From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Sat, 27 Nov 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens,27/11/93(ANA)--The row which erupted Thursday between Greece and Germany over the issue of the recognition of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) was heading towards appeasement yesterday after diplomatic contacts in Athens and clarifications in Bonn by German government officials. In Athens, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias met with EC ambassadors to protest strongly against a reported move by Greece's 11 European Community partners to grant diplomatic recognition to FYROM before Christmas, while in Bonn, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Greek wishes on the issue "must be considered". A front-page report in Thursday's German paper Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung said "the 12 European Union states will grant diplomatic recognition to FYROM before Christmas" and quoted a government official saying Germany was currently "exploring contacts" to forge diplomatic ties with the new state. "Such action will be unacceptable. It violates European solidarity", Mr Papoulias said after meeting with EC ambassadors where he invoked the principle of Community solidarity. "If our partners proceed to recognise Skopje a few days before Greece takes over the presidency of the European Community, this will violate and fragment Community solidarity", Mr Papoulias added. Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou told reporters yesterday" we are highly concerned with this violation of (Community) solidarity". Germany's ambassador to Athens Leopold Bill von Bredow told the press after the meeting there was "no difference of opinion between Greece and Germany on the issue and no question of recognition". According to a Reuters dispatch, in Bonn, German government spokesman Dieter Vogel told reporters: "The possibility exists that (diplomatic relations) will be taken up before the end of the year." But, he added: "We will not act on our own". A foreign ministry spokesman said that, contrary to press reports, Germany was not taking the initiative in the matter, but that several member countries were moving in the same direction. "We have always said we are not protagonists and that Greek wishes must be considered", he said, according to Reuter. Mr Papoulias conceded there was great uncertainty within the Community on a recognition of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ."We are precisely trying to graft this scepticism with the Greek positions, with our arguments and views", he added. Mr Papoulias reminded the ambassadors of Greece's position on the show of solidarity by its partners. "Recognition of Skopje does not help towards creating an atmosphere of co-operation which should exist during the Greek presidency", he said. Replying to a question by the press, Mr Papoulias said he did not request an explanation from the German ambassador to Athens on statements by the German foreign ministry spokesman on the Skopje ministry spokesman on the Skopje issue, but said that the issue will be examined and Greece will do whatever it believes should be effective in handling such circumstances. Similar reaction was voiced by government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos who strongly criticised the reported EC plan. "If the report is true then certain countries are acting in a non friendly manner that is incompatible with EC solidarity. "Every move towards recognition of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will hinder United Nations and Community efforts for peace in the region", he said. Mr Venizelos stressed the Community should take Greece's positions into serious consideration in a bid to exercise a responsible foreign policy and avoid, what he termed, mistakes of the past. Athens has been blocking international recognition of the former Yugoslav republic saying its use of the name Macedonia conceals territorial ambitions on Greece's northern province of the same name. Reacting to latest developments on the Skopje issue, the main opposition New Democracy party said in an announcement the government had been "weak" in its handling of the Skopje issue. "The government has been weak in handling the course taken by the Skopje issue in recent days and accepts developments fatalistically, resorting henceforth to spasmodic movements to impress public opinion", it said. The announcement said New Democracy had brought the dangers emanating from the discontinuation of the UN process to the attention of the government. The discontinuation of the UN process, it said, brings with it the danger of recognition by European governments. "We call on the government... to consider the consequences of its moves and the foreign ministry's leadership not to make statements which obviously harm our national interests", the ND announcement ended. An announcement from the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said that government policy on the issue over the past two years had focused entirely on the name rather than considering other aspects such as the provision on guarantees and had led many countries to grant Skopje recognition. According to the announcement, the same policy was now leading to Skopje's recognition by EC member states. In a similar announcement, the Coalition of the Left and Progress said "the issue was a serious and negative development" which if not dealt with would lead to unconditional recognitions. A Foreign Ministry Spokesman said the Greece's envoy to Bonn had been summoned over Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos' statements Thursday, while the German ambassador to Athens had been instructed to relay his government's reaction on the matter. The spokesman confirmed that Germany sought to soothe tempers, notwithstanding Mr Pangalos's charges. "We will discuss the entire matter calmly with our Greek friends. After all, Germany and Greece are close partners within the European Union", he added. Mr Pangalos accused Germany of expansionist designs in Yugoslavia and plotting behind Greece's back on the Skopje issue. Nicosia, 27/11/93(ANA/CNA)--Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister for European Community Affairs Theodoros Pangalos said here yesterday Cyprus is economically ready to enter the European Community. He was speaking after meeting President of the republic Glafcos Clerides. The Greek minister arrived here yesterday afternoon to attend the current session of the EC-Cyprus joint parliamentary committee. Mr Pangalos told reporters that they discussed the Cyprus problem and that he informed the president on the Greek government's "moves" within the framework of the EC, to promote the economic and political positions of Cyprus within the European Community. Mr Pangalos said Greece supported the appointment of an EC observer to the Cyprus peace talks and that the political dialogue between Cyprus and the Community "will take place at the highest possible level". He also said that the date for accession negotiations to commence was still pending but he added that they discussed "the moves and to which directions these will be made to set a date as early as