, due to leave for Split where Mr. Papoulias was to meet with the leader of Bosnia's Croats Mate Borba, was delayed at Podgorica's airport in Montenegro for about three hours, causing the cancellation of the meeting. From there Mr. Papoulias was to fly to Sarajevo by helicopter to meet Moslem leader Alija Izetbegovic. The cancellation of the flight to Split was due to a technicality and led to the postponement of the meeting between Mr. Papoulias and Mr. Izetbegovic. The Greek delegation hopes the meeting will take place today and relative consultations started from Zagreb yesterday afternoon after the plane finally arrived after flying over Belgrade and via Hungary. Zagreb, 10/11/1993 (ANA / N. Georgiadis - K. Christodoulou): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday said letters, pointing out the Greek positions on the Skopje issue, were sent to US. Secretary of State Warner Christopher and to the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia, China, Britain and France) and also to Spain. The letters, which are in the spirit of the letter sent to UN chief Boutros Boutros Ghali last week, called on the Security Council members to exercise their influence on Skopje for the finding of a solution of the issue. The Hague, 10/11/1993 (ANA - L. Vassiliadi): Alternate Foreign Minister Theodore Pangalos met with Dutch Foreign Minister Pieter Koojimans and the Foreign under-secretary in charge of European Affairs Pieter Dankert at the Hague yesterday. Discussion focused on Mr. Pangalos' tour of other Community capitals in preparation for Greece's assumption of the EC rotating presidency in January 1994, and Greek priorities for issues to be raised during its presidency. These issues include economic recovery, as well as competitiveness and employment in the Community, and Community expansion through the admission of Sweden, Finland, Norway and Austria. Reports say it was established the aim was to have Community expansion talks concluded next March. The two delegations also agreed on a common stance on boosting the EC's economy, establishing the European Union as a tangible reality for its citizens, and humanitarian aid to Bosnia, elections in Russia and South Africa. Speaking to the press, Mr. Pangalos said the situation in the Balkans was very sensitive, and Greece had felt the impact of fighting in Yugoslavia on both its economy and on tourism. He added the convergence plan for Greece approved by the Community would be reviewed, since the aims for inflation and the public deficit on the previous administration had not been achieved. Mr. Pangalos flew to Paris last night. He will confer with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe this morning, and then fly to Rome for talks with Italian Foreign Minister Beniamino Andreatta. Athens, 10/11/1993 (ANA): The scheduled Cabinet meeting on Friday will cover the whole spectrum of government activity, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday. Premier Andreas Papandreou will preside over the meeting, scheduled for 1 pm. Mr. Venizelos also said that Vassilis Serdalis had been appointed president of the Organisation for the Rehabilitation of Ailing Enterprises (OAE). Responding to journalists' questions, Mr. Venizelos reiterated: Alternate Foreign Minister Theodore Pangalos' statement on community decisions relating to EC-Turkey relations still stood adding that an examination of the Twelve's common stance showed positive elements; Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias' statement corroborated that the purpose of his Balkan tour is to promote peace and co-operation in the region; and Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides will visit Athens November 16. Athens, 10/11/1993 (ANA): Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides will be the guest speaker at a Foreign Press Association (FPA) luncheon at 1:30 p.m. on November 17 at the Grande Bretagne Hotel. Mr. Clerides, who will be in Athens for talks with the new government, will address the gathering on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue. London, 10/11/1993 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis): Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos is on a five-day visit to London at the invitation of the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, with whom he has a close co-operation on theological and environmental issues. Today, the Patriarch is scheduled to meet with the Archbishop of Canterbury John Carey. He will also address the two-day Synod of the Anglican Church. Later, Archbishop Vartholomeos will have a meeting with Roman Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal Hume. Tonight, the Turkish Ambassador to London will host a dinner in honour of Archbishop Vartholomeos. Athens, 10/11/1993 (ANA): Press Under-secretary and government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos met yesterday with Archbishop Anastasios of Albania. The Archbishop briefed Mr. Venizelos on the current situation of the Orthodox church in Albania. Athens, 10/11/1993 (ANA): Culture Minister Melina Mercouri returned yesterday from her first visit abroad since taking office, which included attending the UNESCO conference in Paris and representing Greece at the European Community's Council of Culture Ministers in Brussels. "President Mitterrand, with whom I met in Paris, enthusiastically accepted my invitation to visit the Aegean islands this coming April", she told a press conference, adding that "the Aegean is the arc of Hellenism and ... our country's backbone". She said the French president's visit was in light of an action programme promoted by the Greek government to protect and develop the cultural heritage of the Aegean. "Mr. Mitterrand responded positively to a request to participate in an action plan of the Greek government aimed at culturally protecting and developing the Aegean", Ms. Mercouri said. The press conference she gave was attended by Samos deputy Mr. Sofoulis who clarified the "Aegean Archipelago" programme which he termed "an inter-ministerial programme which primarily concerns cultural production as an incentive, a basic lever for development in the special role played by the Aegean". The culture ministry will promote a joint programme with the environment, education and defence ministries to enable the Aegean to be declared a "cultural park" and have its cultural heritage safeguarded.