From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 2 Mar 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Bulletin , 02/03/1994 ( ) A.N.A. EU, Sweden, Finland agree membership terms ------------------------------------------ Brussels, 2/3/1994 (ANA / AFP): The European Union finalised membership terms for Sweden and Finland here yesterday to join the EU, and was aiming for a triple-to wrap up a similar deal for Austria. The decision cleared the way for the first enlargement of one of the world's most soughtafter clubs since it admitted Spain and Portugal in 1986. Swedish European Affairs Minister Ulf Dinkelspiel and Finland's trade minister Pertti Salolainen, both welcomed the deal, which came after 30 hours of non-stop and still on-going negotiations to bring Austria, Finland, Norway and Sweden into the union by January 1 next year, provided that their electorates and the European Parliament ratify the membership terms. Diplomats said the EU's Greek presidency was busy trying to strike a paralled deal with Austrian Foreign Minister Alois Mock. They also said the outcome of the negotiations was a success of the Greek Presidency. ANA Austria agrees EU membership terms ---------------------------------- Brussels, 2/3/1994 (Reuter) Austria agreed terms yesterday which should allow it to join the European Union on January 1, 1995, as long as its people agree in a referendum, an Austrain offical said, late last night. ANA Papoulias begins Mid-East tour, first leg Tunis ----------------------------------------------- Tunis, 2/3/1994 (AFP-TAP-ANA) Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias arrived in Tunis yesterday on an official two-day visit. Mr. Papoulias, current President of the European Union Council of Ministers held talks with Tunisan President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and was due to meet with Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) President Yasser Arafat. Speaking to reporters on his arrival, Mr. Papoulias underlined the European Union's interest for continuing the peace process in the Middle East. Peace efforts made by many countries, including Tunisia, "should not be obstructed by the recent tragic events in the region", Mr. Papoulias said in reference to the massacre of Palestinians in Hebron. Mr. Papoulias was welcomed at the airport by his Tunisian counterpart Habib Ben Yahir. His talks with President Ben Ali focused on the situation in Bosnia-Hercegovina and the Middle East, Mr. Papoulias said afterwards. Greece, he added, will not fail to support current efforts for the conclusion of a partnership agreement between Tunisia and the EU. Speaking to the Tunisian Press Agency (TAP), Mr. Papoulias underlined the importance of Tunisia in the Middle East peace process and its role in the Mediterranean basin. `Difficult mission` ------------------- Mr. Papoulias left yesterday on a six-day peace mission to the Middle East in the wake of the Hebron mosque massacre. Mr. Papoulias will be accompanied by European Commissioner for EU external relations Hans van den Broek. Speaking to reporters at Athens airport, Mr. Papoulias described the mission as "difficult but very important" and said it reflected EU "interest in a smooth development of the peace-process, particularly after the tragic events in Hebron". "The EU and the Greek (EU) presidency is interested in not allowing loss of the entire effort that has been launched, and all the distance covered toward a final, peaceful solution of the Middle East problem", Mr. Papoulias said. He stressed that the problem was a long-term one, adding the "European Union can play its own, important, role". From Tunis, Mr. Papoulias will fly to Jordan today for talks with King Hussein, and tomorrow go to Israel, where he will be joined by Mr. van den Broek, for talks with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Palestinian representatives. He will also meet with Greek-Orthodox Patriarch Diodoros of Jerusalem. Mr. Papoulias will visit Egypt Friday for talks with President Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, and the Secretary-General of the Arab League. The last leg of his peace tour is Syria, where he will hold talks with President Hafez al-Assad, before returning to Athens on Sunday. During his tour, Mr. Papoulias will take the opportunity to review Greece's bilateral relations with his counterparts in these countries. Replying to press questions, Mr. Papoulias said he was not aware of any initiative by European Commission President Jacques Delors with respect to the van den Broek effort on the Skopje issue. But, he said, "any action that might help in overcoming the crisis is welcome". Mr. Papoulias reiterated, however, that "Greece's positions on the (Skopje) issue are firm, and this should be known to everyone". ANA PM, opposition leader confer with French National Assembly president ----------------------------------------------------------------- --- Athens, 2/3/1994 (ANA) President of the French National Assembly Philippe Seguin had separate talks yesterday with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou and main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert on developments in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Expressing satisfaction after his meeting with Mr. Seguin, Mr. Evert said the talks focused on the functioning of national assemblies and the European parliament. Mr. Seguin said that he had discussed at length the prospects of European economy, particularly in regard to former Communist countries. Those countries should not be regarded as a threat, but as an opportunity for the European economy, Mr. Seguin noted. ANA NATO naval commander due in Athens today ---------------------------------------- Athens, 2/3/1994 (ANA) The Commander of NATO naval forces Southern Europe, Admiral Mario Angeli, is due in Athens today, on an official three-day visit, at the invitation of naval General Staff chief Vice-Admiral Ioannis Stangas, a Greek Admiralty spokesman said yesterday. ANA EU commission to examine Greece's legal case on Skopje retortion measures ---------------------------------------------------------------- BRUSSELS (ANA-M Savva) The European Commission will discuss today Greece`s legal case for retortion measures it took against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Greese decided two weeks ago to bar FYROM from using the northern Greek port of Thessaloniki to fight Skojie intransigence. Meanwhile,Greek EU Commissioner Ioannis Palaocrassas told reporters yesterday he thought European Commission President Jacques Delors believed a solution should be found in time,before it was too late. ``But we cannot anticipate developments``,Mr.Paleocrassas said. The Commission might take action before its legal department gave an avis on the issue,Mr.Paleocrassas noted. ``The issue is political``,he added. Asked whether or the Commission could take temporary measures (against Greece),the Greek Commissioner said this was not possible. ``Procedures may be speeded ur,but they cannot be violated``,he said. Mr.Paleocrassas described Greece`s memorandum to the European Commission,presenting the government`s legal case as ``a serious text containing a plethora of facts and legal references supporting the Greek positions``. Mr.Paleocrassas had a meeting with thw European Commissioner last Friday. Greece insists that the use of the term ``Macedonia`` applies only to its northern province of the same name and accuses Skopje authorities that their use of the term implies territorial designs against this Greek Northern province. Athens insists the former Yugoslav republic amend its Constitution,remove a Greek symbol from its flag and cease hostile propaganda against Greece as preconditions for resuming UN dialogue. Meanwhile in Strasbourg,the Council of Europe`s parliamentary assembly yesterday condemned Greece`s retortion measures,saying they ill-timed and could further unsettle the Balkans. ANA Casual reference to `settled` borders with FYROM `not enough` ------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 2/3/1994 (ANA) The government said yesterday that mere reference to ``settled frontiers`` between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) did not suffice to satisfy the conditions set by Athens for a resumption of dialogue. ``Mere reference to settled frontiers between Greece and Skopje does not satisfy any of the conditions set by the Greek government for continuing dialogue at the UN``,government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said. The spokesman was commenting on a statement by British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd,who said yesterday that ``Greece is entitled to security,and security rests on settled frontiers which everyone accepts. This I believe is the heart of the problem between Greece and FYROM``. ``Such general remarks do not syffice``,Mr.Venizelos said,reiterating that conditions set by Greece for resuming dialogue with Skopje could take the form of an international agreement. He clarified,however,that such an agreement should not include the issue of the neighbouring state`s name ``on which the Greek side remains firm``. Asked aboud the possibility of European Commission President Jacques Delors` undertaking an initiative on the Skopje issue,Mr.Venizelos reiterated ``all offers are welcome``,provided they lead to a resumption of dialogue within the framework of the UN, on condition prerequisites set by Greece are satisfied. Mr.Venizelos said that the Commission President was already participating in efforts by the European Union,noting it was on Mr. Delors` instructions that EU External Political Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek had undertaken his recent mediation mission.