From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 25 Nov 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens, 25/11/93(ANA)--Greece yesterday expressed its wholehearted support for the Middle-East peace process and the Israeli-Palestinian accord, in talks Palestine Liberation Organisation Chairman Yasser Arafat had with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday. "Despite the considerable difficulties which must be overcome, the peace process under way in the region holds out great prospects", Mr Papandreou said in statements after his 45-minute meeting with Mr Arafat. Mr Arafat, the premier said, was a "historic figure". Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and Palestinian Ambassador to Athens Abdullah Abdullah also attended the talks. Mr Arafat arrived in Athens yesterday morning for a one-day official visit which included meeting with President Constantine Karamanlis, opposition party leaders and the Archbishop of Athens. He was met by Foreign Under-secretary George Papandreou at the airport. His visit came a day after talks the government had with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. Despite two previous visit to Greece, yesterday's 30 minute-meeting with Mr Karamanlis was Mr Arafat's first with a Greek head of state. Mr Karamanlis praised the PLO leader's courage for signing the historic agreement with Israel, adding that it could serve as an example for other disputes. Mr Arafat replied that "despite the difficulties, we are continuing to move forward". Later Mr Arafat told the press his talks with Mr Karamanlis and Mr Papandreou had focused on "the serious issues and difficulties" which had arisen in the implementation of the peace accord with Israel. He said that he had listened attentively to the "recommendations and advice" of Mr Karamanlis and Mr Papandreou. Replying to questions on the nature of the difficulties, Mr Arafat said that while the accord provided for the complete withdrawal of Israelis from Gaza and Jericho, "up to now there have been no clear proposals on this issue". What is necessary, he said, is for the agreement to be kept and implemented to the letter. Mr Arafat said that peace in the region was not only a demand of the Palestinians and Israelis, but a universal demand. He also said he hoped for a comprehensive Middle East peace very soon that would include Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. "There are ongoing efforts and talks with our brothers in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon and we hope and expect an agreement to be reached very soon because we believe that peace must be comprehensive and throughout the Middle East", he said. He said that he placed great emphasis on the role which Greece could play in bringing peace to the region, particularly in view of its assumption of the EC presidency in January. Asked if he would be meeting with Mr Peres, who is on a two-day visit to Greece, Mr Arafat said that he had been in telephone contact with Mr Peres on Monday and had sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the issue of Jerusalem. Mr Arafat expressed his "total gratitude" for Greece's positions and support for the Palestinian struggle. After his meeting with Mr Papandreou, Mr Arafat had a telephone conversation with Mr Peres shortly before the Israeli foreign minister was due to depart from Athens. Mr Arafat also attended an official luncheon hosted in his honour by Mr Papandreou. In his address to Mr Arafat, Mr Papandreou underlined that "PASOK has always stood by the Palestinians". "Today, after the gap with the Israelis has been bridged, the (Greek) government feels 'greatly justified' and hopes that the road to peace will proceed unhindered", Mr Papandreou said. "Greece will stand by the Palestinians during the peace process and will particularly help their struggle during Greece's assumption of the presidency in the EC", the prime minister added. Addressing Mr Papandreou, Mr Arafat said the international community should support the consolidation of the agreement with the Israelis. "I do not conceal from you the fact the international community, especially all countries which are friendly with the EC, politically, financially, monetarily and morally, should support this agreement in order to achieve its consolidation and its success', Mr Arafat said. Shortly after his arrival, Mr Arafat had talks with Archbishop Serapheim of Athens and All Greece who reaffirmed the solidarity of the Greek people and Church with the Palestinian people. The Patriarch said the rights of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem should be assured and reminded Mr Arafat of the human aid missions which the Church organised in the past to relieve the suffering residents of Lebanon. Athens, 25/11/93(ANA)--Both Mr Arafat and Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias stressed the need for a just and lasting solution throughout the Middle East region, in talks between the two later. "Our slogan is that Greece and Palestine should work for a just and peaceful solution to the Middle East problem", Mr Arafat said, stressing his satisfaction at the role played by Greece in the European Community, the Middle East, Europe and the world over. Mr Papoulias said Greece