From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 2 Dec 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency bulletin, December 2, 1993 Bonn, 2/12/93 (ANA - P. Stangos) - German Foreign Ministry spokesman Michael Gerds speaking at the end of French-German talks yesterday said "there is no definite date for the conclusion of diplomatic relations" with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Adding that "the issue is being examined in the framework of the Twelve...". The spokesman's position which, neither confirmed nor denied that the issue of establishing diplomatic relations had been raised in talks between German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and his French counterpart Alain Juppe, is interpreted by diplomatic circles as an effort to defuse tension over the issue in recent days. The same circles pointed out that the effort is being made by the two countries' foreign ministries for some days. Skopje, 2/12/93 (AFP/ANA - M. Vihou) - Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) wants negotiations to resume with Greece on the use of its official name, Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski said yesterday. In a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, published here, Mr Crvenkovski said that Skopje considered the earlier talks had been useful and contributed to calming the tension between the two neighbours. Greece 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. Paris, 2/12/93 (ANA - O. Tsipira) - Johnston Report Paragraph 5 directive calling on Greece to recognise the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" before it is allowed accession to the Western European Union (WEU) was amended at the WEU Parliamentary Assembly meeting yesterday. Another amendment to entirely abolish the paragraph was voted down. Greece later said it served national interest better to have the paragraph amended rather than removed entirely from the report, since it provided a framework within which the Skopje issue might be resolved. it also reduced the possibility of bringing up the issue again in other ways in future reports. The amended paragraph now proposes the Ministers' Council "insist on Greece to grant recognition to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia within the framework of a wider agreement aimed at reducing tension in the region, together with a declaration by the two parties denouncing any expansionist policies and expressing respect for existing borders". Dutch Deputy Hoop Soheffer said that "the Greek government should pursue solution (for the Skopje issue) in a friendly way". He added that when the Dutch Parliament convenes to ratify Greece's accession to the Western European Union the Christian Democrats' vote will depend on what the Greek government decides on 'Macedonia'. New Democracy Deputy Dora Bakoyianni and PASOK Deputy Yiannis Kapsis defended Greece's positions on the Skopje issue, at yesterday's and Monday sessions. Athens, 2/12/93 (ANA) - "The issue of Alternate Foreign Minister Theos Pangalos' recent statements on German policy on former Yugoslavia is closed", government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos reiterated yesterday. Asked to comment on German Chancellor Helmut Kohl's statements yesterday, describing Mr Pangalos' statements as "an unusual, rude and silly event", Mr Venizelos said the government had already answered and "the case is over". Mr Pangalos accused Germany last week of expansionist designs in Yugoslavia, including plotting behind Greece's back on the Skopje issue. Responding to a press question on whether or not "public attacks by Greek ministers, worried him in light of Greece's forthcoming assumption of the European Union rotating presidency, Mr Kohl said they did not. "I'm under public attacks in Germany as well", he said. "It is an unusual, rude, and silly event. But there are no rules for public behaviour, everyone should know how to behave", Mr Kohl added. London, 2/12/93 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis) - Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday held talks at the Foreign Office with British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd on matters to be handled by the forthcoming Greek presidency of the European Union. Issues relate to economic prospects included in a White paper on growth, competitiveness and employment, EC enlargement, common foreign and security policy, the question of a Community observer in Cyprus talks as well as regional issues. The Cyprus question and appointment of a Community observer at the talks were discussed at Mr Pangalos's initiative. Mr Pangalos said the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) was not discussed, adding views were exchanged on developments in Geneva on the Bosnian problem. Responding to a question on whether or not the FYROM issue had been discussed, Mr Pangalos said "absolutely not", adding he had no knowledge of whether or not there would be isolated cases of European government establishing diplomatic relations with FYROM. However, Mr Pangalos ruled out the possibility of diplomatic relations being established simultaneously in certain European capitals. Cyprus was discussed in detail, Mr Pangalos said, adding he "is pleased that the British share the view that we can wait no longer and a certain policy should be adopted which will lead to results. Asked whether or not the British have accepted the appointment of a Community observer in Cyprus talks, Mr Pangalos said: "they have not yet fully established a view, and we agreed to keep in touch until the end of December". He expressed reservations over Britain and Germany's co-operation with Turkey. Mr Pangalos also met with British MPs of all parties and briefed them on Greek positions on current international problems. He is due back in Athens today. Athens, 2/12/1993 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou will chair a joint meeting of the Inner Cabinet and the Economic Committee today in which the measures the government will propose to social partners as part of the preparation of the new taxation and development bills will be finalised. Meanwhile, Mr. Papandreou termed the completion of the budget statement a 'great achievement' given the fact that the government had inherited a 2.5 trillion-drachma deficit. He said the deficit had been covered without any new contribution or fresh taxes being imposed. The budget was tabled on Tuesday. The effort is not based on an increase of indirect taxes but on widening of the taxation basis and this is "the distinctive badge of the budget", he said. Commenting on incomes policy, he termed it "the most generous and feasible today". Asked to comment on Greece's position on the issue of a reduction of the working week with a simultaneous cut in pay, Mr. Papandreou said Greece will not agree or accept such a binding Community policy. Mr. Papandreou said if it might be possible to discuss such an issue in countries with a high income per capita, it was not the case in Greece since it would mean a sell-out of the rights of the working class and give a great boost to the black economy to develop much faster. "We will not accept a redistribution of unemployment among the working class which would thus be called on to bear the brunt of economic recession", Mr. Papandreou said. Mr. Papandreou said the big problem