From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Fri, 13 May 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Foreign Minister confers with US ambassador on FYROM ---------------------------------------------------- Athens, 13/5/1994 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias met with US Ambassador Thomas Niles Wednesday on diplomatic efforts to resolve Greece's dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Foreign Ministry spokesman Kostas Bikas said the meeting was attended by Greece's special envoy Ambassador Christos Zaharakis, who will meet with United Nations mediator Cyrus Vance in New York later this week. Mr. Bikas reiterated Greece would not lift three-month-old trade sanctions clamped against FYROM until the neighbouring state complied with Athens' demands to change its name, flag and amend its constitution. "The Greek side is not considering lifting its retortion measures against Skopje until there is a significant and positive response from that state," Mr. Bikas said. He said the Foreign Ministry was closely monitoring developments in the neighbouring Balkan republic on symbols and Constitution, noting there was "no change in Skopje's intransigence". The spokesman said the meeting also focused on the Geneva talks on the Bosnian crisis and Greece's strong interest in safeguarding human rights of the Greek ethnic community in southern Albania. Mr. Bikas said the Foreign Minister fully briefed the US Ambassador on recent developments in southern Albania, adding Mr. Niles would convey Greece's views to Washington. Mandela receives Pangalos, wants close ties with Europe ------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 13/5/1994 (ANA): Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, representing the European Union Presidency, met Tuesday with South African President Nelson Mandela, who expressed his intention to maintain close co-operation with Europe. The meeting was attended by ministers from other Community countries who had arrived in South Africa to attend the President's swearing-in ceremony. "We met the President of the South African Republic as the European Union, and he revealed his intention to maintain close co-operation with Europe. He has opted for a mixed economy system in which private enterprise will play its role, and is determined to remain within the framework of a consenting democracy," Mr. Pangalos told reporters on his return to Athens from South Africa. Mr. Pangalos said President Mandela stressed that the fact other parties have fewer ministers does not mean the African Congress majority will impose its views. He wants unanimous decisions on everything. I think, Mr. Pangalos said, it is a very democratic framework and a very logical policy. This is the feeling among all my European colleagues, he added. Replying to a question on prospects of President Mandela visiting Athens, Mr. Pangalos said: "I think the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic have a very positive view of Nelson Mandela's visit to Athens. As you can appreciate, it is clear he is starting his action now and will have many on-the-spot responsibilities and a heavy international programme. However, we are ready to welcome him. "We lie on the South Africans' path to northern and western Europe and we hope they stop in Athens often." FM rejects Albanian criticism, recalls good relations serve both countries ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 13/5/1994 (ANA): Greece aims at good relations with Albania for the benefit of both countries, Foreign Ministry spokesman Constantinos Bikas said Wednesday. He was commenting on statements by Albanian officials claiming that Greece did not respect Albania's territorial integrity. Greece "respects both Albania's territorial integrity and independence. As a member of the United Nations and the European Union (Greece) has signed the Helsinki Act, and any other opinion is of malicious intent," Mr. Bikas added. "Good relations with Albania depend on respect for the Greek ethnic minority's rights," the spokesman said, adding that between 250,000 and 300,000 Albanians live and work in Greece. Mr. Bikas said there was no question of a meeting between Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and his Albanian counterpart Alfred Sereqi, as reported by Tirana sources. Berisha 'more conciliatory' -------------------------- Vienna, 13/5/1994 (ANA-D.Dimitrakoudis): Meanwhile, Albanian President Sali Berisha appeared more conciliatory toward Athens, speaking to reporters at Vienna airport en route to Tirana from Budapest. Mr. Berisha said he was ready to accept an invitation to visit Athens for talks about defusing the recent crisis in Greek-Albanian relations sparked by the April 10 incident in the Albanian village of Episkopi, where two Albanian conscripts were killed in a raid on an army recruit centre. Tirana blamed Athens for the incident, but Athens flatly denied any involvement. The Greek government has denounced Albania's anti-Greek campaign following the Episkopi incident. Papoulias meets with Van der Stoel over ethnic rights in Albania ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 13/5/1994 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias Wednesday had a meeting with Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE's) High Commissioner for Minorities, Max Van der Stoel, on recent human rights violations against ethnic Greeks in Albania. Mr. Papoulias elaborated on the persecution of ethnic Greeks by Albanian authorities and detailed the general climate of insecurity and intimidation imposed on the ethnic Greek minority. Mr. Van der Stoel gave assurances of his undiminishing interest on matters relating to