From: Miltos Cacambouras Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- 28/12/93 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Dec. 28, 1993 Athens, 28/12/1993 (ANA): "Turkish President Suleyman Demirel's statement on Greek-Turkish relations is 'groundless, unprovoked' and creates an atmosphere of tension in relations between Greece and Turkey", government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday. He cautioned creation of tension by Ankara could not serve as a basis for an improvement of bilateral relations, adding that the inclusion of Cyprus in the Greek defence region was a self-evident consequence of Turkish invasion. "Greece is a member state of the EC, NATO and the CSCE, and is the exclusive guarantor of peace, stability and security in the Balkan's southern region", he added. "The Turkish president's statements, and similar statements by other Turkish officials, are not only groundless and unprovoked, but create an atmosphere of tension in relations between the two countries, an atmosphere which is unfortunately a permanent characteristic of Turkish occupation", Mr. Venizelos said. Mr. Venizelos called on Turkish officials to refer to the government's policy statements on Greek-Turkish relations, adding that continuing creation of tension and direct or indirect promotion of Turkish claims could in no way constitute a basis for an improvement of relations between the two countries. Referring to the inclusion of Cyprus in the Greek defence region, Mr. Venizelos said: "It is a self-evident consequence of the present state of the Cyprus issue, being a problem of invasion by Turkish forces and a continuing military occupation of 40 per cent of the island by them, in violation of every concept of international law. Promotion of a lasting, just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue necessitates a sincere and substantive change of position by the Turkish side". Referring to the question of safeguarding human rights, Mr. Venizelos said it should be understood that Greece as a democratic state of justice, viewed the situation in other countries from this perspective, especially issues which diverged perceptibly from established rights of European legal culture. Istanbul, 28/12/1993 (ANA): "Unfortunately our relations with Greece are not developing in the manner we would like to", Turkish President Suleyman Demirel told the press yesterday, when he made an assessment of developments in 1993. Referring to the Greek-Turkish dispute, among other things, he said "Turkey's relations with Romania, Albania and 'Makedonia' are both excellent and steadily developing. "Unfortunately, however, relations with Greece are not developing in the manner we would have liked them to. No Greek government has ever replied to our appeals for co-operation and dialogue. Even now, we do not see any hopeful signs from the Papandreou government. "I should like to hope that Greece would avoid actions which might jeopardise peace and stability in the Balkans", President Demirel said. Referring to the Cyprus problem, Mr. Demirel said elections by the Turkish Cypriot side have proved, once more to the whole world, the political maturity of Turkish Cypriots". "Turkey will continue supporting its Cypriot brothers in the negotiations being held under the auspices of the United Nations. "Our aim is to reach a compromise which would include the political equality and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriots, and would be acceptable to both sides", Mr. Demirel says. Athens, 28/12/1993 (ANA): Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday left for Austria, for talks with Austrian government officials on matters concerning the European Union's expansion, in light of Greece's assumption of the European Union's presidency on January 1. According to reports, Mr. Pangalos today will have talks with Under-secretary in charge of European Affairs, Mrs Brigite Entere, Minister of finance Wolfgang Sussel, Foreign Minister Alois Mok, as well as being received by Federal President Thomas Clestil at the Vienna Presidential Palace. Mr. Pangalos flies back to Athens this evening. Athens, 28/12/1993 (ANA): Establishment of diplomatic relations between France and FYROM was made official with an exchange of documents between the two sides in Skopje yesterday. A special envoy from the French Foreign Ministry, flew to the FYROM capital to implement the formality of exchanging documents between the governments of France and of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). According to a French Foreign Ministry spokesman, France will not appoint an ambassador, at this stage. Ambassadorial duties will be temporarily assumed by France's general representative in Skopje, appointed in April.