From: "Theodoros Sp. Zarros" Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 14 Dec 1993 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency bulletin, Dec. 14, 1993 Athens, 14/12/93 (ANA) - Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said late Sunday night Greece was considering measures against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), if the new republic did not abandon its uncompromising positions. Mr Papandreou excluded any military action: "In no way did I mean military action", he said . When asked what measures he contemplated, Mr Papandreou replied: "Wait and see". Speaking to reporters during his flight back to Athens from Brussels where he attended the European Union summit, Mr Papandreou reiterated Greece will not recognise Skopje under the name "Macedonia", and called on Kiro Gligorov to abandon his uncompromising positions. He said if Mr Gligorov gave up his positions (on borders and the Constitution) "there was still a possibility for good economic relations within the context of non-recognition,". "Because Skopje's economic viability depends on Greece", he added. Greece remains unswerving on the name issue, and Skopje" should understand the very simple fact that no matter how many countries grant it recognition, its economic viability depends on Greece". Mr Papandreou further said "Greece being the only country that poses no threat of aggression to Skopje", intentions of other countries had to be taken into account as well. "If Mr Gligorov put an end to his intransigence with deeds, not mere words, the Greek-Skopje dialogue might resume", Mr Papandreou went on. Asked whether or not Greece's EC partners might pressure Mr Gligorov, he replied: "I cannot be optimistic. They have got the message. What they will do about it, is another matter". "I assure you, however, that they will get the message much better, when Greece starts taking measures", he added. Mr Papandreou said he considered suspending the dialogue at the UN was "an excellent decision", noting that when he had referred to measures against Skopje "in no way did I mean military action", When asked what measures he contemplated, Mr Papandreou replied: "Wait and see". Commenting on press speculations of impending establishment of diplomatic relations by Community member states with Skopje, Mr Papandreou said other than press reports, there had been no official information or announcements. Referring to his meeting with French President Francois Mitterrand, the Prime Minister said:" I believe there is an intention to establish diplomatic relations, although he did not say so openly". Mr Papandreou noted Skopje had already been recognised under the name FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). To another question, he replied that establishment of diplomatic relations was "a political problem", stressing "in essence recorgnitions have been extended under the name FYROM". Turning to attacks from the main opposition (New Democracy) party, Mr Papandreou said "they are the only people who have no right to criticise us". 'They handed us a situation that was beyond description. We found agreements for definite economic assistance (to Skopje), and they were working on a compromise name including 'Macedonia'. We are following the policy we have always upheld. We have not moved away from any of our positions. We had hoped our Community partners, in particular, would have openly supported Greece's position", Mr Papandreou said. "This did not happen, but that does not imply a rift with the Community. That would not be to Greece's interests", he added. Greece yesterday called on its E.C. partners to seriously take stock of recent experience of the crisis in former Yugoslavia before establishing diplomatic relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said they should also bear in mind Greece's comparative advantages, which made it "a the country which can and is contributing to peace in the region". Clarifying what he meant by "recent experience", Mr Venizelos said he was referring to "the hasty recognition of Bosnia ... the entire affair of Yugoslavia's disintegration ... and the experience with Skopje". The spokesman said any action which might lead to further intransigence by Skopje should be avoided. He added Greece had shown the friendliest possible disposition toward Skopje in the region, and reiterated a statement by Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou that the economic viability of the neighbouring state depended to a great extend on Greece. Replying to questions, the spokesman also reaffirmed Greece could return to the negotiating table with Skopje, but dialogue would not include the name issue on which, he said, the government remained firm in not recognising any state using the name of 'Macedonia' or any derivative thereof. Dialogue, Mr Venizelos continued, would focus on removal of Greek symbols used by Skopje and abandonment of "liberating designs". A prerequisite for resuming talks is to have clear indications to that effect from Skopje", Mr Venizelos said. Asked if Greece's assumption of the E.C. presidency in January would help the government in handling the Skopje issue, Mr Venizelos replied that the presiding country enjoyed "certain procedural facilities" on upholding the principles of a common (E.C.) foreign and security policy. Meanwhile , Political Spring (POL.A) party leader Antonis Samaras yesterday proposed to the President of the Republic, Constantine Karamanlis, to convene an all-party meeting, under his chairman-ship to discuss recent developments in the Skopje issue. Bonn, 14/12/93 (ANA - P. Stangos) - German government spokesman Dieter Vogel yesterday said the German government officially insists "final" decision on establishing diplomatic relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) has not yet been taken despite accumulation of many reports to the contrary, alleging the step will be taken in a few days. Replying to a question by the press, Mr Vogel refused to confirm a report in yesterday's "Der Spiegel" magazine, saying "a final decision has not yet been made", adding that "it will be taken in conjunction with decisions by other European governments..." Asked when this would happen, Mr Vogel said "it will not be very