From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 27 Jan 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Athens, 27/01/1994, (ANA) - Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday told visiting Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky that the Greek presidency would do everything possible to facilitate Austria's accession to the European Union. Mr. Vranitzky, here on a one-day visit, held talks yesterday with President Constantine Karamanlis and Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou focusing on Austria's bid to join the EU. Speaking to reporters after the talks, Mr. Papandreou said that the Greek presidency had undertaken the obligation to attain an intergovernmental agreement on the accession of Austria, Finland, Sweden and Norway within the framework of the EU before March 1. "This may be rather ambitious", Mr. Papandreou said, "but we shall try". He pledged that Greece would do everything possible to facilitate Austria's accession to the EU. Mr. Papandreou expressed the hope that accession negotiations with the four countries would be completed by the March 1 target date. He said that the decision of the Greek presidency "which must however be confirmed by the other EU members" was that once accession negotiations with each country had been completed, those countries would become members of the EU. Mr. Vranitzky said he attached great importance to his visit firstly because negotiations between Austria and the EU were continuing, secondly because of the long-standing ties of friendship and co-operation between Greece and Austria and thirdly due to his personal friendship with Mr. Papandreou. Negotiations were focusing on many issues, he said, "but today we discussed regional policy, agriculture and transport". Noting that Austria was interested in completion of the entire package of negotiations, he underlined that these three issues were of particular importance for Vienna. Mr. Vranitzky said it had been agreed that the negotiators should be directed to speed up the talks. Asked what stance Vienna would take on the issue of Cyprus' bid to join the EU if Austria was a member of the Union by 1995, Mr. Vranitzky replied that it would be "positive". "It would be easier to give a reply if the negotiations between Austria and the EU had been completed", he said, "but once this has been achieved, European integration will take on new dimensions. Consequently this issue (Cyprus) will have priority among a list of issues and Austria's stance will be positive". Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias expressed the hope to the Austrian Chancellor that this country would "very soon" be a member of the European Union. Speaking to reporters after a 40-minute meeting with Mr. Vranitzky, Mr. Papoulias said that Greece considered Austria's contribution to Europe to be "very important". "Greece and Austria maintain historical ties and the prospects for their continuous development are excellent", Mr. Papoulias said. During their talks, Mr. Papoulias and Mr. Vranitzky discussed the crisis in Bosnia-Herzegovina, over which both men expressed concern but also their determination to press for a peaceful settlement despite the present deadlock. Mr. Vranitzky said that political and economic stability was absolutely necessary in the Balkans and the former Communist countries, adding that an investment programme was being drawn up in collaboration with other European countries for the development of these regions. Also discussed during the meeting were the Cyprus problem and bilateral relations. Present at the meeting were also Austrian Transport Minister Victor Klima and his Greek counterpart Ioannis Haralambous. Athens, 27/01/1994 (ANA) - Germany yesterday urged for fresh initiatives to end the civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and pledged to assist in the resolution of an ongoing dispute between Greece and the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. "New initiatives for a solution to the problem in Bosnia are urgently needed", German Deputy Foreign Minister Helmut Schaefer said in Athens. He was speaking after a two-hour meeting with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou. Mr. Papandreou said the talks focused on issues ranging from NATO's recent threat of air strikes against Serbs to Greek national issues including the country's dispute with its northern neighbor and the Cyprus problem. The Greek minister said he was in agreement with his German colleague on the need for new initiatives for Bosnia but dit not elaborate on what these included. On the Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, Mr. Schaefer said Germany would "contribute to efforts ... for a solution to the problem". He said the new state, which Germany and several other EU states established diplomatic links with, in December, did not have "expansionist designs on Greece". "The most important issue is the settlement of problems arising from the symbols, constitution and name (of the state), "Mr. Schaefer said. Athens insists the neighboring state change its constitution, remove a Greek symbol from its flag, cease hostile propaganda against Greece and drop claims to the name 'Macedonia' or any of its derivatives. Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou told parliament this week resumption of United Nations talks hinged on the former Yugoslav republic accepting these conditions. Mr. Schaefer also had a meeting with main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert. Athens, 27/01/94 (ANA) - No proposal has been made to the Greek government concerning a possible meeting between UN mediator on the Skopje issue Cyrus Vance and Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias during the latter's forthcoming visit to the US, the government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday. Asked to comment on recent statements by Skopje President Kiro Gligorov, the spokesman said that Mr. Gligorov "closely followed" the statements and positions of the Greek government and had repeatedly acknowledged that it was a great importance to have good relations with Greece. The spokesman reiterated that Skopje's leaders should realize that they would have to give concrete examples that they were willing to tone down their provocativeness and intransigence. Mr. Papoulias is scheduled to visit the US at the end of the month in his capacity as president of the European Union Council of Ministers. During his stay, he will have talks with US officials prior to Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's visit to Washington in March . Athens, 27/01/94 (ANA) - Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias expressed his wish for a good result in current efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem after his meeting with UN special representative Joe Clark and alternate special representative Gustave Feissel last night. Mr. Papoulias said efforts made to resolve the Cyprus issue were in the spirit of the UN Secretary General's ideas and constituted a "process in motion". Mr. Clark said the "fact that Greece supports the secretary general's efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue is useful and facilitating", adding that there was a possibility of progress but the assistance of the Ankara and Athens governments would be necessary as well as of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides in Cyprus. The special representatives are due to fly to Ankara today for talks with the Turkish side. Mr. Clark will return to New York on Sunday to make his relevant proposals to the UN Chief Boutros Boutros Ghali. Athens,27/01/94 (ANA) - US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Niles yesterday reiterated President Bill Clinton's "commitment" that every effort would be made to resolve the Cyprus issue. Mr. Niles was speaking to reporters after a meeting with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias last night. The two men discussed Mr. Papoulias' contacts in Washington in his capacity as European Union Council president. Mr. Niles said the EU Commissioner Hans van den Broek would also travel to Washington with Mr. Papoulias. Replying to a question, Mr. Niles said he did not discuss the Cyprus issue with Mr. Papoulias, adding that the matter might be included in Mr. Papoulias' agenda in Washington. The US together with a large number of countries are stepping up efforts to promote a solution to the Cyprus issue, Mr. Niles added, and referred to the presence in Athens of UN special representatives Joe Clark and Gustave Feissel. "This effort is continuing and the US administration's commitment that it supports this action is clear", Mr. Niles said. "In any case, President Clinton has stated this and we will insist without making any forecasts on when exactly there will be a result . I believe that we will ultimately succeed", Mr. Niles added.