From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 15 Nov 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Tirana, 15/11/93(ANA-K.Christodoulou/Vichos/Reuters)-Greek-Albanian talks are on a good course, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said after a meeting with his Albanian counterpart Alfred Serreqi during his first day of talks in Tirana yesterday. The two ministers focused their discussion on bilateral and international issues, particularly on the situation in the Balkans and the Yugoslav crisis. Following the meeting, Mr Papoulias said the talks, expected to conclude today, "have entered a good course". Mr Papoulias described his visit to Tirana as especially useful at a critical period for the Balkan peninsula and at the dawn of a new period in Greek-Albanian relations. "As neighbouring peoples we have common interests and side by side we have lived for many centuries", Mr Papoulias told Mr Serreqi. "We have fought together many times and I think that this historic conscience of both peoples will help overcome existing obstacles and open a new sector of co-operation for the achievement of common interests and contribution to peace in the Balkan peninsula", he added. Expressing optimism for the results of the talks, Mr Serreqi described Mr Papoulias' visit to Tirana as "a test for good will which constitutes a new milestone in Greek-Albanian relations". Meanwhile, sources told the ANA talks were very important as they introduced a new phase in Greek-Albanian relations. The same sources said the two parties also discussed the establishment of a joint inter-ministerial committee to deal with economic issues, for the founding of which Alternate National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou is expected to visit Tirana soon. The issue of the Greek minority's rights was also discussed at the meeting which decided the establishment of a special committee to deal with educational issues concerning the minority. The meeting also decided the establishment of special committees to deal with the issue of Albanian illegal immigrants to Greece as well as issues of military co-operation. According to a Reuters dispatch, an Albanian spokesman said Mr Papoulias and his Albanian counterpart were both optimistic that better relations between the two countries could be forged. "The talks held on Sunday indicated a new development in Albanian-Greek relations", Albanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramazan Hysa told journalists. He said the talks covered the rights of Albania's Greek minority, estimated at 400,000 by Athens, as well as the problem of illegal Albanian immigrants in Greece. Relations between Tirana and Athens became increasingly strained after Albania's Stalinist regime crumbled in 1990, ending nearly, 50 years of isolation. Since then as many as 300,000 Albanians have fled their impoverished country across the rugged mountain border into Greece where they work. Relations plummeted last June after Albania expelled a Greek Orthodox priest, accusing him of fomenting separatism among the ethnic Greeks of southern Albania. Yesterday, Mr Papoulias was also expected to have separate meetings with representatives from the ethnic Greek Omonia party, the Human Rights Union of the Socialist and Socialdemocratic party, the Democratic Co-operation, and also with Archbishop of Albania, Anastasios. Today, Mr Papoulias is scheduled to meet with Albanian President Sali Berisha and Prime Minister Alexander Meksi. Mr Papoulias and Mr Serreqi are also due to hold a joint press conference today. According to sources, the ministers will announce at the conference a series of initiatives designed to smooth and develop Greek-Albanian relations. The Greek delegation is expected to return later today. Split, 15/11/93(ANA-K.Christodoulou)-- Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias told journalists yesterday he expected to meet with Bosnian Moslem leader Alija Izetbegovic this week. Mr Papoulias was due to meet Mr Izetbegovic on Saturday but his visit was cancelled after a special aircraft, scheduled to fly the Greek minister from Split to Sarajevo, did not appear. Nevertheless, Mr Papoulias held a meeting at the Split airport with Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic, who was returning from Sarajevo. Mr Granic's effort to hold a meeting with Mr Izetbegovic while in Sarajevo had failed. Turkish Foreign Minister Hikmet Cetin also failed to see Mr Izetbegovic in Sarajevo. Athens, 15/11/93(ANA)--Greece said yesterday that Italy's intention to forge diplomatic ties with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia would act as a destabilising factor in the Balkans. "In every circumstances it is evident that the diplomatic practice of states and particularly those of the European Community should contribute to the maintenance of stability and peace in the Balkans and should not encourage provocative and historically unfounded claims," government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said. He was replying to statement by Italian Foreign Minister Beniamino Andreatta that Italy was prepared to recognise the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on a diplomatic level within the next few days. Italy recognised the country as an independent state in April, soon after it was admitted to the United Nations under the temporary name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Greece has been blocking international recognition of the new state, saying its use of the name 'Macedonia' or any other derivatives conceal territorial claims on Greece's northern province of the same name. Greece and the former Yugoslav republic have been involved in UN-sponsored talks to resolve the name dispute, but Athens' newly-elected socialist government recently lambasted Skopje for its "continued intransigence". "The Greek government is not willing to permit the Skopje