promised complete support for peace efforts in the Middle East, which could "heal an open wound and a threat to the wider region". In regard to bilateral relations, co-operation was agreed in the sectors of agriculture, exchange of expertise, scientific co-operation and shipping. Mr Papoulias expressed the view there would be positive results in this direction very quickly. Mr Papoulias said that the Panhellenic Socialist Movement's support of the Palestinian struggle during its previous governments had now been vindicated with Yasser Arafat "boldness and prudence" in shouldering the burden of efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Middle East issue. Mr Arafat said he had spoken to Mr Peres by phone while in Athens, adding that "it is not the first time I have spoken to Simon Peres by phone". The Palestinian leader afterwards met Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis and termed his talks "very successful and cordial". "In Greece I am among friends. Anyway, your country and the Greek parliament in particular, constitute the origin of democracy", Mr Arafat said. Mr Kaklamanis said he conveyed to Mr Arafat the sentiments of all the Greek people on the Palestinian people and their struggle. "I pointed out to him our support in every way for the success of the struggle and the completion of the vision of the Palestinian people," Mr Kaklamanis said. Mr Arafat had consecutive meetings with party leaders at his hotel in the afternoon. After talks with Mr Arafat, main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert said Greece, which is part of a "sensitive geographical axis" lying between Yugoslavia and the Middle East, has every reason to want to contribute to the consolidation of peace, particularly in the Mediterranean region. Political Spring (Pol.A) party leader Antonis Samaras stressed Mr Arafat's considerable contribution to peace efforts in the Middle East, adding that he showed rare strength and perception and was among the main protagonists in the issue's successful outcome. "The anxiety of all, and of Greeks in particular, is for the peace effort to reach its conclusion", Mr Samaras said. Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Paparriga said in her statements the signing of the Arab-Israeli agreement did not provide a solution to the Palestinian people's permanent claim which is the creation of an independent Palestinian state. "Solidarity for the Palestinian people should continue because on Israel's side an effort is being made even to undermine this agreement", Ms Paparriga said. Mr Arafat met afterwards with Greek businessmen whom he called on to contribute to rebuilding Palestine. Athens,25/11/93(ANA)--Palestine Liberation Organisation Chairman Yasser Arafat will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in the coming days in Egypt, diplomatic sources at the Palestinian Diplomatic Representation in Athens said yesterday. The sources said the meeting was arranged during Mr Arafat's telephone conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres in Athens yesterday. Meanwhile, Mr Arafat's official visit to Athens ended last night with a dinner held in his honour by Interior Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos. A short while before the dinner, Mr Arafat received Arab ambassadors in Greece at the Foreign Ministry. Athens,25/11/93(ANA)--US President Bill Clinton's priorities include a lasting settlement of the Cyprus question in line with UN resolutions, US Ambassador Thomas Niles said in Thessaloniki yesterday. Mr Niles is currently on a four-day tour of northern Greece. He said the US endorsed the initiatives of the UN secretary-general and his delegate Joe Clark, and hoped that a solution would be found very shortly through a constructive dialogue. US policy was geared to that end, and the appointment of former US ambassador to Cyprus Robert Lamb as special State Department co-ordinator on Cyprus reflected that policy, Mr Niles added. Athens, 25/11/93(ANA)--Visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres yesterday met main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert for talks on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the Balkan crisis and the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The meeting was attended by the Israeli Ambassador to Athens David Sasson and the President of ND's Foreign Affairs Department Dimitris Avramopoulos. Mr Peres also held 30-minute talks with Political Spring (Pol.A) party leader Antonis Samaras who said it was very important for Greece that a solution to the Middle East issue be achieved through peace processes. "Therefore, Greece's role is very important in helping to end this open wound in the Middle East which would henceforth help to end other problems in the region and of course the Cyprus issue", Mr Samaras said after the meeting with Mr Peres. Athens, 25/11/93(ANA)--Field officers of the National Defence College of NATO member states will visit Greece from November 27-29 in the context of an educational tour of NATO capitals. During their visit, the officers will be briefed on the military situation in Greece, while the college commandant will meet with the Chief of the National Defence General Staff, General Dimitris Skarvelis.