possible". Earlier, Mr Pangalos said the Greek presidency, which starts in January, "will promote Cyprus-Community relations aiming at starting accession negotiations". "Economically, Cyprus is not only in a position to immediately become a member of the European Union but also to be placed at medium level together with Britain, at a more satisfactory level than that of Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ireland, therefore there is no economic problem" Mr Pangalos said. Referring to the opposition faced over the appointment of a European Community observer, Mr Pangalos said "there is reservation on the part of Britain". The Greek minister said he will have detailed talks with British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd and other ministers during his visit to London next week." I hope we shall manage to persuade the British that an observer will be useful", Mr Pangalos added. Cyprus applied for full member ship in 1990. In June, the EC Commission's opinion declared the island eligible for membership, but cited the Turkish occupation of its northern third since 1974 as a difficulty. Mr Pangalos earlier met with leaders of the island's political parties. Athens, 27/11/93(ANA)--Parliament yesterday approved a request to pardon a former senior Panhellenic Socialist Movement minister convicted of involvement in the country's biggest corruption scandal. The proposal was approved by a majority of the socialist-controlled House. Conservative New Democracy and Communist party lawmakers walked out of the proceedings to protest the motion. One hundred and sixty-five deputies voted for the motion. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said last week the move aimed at clearing former PASOK finance minister Dimitris Tsovolas of all consequences stemming from his conviction by a special court in 1992. Mr Tsovolas was sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment and deprived of his civil rights for three years on charges of breach of faith, accepting bribes and stolen money in the 200-million dollar embezzlement scam that rocked the socialists from power in 1989. Athens, 27/11/93(ANA)--Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday had separate meetings with Patriarch Diodoros of Jerusalem and Patriarch Parthenios of Alexandria. After the meeting, Diodoros told the press that they had come to Athens to express their pleasure at Mr Papandreou's election and wish him God's strength and health to cope with his difficult task. Patriarch Parthenios said he felt it was his duty to come to Athens and outline his Church's problems to the prime minister, the main one being the decreasing number of Greek Orthodox adherents living in Africa. London, 27/11/93(Reuter)--British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd will visit Greece and Turkey in the third week of January, the Foreign Office said yesterday. In Ankara, a Turkish foreign ministry source said Hurd would arrive there on January 18 to discuss international and bilateral issues. There was no immediate word on the date of his visit to Greece. The British Foreign Office said Hurd expected to meet Foreign Ministers Hikmet Cetin of Turkey and Karolos Papoulias of Greece. He last visited the two countries, NATO allies but long at loggerheads over Cyprus and the Aegean, in April 1992. Nicosia, 27/11/93(ANA-G.Leonidas)--Foreign Under-secretary responsible for overseas Greeks George Papandreou yesterday concluded his visit to Cyprus. Before his departure, Mr Papandreou expressed satisfaction at the results of his visit to Cyprus and announced the founding of a Greek-Cypriot Joint Committee to handle problems of overseas Greeks. The committee will handle cultural and educational problems as well as "the projection abroad of our common national issues". Mr Papandreou said both countries had the political will for co-ordinated, persistent and decisive co-operation on all issues towards a settlement of the Cyprus problem. Athens, 27/11/93(ANA)--There will be no confusion regarding the government's economic measures after next week, Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said yesterday, commenting on press speculation on the government's tax and development bills. "(National Economy and Finance Minister George) Yennimatas yesterday stated that (ruling party) PASOK is preparing (firstly) a comprehensive proposal in regard to the taxation measures, which will be incorporated into a bill, after discussions with the producing classes; and secondly a text on development policy", he said. Partial reference by the press has caused some confusion, the premier said, which will be dissipated by next week. Athens, 27/11/93(ANA)--The main opposition New Democracy party yesterday revealed a draft bill to be tabled in parliament which, party leader Miltiades Evert said, "would deal with the economic development of the nation and its demographic problem". Speaking at a press conference, Mr Evert sharply criticised government economic policy, blaming the socialist administration for indecision which had led to a steady deterioration in the economic climate of the nation. The opposition will not dig up the past, Mr Evert said. "It will focus attention mainly on the future of Greek economy and of the people of Greece". The plan includes public participation in public companies, state support of private enterprise in the Balkans, supporting development in Greek rural regions, and confronting the population problem with bold and substantive measures. Mr Evert said a low birth-rate should be dealt with by adequate economic assistance to the Greek family. He stressed that Greeks should not merely be nominal owners of public enterpises. "It is imperative they enjoy substantive participation in the share-capital of an enterprise. We propose they should receive stock from profit-making public enterprises. They would thus invest safely, and make a contribution to the economic development of the nation", he said. "The Balkans are a vital region for Greece's economic presence. The state has the power both to support and encourage private enterprise in developing economies of Balkan countries", Mr Evert continued. Development incentives proposed by New Democracy include participation by all Greeks in the partial privatisation of public utility concerns (DEKOs) through a free distribution of 10 per cent of the shares of such enterprises. Staff and pensioners of such companies would be entitled to added benefits. Income tax of public liability companies either already or about to be introduced onto the stock exchange should be reduced by 5 per cent. The state should cover the danger of loss of investments made by Greeks in Balkan countries and give added incentives to enterprises making new investments in border regions, especially Thrace. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos, commenting on Mr Evert's statements, said the leader of the opposition undoubtedly still recalled that his party was still in power only a few weeks ago and had led the nation's economy to the statement which everybody was aware of. "It is easy to understand Mr Evert's desperate attempt to concoct a makeshift ideological and political image for his party", Mr Venizelos said.