government to continue deceiving international public opinion as it does not have the slightest intention of co-operating for a peaceful resolution of the dispute", Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said in a letter to the UN chief earlier this month. He pointed out in the three-page letter that continuation of UN-sponsored talks hinged on Skopje changing its obstinate stance and meeting a list of criteria. These include ceasing its hostile propaganda, abandoning claims to national Greek emblems and dropping demands to use the name 'Macedonia' or any of its derivatives. Athens, 15/11/93(ANA)--Culture Minister Melina Merkouri and alternate minister Thanos Mikroutsikos yesterday visited Thessaloniki to discuss preparations for Thessaloniki 's European Cultural Capital events, to be held in 1997. "Thessaloniki and the preparations for (its assumption of) Cultural Capital are the first priority of the government", Ms Mercouri said. Ms Mercouri and Mr Mikroutsicos visited the restored neo-classical house which serves as headquarters for the organising committee for the 1997 events, and met with the executive committee. Ms Mercouri said it had been "a great achievement for Thessaloniki to be selected as Cultural Capital of Europe" and promised that she would immediately authorise the release of 500 million Dr for infrastructure works, criticising the 20-month delay in the disbursement of the funds. "If the money is not delivered (to the organising committee) by the end of the year it will return to the Finance Ministry", Ms Mercouri said. Mr Mikroutsicos said the responsibility for the works and preparations lay with the Thessaloniki Municipality adding that the ministry would take a co-ordinating role. According to Ms Mercouri, Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou will announce in the next few days the ministers which will comprise the committee overseeing preparations. It is expected that Ms Mercouri will be among the three ministers on the committee. Athens,15/11/93(ANA)--Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou is to have a series of crucial meetings as of today, mainly on the country's national issues. Mr Papandreou will be received today at noon by President Constantine Karamanlis to discuss the progress of the economy as well as current political developments. Today at noon, Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides is arriving on an official visit. He will meet the prime minister tomorrow for a discussion on the progress of the Cyprus problem. President Clerides will also have meetings with President Karamanlis and the leaders of political parties. On Wednesday, Mr Papandreou will have a meeting with New Democracy leader Miltiadis Evert, a meeting which will constitute a turning point on opposition practice in recent years. Athens, 15/11/93(ANA)--Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday that the arrival of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides in Athens today and his meeting with Premier Andreas Papandreou tomorrow was viewed by the government as a working visit of particular importance. "The positions of both governments form a framework of co-operation which allows for the best possible promotion of our national issue at all levels", he said. Athens, 15/11/93(ANA)--Culture Minister Melina Mercouri yesterday described the GATT agreement as the darkest hour in European film-making. "The darkest point in European cinematography is the GATT agreement which treats film-making like merchandise not as cultural or spiritual work", Ms Mercouri told a press conference yesterday in Thessaloniki. She was speaking in view of preparations for the 100th anniversary of European cinematography, to be celebrated in 1995. President of the European Council Committee for the 100 years of Cinematography, Jean Deer was also present at the conference. At the conference, which was held at the conclusion of the 34th Thessaloniki Film Festival, Ms Mercouri announced that film critic Yannis Bakoyannopoulos had been appointed advisor on cinematography. Alternate Culture Minister Thanos Mikroutsicos said the appointment of a film advisor showed "the direct interest of the ministry to launch an offensive on the issue of Greek film-making". Ms Mercouri further announced that the Culture Ministry would proceed very soon to solve problems pending for Greek film making and finance a selection of Greek movies. Athens,15/11/93(ANA)--The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) yesterday named Sotiris Goritsa's "From the Snow" the best Greek movie of the year. The international panel of critics also voted Taiwan director Ping Ho's "18" as the best foreign film. The awards were announced at the 34th Thessaloniki Film Festival. Athens, 15/11/93(ANA)--New Democracy leader Miltiadis Evert announced his decisions for the reorganisation of the party and parliamentary mechanism of New Democracy last night, appointing former national defence minister Ioannis Varvitsiotis alternate president of the party and vice president of its executive committee. According to the decisions taken by Mr Evert: Athanasios Tsaldaris is appointed head of ND relations with other parties and chairman of the committee of the party's code of ethics; Achilleas Karamanlis is appointed chairman of the organisation of the party congress; Athanasios Kanellopoulos secretary general of the parliamentary group and co-ordinator of parliamentary representatives and the secretariat of the parliamentary group; Aristidis Kalantzakos alternate secretary of parliamentary group assisted by deputies Yannis Homatas, Yannis Stathopoulos and Nontas Zafiropoulos; George Souflias, Dimitris Sioufas and Theodoros Anagnostopoulos are appointed parliamentary representatives. Other appointments include: Professor Yannis Vartholomeos, director general of New Democracy and Nikos Balios, director of the party leader's political bureau.