From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Sat, 12 Mar 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Papoulias: EU Bosnia peace plan holds, 'nucleus for all further action' ----------------------------------------------------------------- Belgrade, 12/03/1994 (ANA - N. Georgiadis): The European Union peace plan for Bosnia "still holds and it is the nucleus for all further action," Foreign Minister and current EU Council of Ministers President Karolos Papoulias said yesterday, after two-and-a- half hour talks with Serb President Slobodan Milosevic. Speaking to reporters at a joint press conference with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Yugoslavia Zelko Simic, Mr. Papoulias said his talks on the Bosnian crisis and the situation prevailing in the Balkans were "very positive". "We examined the problem, the known problem, the discussion was extremely useful and beneficial to me, both as Greek Foreign Minister and as President of the EU Council of Ministers. I think I will go back to my colleagues with many encouraging messages. I hope the crisis will be overcome and we will agree on a final solution," he added. Asked how Greece faced the prospect of sending a military contingent as part of the UN peacekeeping force in Bosnia, at a time when Turkey insists on sending peace-keepers to former Yugoslavia, Mr. Papoulias said: "Greece has a basic position that Balkan countries should not get involved in the crisis. We continue to insist and support this position. However, if this position, accepted by NATO and the European Union, is violated, then a new state of affairs will arise, and Greece must take new decision in strict accordance with its own national interests, but also the interests of the wider region (of the Balkans)." Referring to the sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro, Mr. Papoulias said: "It is a very important issue, we all know this well, and you know the Greek government's position which has not changed. However, in presiding over the European Union, we must convince our partners on an in principle decision on such an issue, as it happens to be of great importance not only to Serbia but also in determining the next steps in our policy". Greece maintains that sanctions against rump Yugoslavia should be reconsidered. Upon arrival in Belgrade, Mr. Papoulias told reporters that the European Union wished to be actively present in the peace effort in former Yugoslavia. "I have the conviction the EU will continue to play a dynamic role in resolving the Bosnian crisis, together with powers such as the United states and Russia, " he said. To a question on whether or not he discussed an increase in the number of US troops to the Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) with President Milosevic, Mr. Papoulias said: "We had an overall discussion on the situation prevailing in the Republic of Skopje, as also on the situation resulting form interest displayed by non-Balkan powers in intervening in the Balkan crisis, without ruling out, however, that those able to help in finding a solution are welcome, as long as no complications should arise." Asked to comment on Belgrade's response to a message FYROM President Kiro Gligorov sent to Mr. Milosevic through Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vitaly Churkin calling for mutual recognition between Skopje and Belgrade, Mr. Simic said "I am not in position to comment on Mr. Gligorov's statement." Unice president lauds Greek EU presidency work ---------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/03/1994 (ANA): Visiting President of the Union of Industrialists (UNICE) in Europe Carlos Ferrer voiced satisfaction of the work of the Greek government in conducting its presidency of European Union. Speaking to reporters after talks with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, he praised Athens for its success in negotiations for enlargement of the European Union. Mr. Ferrer said the Presidency should give priority to the competitiveness of the economy, adding that Europe should become an investor-friendly region, with a special institutional framework to attract foreign business. Greece assumed the EU presidency in January and pledged to promote enlargement of the 12-bloc by concluding membership negotiations with Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway during its six-month presidency term. Austrian Chancellor lauds Greek role in accession talks ------------------------------------------------------- Vienna, 12/03/1994 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis): Greece has played a very good role in the successful outcome of European Union enlargement negotiations, not only at the level of Presidency, but also at the level of contacts, said Austrian Chancellor Franc Vranitzky in an exclusive statement to the Athens News Agency yesterday . "I had personally repeated telephone conversations with Mr. Papandreou and very good discussions-in course of negotiations- with (Minister for European Affairs) Mr. Pangalos. "Taking into account the successful completion of negotiations, as also the quality and contents of the agreements too, we should underscore Greece's especially significant contribution to their conclusion", said the Chancellor. He expressed optimism that both the European Parliament and the Austrian people will ratify the agreements. A referendum on EU accession will be held in Austria on June 12 or 19. US to raise military presence in FYROM ------------------------------------- Washington, 12/03/1994 (AFP): The United States yesterday announced its intention to increase the number of its troops stationed in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). White House spokeswoman Dee Dee Myers said the decision was taken in order to increase the number of peace-keepers in Bosnia. "We will replace Scandinavians (in FYROM) so that they can go to Bosnia," she said, without announcing the exact number of troops that would be added to the 322-strong US contingent in FYROM. On Thursday, a Pentagon official, who asked not to be identified, said the contingent could reach 500 troops. Defence Minister on Cyprus visit -------------------------------- Athens, 12/03/1994 (ANA): Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis is to pay an official visit to Cyprus on March 16 and 17, a Ministry announcement said yesterday. Papoulias-Vance talks 'positive', Venizelos says ----------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/03/1994 (ANA): The government yesterday described as "positive" Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias' talks in Geneva Thursday with UN special mediator on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) issue Cyrus Vance. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said the talks were positive, because Mr. Vance had appeared to appreciate "the contents" of Greece's positions. Mr. Venizelos said a further meeting might be held, either between Mr. Papoulias and Mr. Vance or between senior officials. The spokesman said that Mr. Vance had presented some ideas concerning the FYROM issue as a whole adding, however, that he had made no specific proposal regarding the name of the neighbouring state. "Mr. Vance said whatever he had to say on the name issue before May 1993", the spokesman said. Mr. Papoulias detailed the Greek positions on the Skopje issue and the reasons why the government had taken retortion measures against FYROM. He also explained Greece's demand that Skopje provide concrete examples of good will prior to any resumption of dialogue. Mr. Venizelos reiterated that the three conditions set by Greece as a prerequisite for dialogue continued to apply. Turning to the retortion measures, the spokesman said the measures were implemented to the letter. He added the 78 railway tanker carriages carrying a consignment of oil, allowed to cross into FYROM Thursday, had already been cleared on February 14, two days before retortion measures came into force. Mr. Venizelos said the state-run oil refinery in FYROM had been put out of operation and the 4.5 thousand tonnes of oil allowed to cross were not enough to keep the refinery operating for more than half a day. There are 20 more tanker carriages carrying oil, waiting to cross the border, which had been granted permit before the retortion measures were imposed, but further checks will take place before they are allowed to cross, Mr. Venizelos said. Greece insists that Skopje should amend sections of its Constitution indicating irredentist designs, desist from hostile propaganda and stop using Greek symbols. In conclusion, the spokesman expressed satisfaction at the European Parliament Resolution Thursday condemning the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of six Kurdish deputies in Turkey and calling for their immediate release. "Given the prevailing climate at the European Parliament, the Resolution is the best we would hope for," he said. According to Mr. Venizelos, the Parliament's socialist group , especially the Greek Eurodeputies, played the most important role in the adoption of the Resolution. Delors delays Eurocourt retortion action, 'act of good will' ----------------------------------------------------------- Paris, 12/03/1994 (ANA - O. Tsipira): As a display of good will toward Greece, European Commission President Jacques Delors will delay referring Greece to the European Court over the retortion measures it has imposed against FYROM, giving it more time to resume dialogue with Skopje. "I intend to wait a while longer," he said," in delaying Greece's reference to court over the economic measures". "It is a gesture of good will and understanding and Greece should see it as such," he added. Mr. Delors was speaking at a press conference in Paris at which he presented the French edition of the White Paper, titled "Crossing into the 21st century." Describing the Geneva discussions and the mediation effort by European Commissioner Hans Van den Broek as "very positive", Mr. Delors admitted there was a political aspect to the problem on the grounds of Greece's national safety stressing, however, that "from a purely economic view the Greek initiative cannot be acceptable," He dismissed the possibility of a future private initiative, leaving the mediation efforts to Mr. Van den Broek. FYROM at EU Athens meetings "on terms akin to 3 prerequisites" ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 12/03/1994 (ANA): A delegation from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) will take part in next week's European transport conference "on conditions similar to the three sited for the resumption of dialogue", the government said yesterday. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said that a FYROM delegation had been invited to the conference on March 14-16 organised by the European Commission and the European Parliament. The delegation will be headed by FYROM Parliament President Stojan Antov. The invitation, Mr. Venizelos said, was extended by the organisers and the FYROM delegation will travel to Greece on visas issued "on plain white paper" without the Star of Vergina. He said that the delegation would participate under the name "FYROM" and that issues which were outside the scope of the conference would not be raised . "That is, the FYROM delegation will be participating on conditions similar to the three conditions set by Greece", Mr. Venizelos said. The aim of the conference is to present latest developments in the transport sector, since the first conference held in Prague in October 1991. The delegates will also exchange views on the future of transport at a European level. European Parliament President Egon Klepsch and Transport Minister John Haralambous will address the opening session of the conference on Monday.