the Greek ethnic minority, adding he would draw the attention of the Albanian authorities on the matter during his visit to Tirana for that purpose next week. Extending territorial waters a sovereign right, FM to Ankara ----------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 13/5/1994 (ANA): Referring to statements by Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Mr. Ataman on Greece's right to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, Foreign Ministry spokesman Constantine Bikas said Wednesday "the extension of Greece's territorial waters to 12 nautical miles is a sovereign right of our country." "The position of the Greek government on the issue is firm. The extension of Greece's territorial waters to 12 nautical miles is a sovereign right of our country, and it is up to the government's discretion if and when it will exercise it," Mr. Bikas said. In a statement to Turkish daily "Milliyet", Mr. Ataman said "there can be no question of concessions being made on the 12 miles issue." The issue of Greece's extending its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles has received coverage in the Turkish press due to the forthcoming implementation of the International Agreement on Maritime Law. The agreement, which has collected the required number of signatures, will take effect in November 1994, and recognises Greece's right to extend its territorial waters to 12 miles. Ankara Foreign Ministry officials told the Turkish press the agreement "strengthens the positions of Greece and will secure a legal advantage for Athens", but they do not expect Greece to extend its territorial waters to 12 miles. "It is not realistic, because of this agreement alone, to assume that Greece will extend its territorial waters to 12 miles," the officials said, recalling that Turkey considers the extension of Greek territorial waters in the Aegean to over 6 miles a matter of war (casus belli). Washington hopeful Greece, Turkey will mend fences -------------------------------------------------- Washington, 13/5/1994 (ANA-D.Dimas): "I'm optimistic that Greece and Turkey will work out their differences," a Clinton Administration official said yesterday. Asked to comment on NATO developments and the future of the alliance, during a press briefing, he said: "The last thing anyone needs right now with everything happening in the Balkans is to see two close United States allies not being able to co-operate." Cyprus: Greece hopes SG report to stress Turkish intransigence -------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 13/5/1994 (ANA): The government said Wednesday it hopes the UN Secretary-General's expected report on the Cyprus issue will point to Turkish intransigence on resolving the issue. Foreign Ministry spokesman Constantine Bikas said Wednesday's meeting in Geneva between US co-ordinator on Cyprus Robert Lamb, the UN Secretary-General's alternate special envoy on Cyprus Gustave Feissel, and Turkish Foreign Under-secretary responsible for the Cyprus question Tukay Ulucevik, showed that the international factor recognises the need for efforts to be made with the Turkish side for the deadlock to be lifted. The Greek Cypriot side, Mr. Bikas said, has accepted the document issued on March 21 1994 on confidence-building measures, but the Turkish Cypriot side has rejected it. "It is evident that since the Turkish side does not accept this document, alternative ways should be sought to carry out Security Council resolutions to resolve the Cyprus issue," Mr. Bikas said. US maintains no diplomatic ties with FYROM stance ------------------------------------------------- Washington, 13/5/1994 (ANA-D.Dimas): There is no change in attitude toward establishing diplomatic relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), a US State Department representative told the press yesterday. Papoulias in Geneva SC meeting ------------------------------- Athens, 13/5/1994 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias leaves for Geneva today, to attend the meeting between Foreign Ministers of the four Security Council member states (US, Russia, France and Britain) and the European Union troika (Greece, Belgium and Germany) on the Yugoslav issue. Mr. Papoulias will return to Athens on the same day. FM: Greek initiative over Bosnia Frenchmen "under way" ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 13/5/1994 (ANA): Foreign Ministry spokesman Constantine Bikas said Wednesday a Greek presidency initiative is under way for the release of Frenchmen, members of a humanitarian mission, who have been arrested and held hostage in Bosnia. Mr. Bikas said Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias is in touch both with Belgrade and the Bosnian Serbs for the issue to be resolved as soon as possible. French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe had contacted Mr. Papoulias last week, requesting the Greek Presidency's intervention for the Frenchmen's release. Returning from Geneva last Friday, Mr. Papoulias had said resolving the issue would contribute to overall normalisation in relations between Serbia and France. G. Papandreou signs European Human Rights Convention ---------------------------------------------------- Athens, 13/5/1994 (ANA): Foreign Under-secretary George Papandreou signed the European Human Rights Convention' 11th protocol and the European Social Charter 2nd protocol, on Wednesday, at the 24th Council of European Ministerial Synod, in Strasbourg. Addressing the synod, in which he represented Greece, Mr. Papandreou referred to the new role which the Council is called upon to play in modern times, the Council's enlargement, problems facing ethnic minorities in the Balkans, and the growing phenomenon