long". The report in "Der Spiegel" said "the Cabinet decided secretly last Wednesday to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of 'Macedonia' within the year" and "the exact date will be set jointly with a powerful group of countries" because the German Foreign Ministry in no way would like Germany to appear as the motive power behind the issue. "The reason for haste is that Eurodiplomats want to create fait accomplice before Greece assumes the presidency of the European Union as of January 1," it said. Athens, 14/12/93 (ANA) - Support for Greece's insistence Macedonia is the historical name of a Greek geographical region has come from an unlikely source-Abu Jafar Mohammand Ibn Jarir al Tabari - to many, the father of Islamic history. According to an IRNA dispatch (from Athens), Tabari is to Islamic history what Herodotus is to Greek history. "Philip, father of Alexander the Greek, comes from the people of a place of the Greeks known as Macedonia. He was a king over it and over other places which he took possession of", Tabari wrote in his 15-volume World Annals. According to IRNA, the voluminous work deals with the history of man from Adam to Tabari's own times. Parts of the second volume relate to the history of Greeks and Persians. It was published by E. J. Brill in original Arabic in Holland in 1881-1882. Tabari was born in Tabaristan (in present day Iran) in the year 838 and died in Baghdad in 922. Although an Iranian, Tabari wrote most of his works in Arabic. In his World Annals, Tabari refers to Philip as "Filifos" (there is no 'p' in Arabic) to Alexander as "Iskander" and to Macedonia as "Makdovniya". Writing 400 years later, according to IRNA, another renowned Islamic historian, Mohammand Ibn Al-Athir, also refers to Macedonia in his 9-volume work "Al Kamil fil Tarikh". "Philip, father of Alexander the Greek, is from a place called Macedonia. He was a king over it and over other places", wrote Ibn Athir who died in 1232. Greece has waged a two-year campaign to prevent international recognition of the neighbouring state of the 'Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia', asserting that inclusion of 'Macedonia' in the name implies territorial designs against Greece's province of Macedonia. Melbourne, 14/12/93 (Macedonian Press Agency) - Australian former Foreign Minister and Opposition leader Andrew Peacock has cautioned any precipitate move aimed at recognising the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) under the name "Macedonia", might destabilise the Balkan region. Speaking at the invitation of the "Greece Council" of West Australia State in Perth, yesterday, Mr Peacock said: "Greece's role in the next six months will be of decisive importance of peace in former Yugoslavia, owing to the well-known peculiarities of the Balkan region", he stressed. "Considering Greek objections on the matter, it would not be proper for a new state to be recognised under the name 'Macedonia'". Athens, 14/12/93 (ANA) - Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos yesterday said the government had no knowledge of a possible conference of parties interested in the Cyprus issue on the lines of the Middle East summit. Asked about letters reportedly exchanged between Premier Andreas Papandreou and Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Mr Venizelos said he had no knowledge of such letters, but he might revert to the issue later "if necessary". Meanwhile, an ANA dispatch from Nicosia said government spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides did not deny a report by an Athens daily claiming there had been an exchange of letters between President Clerides and Mr Papandreou, adding "the Cyprus government does not deem it proper to publish letter, or documents of a confidential nature". Referring to a scheduled visit by Cyprus National Council members to Athens, Mr Venizelos said contacts with the government would provide an opportunity to examine all matters relating to the Cyprus issue and clear up queries. Brussels, 14/12/93 (ANA - K. Verros) - Alternate National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou yesterday said the Greek presidency's priorities for the ECOFIN Council are divided into three big sectors which are promoting policies included in the White Paper, strengthening co-operation with east and central European countries and handling present administration. Addressing reporters at the end of the ECOFIN Council, Mr. Papantoniou said he had prolonged talks with Community Commissioner Henning Christophersen yesterday focusing exclusively on the Greek presidency's preparation and its co-operation with the European Commission. Mr. Papantoniou also briefed his colleagues of other member states on the Greek presidency's programme and priorities at a noon luncheon attended by European Commission President Jacques Delors. Mr Papantoniou said the Greek presidency's priorities were divided into three big sectors: promoting policies included in the White Paper, strengthening co-operation with east and central European countries and handling present administration. A. The White paper's policies are economic growth, employment and competitiveness. During the Greek presidency ECOFIN's specific responsibility will be to secure necessary financing for big investments for west European networks. B. By East and central European countries, the Greek presidency meant Balkan countries, other countries in central and east Europe, Russia and former Soviet Union republics. Mr Papantoniou said the Greek presidency would make efforts to include those countries in west European transport, energy and telecommunications networks to the greatest possible degree. C. Points Mr. Papantoniou underlined on the question of handling present administration are co-operation with the European Monetary Institute, participation in the G7 Finance Ministers conference in Washington in February 1994 on the issue of increasing jobs on a world-wide scale and discussing amendments to the convergence programmes of four member states, namely Portugal, Denmark, Ireland and Greece. Mr Papantoniou said Greece was committed to submitting a revised convergence programme by the end of February to facilitate discussion at the ECOFIN Council meeting next March.