From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Sat, 19 Feb 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens, 19/2/94. -- Russia has declared its commitment to send peacekeeping troops to Bosnia would not be limited to Sarajevo, the besieged capital. "We are engaged in a major effort, an initiative for a long time. The essence of this initiative is to strengthen the security zones, not only around Sarajevo but in other safe zones too", Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev said yesterday. "Russia will be part of the peacekeeping operation whether it covers Bosnia or Sarajevo itself", he told reporters after talks in Athens with his Greek, German and Belgian counterparts. Moscow claimed diplomatic triumph on Thursday, after clinching a deal with Bosnian Serbs to roll back their heavy weapons from around Sarajevo, in return for the dispatch of a Russian peacekeeping contingent in the area. Mr Kozyrev did not specify how many troops would be sent, saying Moscow was negotiating the matter with the UN "We are discussing (the issue) with the United Nations and, in a matter of hours, we will know how many Russian peacekeepers will be sent to Sarajevo" he said. "But Russian Alternate Foreign Minister Vitaly Churkin, who brokered the withdrawal deal, said at the Bosnian Serb stronghold of Pale, Russia would be sending in 400 peacekeeping troops from its contingent serving with the UN in Croatia. Four hundred more would be dispatched from Russia itself, he added. Mr Kozyrev also urged the West to pressure Moslems in Bosnia "not to rely on methods involving force, but on the present opportunity for working out a settlement in Sarajevo". Mr Kozyrev said he believed that Bosnian Serbs' decision to pull back their heavy weapons from around besieged Sarajevo following the Kremlin's proposal, signalled the beginning of the end of fighting in Bosnia. "I believe so," he told a questioner, before joining the European Union troika meeting on the Bosnian crisis. "I am satisfied with the response. (Russian) President (Boris) Yeltsin is, at this moment, on the phone to (German) Chancellor Helmut Kohl, and lengthy phone calls were made to other ministries too", he said. Mr Kozyrev further said there was, what he called, a "growing mood to gather momentum and end the war in Bosnia". "It's important that Russia does its job to encourage the Serbs in this agreement, and for the US and others to encourage other parties concerned not try to exploit the (Serbian) withdrawal, but to take advantage of the possibility for the opening of peace", he added. Mr Kozyrev stressed that it was "most important now to pool efforts" in bringing the warring sides round to "genuine peace compromise". Athens, 19/2/94. --- Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou had separate talks yesterday with visiting German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev, focusing on the situation in former Yugoslavia and the Skopje issue. Under-secretary to the Prime Minister's Office Telemahos Hytiris said that Mr Papandreou had a lengthy discussion with Mr Kinkel on Greece's decision this week to halt the movement of goods to and from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia through the port of Thessaloniki, and close its Consulate General in Skopje. The Prime Minister briefed Mr Kinkel on the reasons for Greece's decision. The German Foreign Minister expressed understanding, while maintaining certain reservations, Mr Hytiris said. He told the press Mr Kinkel had not asked Mr Papandreou to revoke the decision. The two men also discussed the crisis in former Yugoslavia, as well as issues related to the Greek presidency of the European Union. Mr Hytiris said Mr Kinkel had expressed his country's support for the targets set and measures being promoted by the Greek presidency. Mr Papandreou's talks with Mr Kozyrev focused mainly on the problem of former Yugoslavia, Mr Hytiris said, adding that both men agreed a solution to the Bosnian crisis should be political. Mr Hytiris said the Premier's talks with Mr Kozyrev had also included the Skopje issue. He described Mr Papandreou's talks with Mr Kinkel and Mr Kozyrev as "important, if one considers events which preceded the talks, and those that will follow". --- Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias had a meeting yesterday with his Russian counterpart Andrei Kozyrev, focusing on bilateral and other issues. At the meeting, which brought together a Greek and a Russian delegation, the two ministers exchanged "coinciding" views on the Bosnian crisis, declaring their common opposition to extreme war solutions which will solve nothing. Mr Papoulias said afterwards Greek national issues, including the Cyprus problem, were discussed, and Mr Kozyrev had expressed his government's "understanding". It was also noted that Russian President Boris Yeltsin's visit to Greece last June put Greek-Russian relations on a better basis, while Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's forthcoming trip to Russia was also expected to settle some bilateral issues. Mr Papoulias has accepted an invitation to visit