of xenophobia and racism observed in Europe. Evert calls for Balkan border pact, stresses Greece-Bulgaria peace role ----------------------------------------------------------------- Sofia, 13/5/1994 (ANA-MPA): Visiting Greek Main Opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert yesterday proposed the signing of a pact guaranteeing inviolability of existing borders in the Balkan region. Mr. Evert arrived in Sofia, Wednesday, for talks with Bulgaria's President Zhelu Zhelev, Prime Minister Lyuben Berov, Patriarch Maximos and other officials. "Greece and Bulgaria share an initiative for holding a conference to sign a pact recognising existing borders in the Balkans," Mr. Evert said. "We believe," he added, "that Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Greece, Slovenia and Romania could be the countries to sign first such an agreement, Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia also affixing their signature at a later stage." "Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia have a problem to solve and it is hard to wait," he said. Elaborating, Mr. Evert said the agreement would be open (to new members) and could be elaborated under the auspices of the United Nations, within the European Union, and with co-operation from the United States and Russia. Turning to Greece's foreign policy, the ND leader assured the press "that there is no party in Greece that does not aspire to furthering ties between Greece and Bulgaria." "Greece and Bulgaria are the only countries able to guarantee peace in the Balkans," he stressed, adding that "when all nations in the world realise that only we, Balkan peoples, can undertake initiatives for peace in the region, foreign interventions leading to instability might come to an end." Mr. Evert noted that excellent relations prevailed between the two countries even when, in the past, they shared different political ideologies. "Common sense dictates they should be even better now," he added. Mr. Evert had a meeting Wednesday with Mr. Zhelev and Mr. Berov. Christophersen economic report "cautiously optimistic" on Greece ----------------------------------------------------------------- Brussels, 13/5/1994 (ANA/G.Daratos,V.Demiris, F. Stangos): The latest European Union report on European economy prospects in 1994 and 1995, introduced Wednesday by Economic Affairs Commissioner Henning Christophersen is generally cautiously optimistic on forecasts on the economic situation in Greece. The reports shows Greece remaining bottom among member-states, on main macroeconomic indicators constituting the basis for convergence criteria set by the Treaty of Maastricht for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). In particular, Greek GDP growth rate forecasting at stable prices was positive, rising from -0.2% in 1993 to +0.7% in 1994 and +0.9% in 1995. Corresponding Community average growth rates are -0.3%, +1.6%, and +2.5%. Inflation is expected to continue on a slow downward slope in the next two years, from 13.7% in 1993, to 10.2% this year and 9.8% in 1995, but still a considerable distance from respective Community averages of 3.9%, 3.3%, and 2.9%. The report states that "price trends remain at non-satisfactory levels for Greece" and, if general forecasts for the European economy are proven right, the only countries which will not fulfil convergence criteria for inflation in 1997 will be Greece, Portugal and Spain. Public deficits are also expected to rise to 'prohibitive' levels in relation to EMU convergence criteria, increasing from 16.3% in 1993 to 17.9% in 1994, firming at 17.7% in 1995 (i.e. more than three times over the Community average of 5.1%). The Greek current account deficit is also expected to deteriorate, from 3.8% of GDP in 1993 to 3.8% and 4.1% in 1994 and 1995 respectively, compared to a surplus average for the twelve member-states. Increase in investment in the sectors of construction and industrial equipment is forecast at 2.4% and 3.7% for the former, in 1994 and 1995 respectively, and 1.5% and 2.5% for the latter. Per capita GDP in relation to the EU average is expected to decrease, from 48.5% in 1994 to 47.7% in 1995, while an upward trend is forecast for unemployment, from 8.6% in 1993 to 8.9% and 9.4% in 1994 and 1995 respectively. On the basis of such forecasts, the EU Finance Ministers' Council (ECOFIN) will determine economic policy guidelines for member-states, so that the EU Corfu summit on June 24 and 25 may issue its recommendations to them. Papantoniou dismisses drachma devaluation reports, Boutos agrees ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 13/5/1994 (ANA): National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou Wednesday flatly denied rumours of an alleged devaluation of the drachma as "outrageous and groundless", adding government anti-inflationary policy remained unchanged. In a similar statement, Governor of the Bank of Greece Ioannis Boutos said the government firmly and irrevocably persisted on its anti-inflationary exchange policy, stressing the question of devaluing the drachma did not arise. "The Bank of Greece is in agreement with such policy, and endorses it with all means at its disposal," Mr. Boutos stressed. Drachma loses to European, other currencies ------------------------------------------- Athens, 13/5/1994 (ANA): The drachma marked a slid against European and other currencies in April, a Centre of Export Research and Studies (KEEM) report said Wednesday. The trade-weighted index rose by 1.17 per cent for European currencies and 1.2 percent for others, the report added. Drachma depreciation was double the average monthly rate which it registered against other currencies in the first quarter of the year.