From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 14 Jul 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, UN-sponsored FYROM talks to resume in autumn ---------------------------------------------- United Nations, 14/7/1994 (ANA/M.Georgiadou): Parallel talks on the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) held by UN special mediator Cyrus Vance will resume in the second fortnight in September, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said yesterday, after an hour-meeting with Mr. Vance. The UN mediator had separate talks with Mr. Papoulias and FYROM Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski between July 10 and 13. "Talks were carried on today, and we decided that they resume after the summer. We chose the second fortnight in September, when I will be in New York again for the new (UN) General Assembly session," Mr. Papoulias said. A press release by the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said: "Continuing the efforts pursuant to Security Council resolution 845 (1993) and in response to an invitation by Cyrus Vance, delegations of Greece headed by Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, headed by Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski, met separately with him in New York between July 10-13. A serious exchange of views took place and it was agreed that discussions should resume in the fall." Asked to comment on the talks, Mr. Papoulias said: "I think the Greek position was made clear to interlocutors. We are always waiting for Skopje (FYROM) to make its next step forward and not backwards." Athens argues that use of 'Macedonia' by Skopje conceals irredentist designs against Greece's northern province of that name. Athens also demands removal of an ancient Greek symbol from the FYROM flag, and an amendment to the preamble of the neighbouring republic's constitution. Greece imposed a trade embargo on the former Yugoslav republic as retortion measures, in a bid to make the neighbouring republic abandon its intransigence. Mr. Papoulias clarified that the next round of talks will be held with Mr. Vance again. "I want to thank Mr. Vance for his efforts. He is an experienced politician. He is excellent. I avail myself of the opportunity to thank his associates too," Mr. Papoulias said. According to reliable sources, Mr. Vance decided to discontinue the present round of talks at the request of FYROM Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski, who asked for a time margin, saying his government was unable to reply to the document Mr. Vance had delivered to him, owing to the grave political situation prevailing in Skopje and, in particular, a motion of censure pending against FYROM President Kiro Gligorov. The sources said Mr. Papoulias told Mr. Vance he understood the position of the FYROM government, and it was certain he would not wish to conclude an agreement with the government of FYROM which might not be acceptable to another government later. Speaking to reporters after meeting with Mr. Papoulias Tuesday, Mr. Ghali said he expected a report from Mr. Vance on the latest round of talks before briefing a Security Council plenary session. Commenting on the end of talks between Mr. Papoulias and Mr. Vance, State Department special co-ordinator on the FYROM issue Matthew Nimetz, who attended yesterday's meeting, made the following statement to reporters: "We had three rounds of intensive discussions with both sides which agreed that the talks should resume some time in the future. Mr. Cyrus Vance and I will set the date. However, it is evident that no breakthrough was achieved in this round. Surely the talks were very good." The UN Secretary-General's spokesman told a regular press briefing Mr. Boutros-Ghali was due to meet with Vice President and Foreign Minister of FYROM Stevo Crvenkovski at 4.30 p.m. (11.30 p.m. Greek time) yesterday. ECU 990 million to Greece for 1994-99 EU initiatives ---------------------------------------------------- Brussels, 14/7/1994 (ANA/C.Verros): Greece is to receive 990 million ECU in the period 1994-99, in the context of Community Initiatives for the joint financing of programmes and projects which hold considerable interest to the whole of the European Union. The European Commission yesterday agreed, on the basis of a joint proposal by Commissioners Palaiokrassas, Millan, Flynn, and Steichen, on a tentative allocation of funds granted to member-states in the context of Community Initiatives, representing 9% of the resources of the Structural Funds. The allocation agreed upon yesterday was made on the basis of objective criteria, which are specific for every Initiative and already agreed by the Council. Member-states have to submit programmes for approval within four months. The 990 million ECU will be disbursed per initiative, as follows: - Through INTERREG, 595 million ECU, of which 200 million through the REGEN Initiative, concerning energy networks. - Through LEADER, 146 million ECU. - Through the Initiative for employment and human resources development (NOW, HORIZON, YOUTHSTART), 64.4 million ECU. - Through ADAPT, 30.1 million ECU. - Through the Initiative for the Small and Medium Size Industries, 82.2 million ECU. - Through URBAN, 45.2 million ECU. - Through PESCA, 27.1 million ECU. ANA Papoulias calls on Archbishop Iakovos ------------------------------------- New York 14/7/1994 (ANA/M.Georgiadou): Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America met with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday and, commenting on the position of the United States on the issues of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Cyprus and Albania, said afterwards: "Personally, I am not at all satisfied." "Unfortunately, America, the champion of human rights, did not display sufficient goodwill for effective intervention to secure human rights in Albania or wherever else they may have been abolished," he said. Mr. Papoulias said he "briefed the Archbishop on the course of national issues and listened to his views which are very useful because he lives and works in the vanguard of Hellenism." He said he felt it necessary to express contained optimism "on the manner in which our allies support the effort by the Greek government for a just solution to our national issues." US Defence Secretary in Athens July 19 ---------------------------------------- Athens, 14/7/1994 (ANA): United States Defence Secretary William Perry will visit Greece July 19 and 20. Mr. Perry will meet with his Greek counterpart Gerasimos Arsenis to discuss issues of mutual interest. According to Mr. Arsenis, the two ministers will examine possibilities of mutual co-operation in working for peace in the troubled Balkan region. US initiatives for establishing stability in the area will also be discussed. Mr. Perry is also scheduled to meet with other