Moscow in April to prepare Mr. Papandreou's visit to Russia. --- Greece said yesterday retort measures it had taken this week against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) were based on International and Community Law. "Regarding International law, the measures taken by the government pertain to 'retort' measures as opposed to retaliatory measures," European Affairs Minister Theodoros Pangalos said. Greece announced on Wednesday that it would halt the movement of goods through the harbour of Thessaloniki to and from FYROM, and close its Consulate General in Skopje, in a move to address Skopje intransigence and provocations. "Any state has the right to take such measures when it believes that it is affected by the devious and abusive behaviour of another state", Mr Pangalos told reporters. He was speaking after talks with visiting European Commissioner Hans Van den Broek and Belgian Foreign Minister Willy Claes. Mr Pangalos said Greece had also acted in accordance with respective stipulations in the Maastricht treaty obliging member states to inform their Community partners on any measures obstructing the operation of the European common market in a bud to secure peace and international security. "After the announcement of the measures, Greece contacted all its EU partners both at their respective capitals and through their ambassadors in Athens. It also advised the Commission", Mr Pangalos said. "We believe that the continued and growing hostile propaganda, hostile symbols, the constitution and other provisions, all contribute to destabilise the situation in the broader region of the southern Balkans and constitutes a serious threat to international stability", Mr Pangalos said. He added similar measures had been taken by European states against Iran during the American hostage crisis, and Britain against Argentinean products during the War of the Falklands. Mr Pangalos said the Greek side would fully brief the European Community at a Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday. --- Meanwhile, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said in Thessaloniki the retort measures against FYROM were dictated by considerations of stability and security in the greater region (of the Balkans). "The government had considered the reaction which the measures against Skopje would provoke internationally", he said. "All representatives of the international community will carefully study the reasoning (behind the measures) and realise that the Greek decision was dictated by reasons of stability and security in the greater region (of the Balkans)", Mr Venizelos said. "Pressure", the spokesman continued, "should be brought to bear on the party acting in a destabilizing manner, which happens to be none other than the Skopje government". Asked if there was a possibility of Greek-Bulgarian relations being affected by the measures, given that Sofia accommodates Skopje through its Black Sea port of Burgas, Mr Venizelos replied that there was no such eventuality. "We have very good relations (with Bulgaria)", he added. --- Belgian Foreign Minister Willy Claes told reporters he "understands" Greece's position on the Skopje issue, and called for talks to find a just and acceptable compromise. "The possibility of dialogue at EU level should be created in the coming week, if possible, so as to find means to make it possible for dialogue to commence on the Skopje issue, allowing our Greek friends to reach a just and acceptable compromise", Mr Claes said. "I understand the Greek position on the (Skopje) problem," he said in reply to press questions, adding that EU enlargement, which was a "complex dossier", had also been discussed at the meeting Mr Van den Broek described the talks as "useful", pointing out he had asked for more information on Greece's measures towards Skopje since, he said, the matter involved not only the European Commission, but also interests of EU member-states. "We both agreed that it was wise we should get some further information because, after all, it is not only the European Commission that is involved but interests of member-states too", he said. "So, apart from the political problem that we, of course , want to solve and assist in solving, there is also a matter of Community law and consequences of such measures on interests of other member states", the Commissioner added. "Therefore", he said, "we need somewhat more paper, and then we can discuss it further in Brussels. That is what we agreed". Mr Pangalos said he would submit to Greece's 11 EU partners and the Commission, a "written explanation" on the measures Greece had taken against Skopje, detailing "the legal basis" supporting the measures with respect to Community law. --- Germany yesterday termed "unusual" Greece's decision to close its consulate in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and bar the new state from using the northern Greek port of Thessaloniki. "We won't hide that we believe that the Greek measures are unusual. Pressure of this type should not be used for political purposes", German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel said in Athens. "Greece has benefitted solidarity from the European Union ... and the twelve-member European community should expect solidarity from Greece on this issue", he told reporters after talks with his Greek, Belgian and Russian counterparts. Mr Kinkel said the issue would be discussed by the EU council of Foreign Ministers on Monday, adding that a response was expected from the European Commission, the 12-member bloc's executive body. Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev said Russia was concerned on preserving stability in the region and had offered assistance in helping resolve Greece's dispute with FYROM. "We are prepared to offer our services for a political compromise between the two states with which we have friendly relations", Mr Kozyrev said. Greece has been at odds with the former Yugoslav republic over use by the latter of the name Macedonia and adoption of ancient Greek symbols which conceal territorial claims against the northern Greek region of Macedonia. Over 60 countries including the United States have recognised the new state after declaring independence in 1991. --- A Bulgarian official yesterday described the retort measures taken by the Greek government against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as "a bilateral issue concerning only Greece and Skopje". Bulgarian Consul General in Thessaloniki Rumen Chanev said that he had listened to statements by government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos "and I did not hear the word 'embargo'." "They are measures which the Greek government has the right to take", he said. Washington, 19/2/94 (ANA/D.Dimas). -- The United States said yesterday that a "preferable war" would be to resolve Greek-Skopjan differences through dialogue. "We do not think that it is to the interest of either country to try to solve differences through commercial restrictions of embargoes", State Department spokesman Mike McCurry told reporters. "We think that negotiations that have taken place successfully between them in the past, under the auspices of Owen and Stoltenberg, are the way to resolve their differences on the issue of the name, other symbols, the issue of nationality and their existence as a state. --- A Hondura-flag freighter was forced to leave the port of Thessaloniki yesterday unable to unload its cargo of timber due to the government's measures against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). "The Marina V" was carrying 820 cubic metres of timber bound for Skopje. The vessel had anchored Thursday. The master decided to sail after being told the timber could not be unloaded, because of the measures announced by the government on Wednesday. Apart from suspending the movement of goods to and from FYROM though Thessaloniki, the government's measures also included the closure of the Greek Consulate General in Skopje. Meanwhile, unloading operations resumed yesterday on the Russian-flag "Gutozniknourmour", which arrived in Thessaloniki some days ago with a cargo of 18,000 tonnes of phosphates from Jordan for Skopje. Only 2,500 tonnes of the cargo had been taken off the vessel when the government announced the measures, but unloading resumed yesterday after port authorities received a Ministry of Merchant Marine circular stating that work could continue. The reason behind the ministry's decision was that unloading had already started before the government measures were announced. Following the clarification, unloading operations are expected to begin on other vessels which arrived in the port Thursday with cargoes bound for Skopje. They include Hondura-flag "Majestic", carrying 1,000 tonnes of soy flour and Ukraine-flat "Kapitan Tenkin" with a cargo of bauxite and potter's clay. At the same time, customs officials continued yesterday to carry out stringent cargo control at all customs posts on the border with FYROM, in order to enforce the government's measures. The checks resulted in long queues of trucks on both sides of the border. --- Referring to statements by German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel that Greece should lift relation measures against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert said in Ioannina yesterday: "We may listen to proposals by our partners, and stand ready for dialogue. However, what we shall in no way accept is threats". "We Greeks have learnt not to accept threats. Before certain people start making remarks on what Greece is doing at present, they should first recall what they did on December 16 1991, when they dissolved Yugoslavia. I think that we should all face problems with calm and a solution should be found", Mr Evert said. "The Greek people can face any crisis, provided they stand united and brush aside partisan bickering and conflicts", he said, stressing his conviction the crisis would be overcome. Mr Evert arrived in Ioannina, first leg of a four-day tour of Epirus. He will visit Preveza today, and Arta tomorrow to confer with local officials and party members in Thesprotia. He will return to Ioannina to attend celebrations marking the 81st anniversary of the city's liberation from Ottoman rule.