of recession and unemployment, which stood at 11 per cent in Europe, was speedy development which was something Europe was capable of, adding that "political volition is required and acceptance of sharing burdens by other classes". The issue will be examined by socialist party leaders from European union member-states in Brussels December 9 which Mr. Papandreou will attend. Mr. Papandreou was briefed on the European Socialist Party's draft resolution on a White paper by former foreign minister and senior member of the Swedish Social Democrat party Alan Larsson, terming it an "excellent text" which PASOK will support, the sole "big exception" being article 5 paragraph 2 on reducing the working week and pay. Asked whether or not a Greek firm might follow the example set by the German Volkswagen company, Mr. Papandreou said it was not prohibited, but it might well run counter to Greek legislation. Athens, 2/12/1993 (ANA): Greece will call on the United States to tighten relations for the promotion of common interests and goals, Foreign Under-secretary George Papandreou told a press conference yesterday. "The government's firm policy is to tighten relations between the two countries and (establish) closer co-operation to promote common interests and goals, such as peace and stability in the Balkans", Mr. Papandreou said, adding this was the message which Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou asked him to convey to the US government on his visit there. Mr. Papandreou will leave for the United States on December 5 on a seven-day visit to prepare the Prime Minister's official visit. In this context, Mr. Papandreou said he will hold meetings with White House, State Department and Pentagon officials. He said his week-long visit of talks with US administration officials also aimed at mustering US support for resolving the 19-year-old Cyprus problem and Greece's name dispute with the Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. European security, the Middle East peace process and GATT talks will also be discussed, Mr. Papandreou said. Mr. Papandreou added he was also going to meet with Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America. Asked on US policy on the Yugoslav crisis, Mr. Papandreou said the United States aimed at peace and stability in the Balkans. "It is natural that there should be problems on specific issues but, on the whole, (the US policy on the issue) fully coincides with the aims of the Greek government", Mr. Papandreou added. "The Greek government's goal is not to cultivate friction between Europe and the US on the Balkan issue but, on the contrary, to create a uniform Balkan policy, convergence of foreign policy between the US and Europe on the Balkans", Mr. Papandreou said. Mr. Papandreou said he was also going to present Greece's position on the Yugoslav crisis, specifically the lifting of the embargo against Serbia and Montenegro which, he said, "is part of a general package of measures aimed at resolving problems in the region". European Community Foreign Ministers agreed last week to offer "progressive suspension" of sanctions against Serbia if Bosnia's Moslems are given more land as part of a peace pact. Washington has cautioned against the move, saying there must be firm commitments from the Serbs first. Commenting on his recent visit to Cyprus, Mr. Papandreou said it gave "concrete evidence of the government's will to ... promote closer co-operation between the two countries in the framework of handling of the Cyprus problem". Speaking on US policy on the Cyprus problem, the Under-secretary described it as the "key" to the issue, adding that during his pre-election campaign, US President Bill Clinton had made some positive statements. "Now we need to specify these statements", Mr. Papandreou said. He said he hoped that on returning from his visit, he would have more answer as to whether or not the President's pre-election statements would finally be put into action. Mr. Papandreou had a meeting with New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert later yesterday, to brief him on issues of his competence and his upcoming visit to the United States. The Under-secretary said that he would confer with all political leaders. Athens, 2/12/1993 (ANA): Former Press Under-secretary Dimitris Maroudas was appointed special counsellor to the Prime Minister, Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos announced yesterday. Athens, 2/12/1993 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou briefed President Constantine Karamanlis yesterday on a range of issues including government economic and foreign policy matters relating to the European Community and the Balkans. Speaking to reporters after the one-hour meeting, Mr. Papandreou described the failure of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to become a member of the CSCE as an "important victory" for Greece. Mr. Papandreou said efforts were being made to complete the process for recognition of the neighbouring state adding, however, it had not yet been determined whether its name would be FYROM of 'Macedonia'. "We are waging a struggle, and have positions which are clear and well known both to the Greek people and elsewhere in the world", Mr. Papandreou said. The meeting of the two leaders followed the swearing-in ceremony of new Bank of Greece governor Yiannis Boutos and deputy governors Lucas Papademos and Evangelos Kourakos. Athens, 2/12/1993 (ANA): New Yugoslavia's Foreign Minister Bladislav Yovanovich yesterday expressed hope the US government would reconsider its views on the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina calling on the Greek government to keep up its mediating efforts. "(We hope that) the United States will reconsider its stand and deal more objectively with the situation in Bosnia Herzegovina", Mr. Yovanovich said in Athens. The minister made a stopover in Athens on his way to Cyprus. He was greeted by Foreign Under-secretary George Papandreou. After the meeting, Mr. Yovanovich expressed satisfaction for Greece's "constructive approach to the Bosnian crisis", stressing the Greek government's" mediation role is always welcome and we hope it will continue". Expressing hope the Bosnia-Herzegovina crisis would be resolved, Mr. Papandreou reiterated the government would keep up its efforts. Brussels, 2/12/1993 (ANA - P. Pantelis): The EC troika (the European Union's previous, current and future rotating presidencies - Denmark, Belgium and Greece) Public Ministers held a meeting with their US, Canada and Swiss counterparts, on drug trafficking, organised crime, terrorism and illegal immigration in Brussels yesterday. Greece was represented by Public Order Minister Stelios Papathemelis. The US. and Canada had in the past called on the 12 to co-ordinate action on issues related to curbing organised crime and drug trafficking in Eastern Europe, and had also co-operated with the former "Trevi Group" at the time. The Troika briefed the meeting on an EC Interior Ministers Council' meeting Monday, which inaugurated the "Third Pillar" of the Maastricht Treaty and examined "Trevi Group" issues. The Belgian Minister stressed the need for promotion of firm co-operation on such issues between the 12 and the developing countries, while Mr. Papathemelis said the Greek presidency would further promote Belgian initiatives with developing countries.