government officials. Karamanlis Bastille Day greetings to Mitterrand ----------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/7/1994 (ANA): President Karamanlis yesterday sent a message to President Francois Mitterrand, to mark France's National Day. The President's message said: "I am convinced that by further strengthening traditional relations of friendship and co-operation, our countries should contribute to the consolidation of peace and security in our continent, an end to which both our peoples have always attached special significance." Ministers meet on Rhodes blasts, no cause for alarm -------------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/7/1994 (ANA): Ministers met yesterday to discuss the spate of bomb blasts on Rhodes in which eight people were injured, as the government said that there was no cause for alarm. Taking part in the meeting were Public Order Minister Stelios Papathemelis, Interior Minister Costas Skandalides, Tourism Minister Dionysios Livanos, Press and Mass Media Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Under-secretary to the Prime Minister Antonis Livanis. Speaking after the meeting, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos reiterated that Greece was known for its peace and tranquillity, adding that terrorist activities in the country were far below the European average. The police are carrying out investigations in all directions, Mr. Venizelos said, adding that "there is no cause for alarm". Mr. Venizelos also confirmed that a letter had been sent to the Greek embassy in Ankara with threats of imminent bombings on the island of Rhodes. He said the letter was anonymous and had been sent on June 27. Meanwhile, life on the island was back to normal yesterday, while a special 130-strong force of security police and anti-terrorist officers with sniffer dogs arrived there last night. Checks and security were being stepped up at the airport and harbour. Thirty police officers were also sent to nearby Kos island to strengthen security on the island. Rhodes hoteliers said they had received no cancellations as a result of the blasts and flights from abroad were going ahead as scheduled. Whitehall spokesman reassures British tourists ---------------------------------------------- London, 14/7/1994 (ANA/L.Tsirigotakis): A spokesman for the Foreign Office said his ministry was not advising British tourists to cancel trips to Greece because of the bombings on Rhodes, according to yesterday's edition of the Daily Telegraph. The spokesman said that while "tourists should be careful, they should recognise that a bomb is more likely to go off in London than in Greece. The Foreign Office does not advise British tourists who have scheduled to spend their holidays in Greece to cancel them." Cabinet holds first post-reshuffle meeting, PM calls for greater efficiency --------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 14/7/1994 (ANA): In the first Cabinet post-reshuffle meeting yesterday, Premier Andreas Papandreou asked ministers to step up their work pace and greater efficiency. He also called for extreme care in voicing disagreement in public, fewer appearances in front of cameras and closer co-operation. Mr. Papandreou stressed that the government had a difficult task in hand, having received a four-year mandate in which to rehabilitate the country. He described government work as positive on the whole, but added he was not entirely satisfied with it. He attributed delays to EU Greek presidency commitments, the PASOK conference, and Euroelections, results of which the government did not in the least ignore and had taken proper stock of its true implications. The Premier requested ministers to display boldness through deeds rather than words, adding he would not divide government work into sectors but, instead, promote ad hoc committees which were more effective. He advised ministers not to introduce draft legislation without prior consultation and dialogue where and when necessary. Mr. Papandreou said the Economic Committee would continue functioning normally, but there would be changes in the committee for major public projects. He also announced the setting up of an institutional committee by the ministries to the Prime Minister's Office, Justice, Interior, and Press. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos declared after the meeting that the Prime Minister had requested ministers to exercise restraint on ministry budgets and given instructions for elaborating next year's budget. Olympic Airways debt was discussed by a team of ministers before the Cabinet meeting, said Mr Venizelos. Transport Minister Theodoros Pangalos was to make a relevant statement, he added. Commenting on the Cabinet meeting, a New Democracy party spokesman said that instead of admonitions to ministers on conduct, the Greek people expected to be informed on the course of national issues, how the government intended to handle the provocativeness on the part of Turkey and Albania, and the stalemate in the FYROM issue. PHARE C'ttee slates Albania, Greece, Italy border co-operation plan ----------------------------------------------------------------- Brussels, 14/7/1994 (ANA/F.Stangos): The PHARE executive committee yesterday approved the programme for inter-border co-operation between Albania, Greece and Italy, worth 20 million ECU, which Albania will receive in 1994. The programme aims to develop infrastructure and promote inter-border co-operation in the economic, social and technical fields. The two-fold programme, in its "Italian leg", concerns improvement of port installations in Durazzo and sea links with Italy. The "Greek leg" involves improvement of road infrastructure to the Greek-Albanian border. According to Commission sources, the Greek delegation gave its approval following a redistribution of funds among the two road projects and the opening of three border posts instead of two. The sources said the implementation of the programme was not directly subject to conditions relating to the respect of human rights in Albania, but this may happen in the context of monitoring the progress of the projects. Tirana postpones trial of 6 Greek ethnics ----------------------------------------- Belgrade, 14/7/1994 (ANA/N.Georgiadis): The trial of six leading members of the Greek ethnic minority Omonia party by Albanian authorities will not be held next Saturday, press sources told the Athens News Agency. The sources added that they had been informed by Albanian Court officials, who were not in a position to give the exact date of the trial. According to the court officials, the opening of the trial will be announced at least one week in advance, the sources added. The six ethnic Greeks were arrested by Albanian authorities last May and charged with "espionage, fomenting separatism and possessing weapons without a licence".