From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Tue, 10 May 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, WEU offers defence partnership to former communist states --------------------------------------------------------- Luxembourg, 10/5/1995 (ANA/G.Daratos/Reuter): The Western European Union (WEU) defence group opened its doors to nine former communist states in Eastern Europe yesterday, offering them a partnership of close political and military ties. WEU foreign and defence ministers meeting in Luxembourg, admitted six Eastern European countries and three Baltic republics as "associate partners" in the group. Greece was represented by Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis. Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jacques Poos, handing foreign ministers of the nine states documents laying out their status, called it "an historic decision... a substantial contribution to stability, security and sustained peace in Europe." Under the agreement, east Europeans will have access to regular meetings and military liaison, as well as an option of taking part in joint operations such as peacekeeping with the nine-nation WEU. But they will not have security guarantees. Long overshadowed by the US-led NATO during the Cold War, the WEU has won a new lease of life as the future defence arm of the European Union, which is developing a common foreign and security policy as it takes a bigger role on the world stage. The countries admitted as partners were Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Ministers received their documents in a champagne ceremony at Luxembourg's Kirchberg European Centre. Also, Turkey, Iceland and Norway, three WEU associate members, will enjoy increased rights and upgraded relations with the WEU. The three countries will participate in military operations as equal partners and will be represented permanently by three officers at the "defence planning nucleus" as is the case with full WEU members. The three countries will now have a say at the Council of Ministers, but will not have the right to vote at the WEU's Parliamentary Assembly. After Greece's accession is ratified by the national parliaments of Belgium, France and the Netherlands, all European Union member states will belong to the WEU. Ten will be full members and two, Denmark and Ireland, will be observers. Turkey will not yet receive full member status, according to a recent statement by WEU Secretary-General Willhelm van Eekelen in Brussels, since it is not an EU member. President congratulates Mandela, F.W. de Klerk --------------------------------------------- Athens, 10/5/1994 (ANA): President Constantine Karamanlis sent a message congratulating newly-elected South African President Nelson Mandela. "I am convinced that the International Community will fully support your efforts to build a safer and better future for the people in the new South Africa," the President's message said. The President added that relations between Greece and South Africa would grow stronger during Mr. Mandela's presidential term. Mr. Karamanlis also sent a letter to outgoing president F.W. de Klerk congratulating him for his efforts that turned a new page in the country's history. "I would like to express my deep respect for the courage, insight and consistency that marked your long and persistent efforts to create a new era for your country," President Karamanlis wrote. French FM thanks Papoulias for Frenchmen's Bosnia trial postponement ----------------------------------------------------------------- Luxembourg, 10/5/1994 (ANA/G.Daratos/P.Pantelis): French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe yesterday thanked Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias for his mediating efforts both with Belgrade and Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic to prevent a trial of 11 French members of a humanitarian organisation for weapons of Arab origin found in parcels destined for the Moslems. Intervention by the Greek Foreign Ministry led to the Bosnian Serbs suspending their decision to hold the trial for a month. Mr. Papoulias said the postponement provides the opportunity for further efforts with Serb President Slobodan Milosevic and Mr. Karadzic in the hope the trial will be called off altogether. Mr. Papoulias confirmed reports that he "expressed displeasure" to West European Union (WEU) Secretary-General Vim van Eekelen for meeting Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski in Brussels on May 3 without having previously notified Greece and the other WEU member-states. Mr. van Eekelen told Mr. Papoulias "it was an acquaintance meeting entirely of a courtesy nature." PASOK Central C'ttee to elect Secretary, Executive Bureau ---------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 10/5/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister and PASOK party leader Andreas Papandreou will convene the party's Central Committee next Friday at the Intercontinental Hotel, to elect a Central Committee Secretary and an Executive Bureau. It will be the Central Committee's first meeting since its election by PASOK's third assembly. Greece wants speedy Skopje settlement, terms already set out ----------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 10/5/1994 (ANA): Greece said yesterday it desired a speedy settlement of its dispute with the Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, but gave no indication of plans to lift three-month-old trade sanctions against the neighbouring republic. "The rules which Skopje has to comply with are known", said government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos yesterday. He was commenting on reports claiming trade sanctions would be lifted against the former Yugoslav republic if progress was achieved between the two feuding sides. United Nations mediator Cyprus Vance is due for another round of talks with Greece's special envoy Ambassador Christos Zaharakis in New York Thursday. Greece imposed trade sanctions against its northern neighbour in February, in a bid to pressure the new Balkan state to change its name, flag and Constitution. Athens accuses Skopje of harbouring territorial claims against the northern Greek province of Macedonia. FYROM to abandon Vergina star, amend constitution - Belgrade daily ----------------------------------------------------------------- Belgrade, 10/5/1994 (ANA/CNA): The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) will abandon use of the ancient Greek Star of Vergina on its flag as well as certain articles of its Constitution, according to an article yesterday in Belgrade's daily "Politika." FYROM President Kiro Gligorov will also announce that the new country does not have territorial ambitions on Greece, according to the newspaper. Replacing the Star of Vergina on the Skopjan flag will be two birds drinking water from the "spring of life" which is a typical Skopjan characteristic as well as a religious symbol. The birds are drawn in gold on a red background. The proposed symbol will appear on all official Skopjan documents, like automobile license plates, identity cards and passports. Some nationalist FYROM groups have criticised the republic's government for following a "strategy of defeat." For the proposed symbol and constitutional amendments to become reality, they must be approved by two-thirds of FYROM's parliament. Greek presidency calls on US, Canada join European stability meeting ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 10/5/1994 (ANA): The Greek European Union Presidency has called on top officials from Europe, Canada and the United States to participate in a convention focusing on the European Stability Pact to be held in Athens May 11. The Athens convention aims at preparing the final text of the Declaration, for adoption by the ministerial meeting, to be held on 26 May, in Paris, under the chairmanship of Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos. The Greek Presidency will call on officials to clarify their governments' positions on the Pact, an announcement said yesterday. Delegations from the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), NATO and the Western European Union will participate in the meeting. The Pact, the brain-child of French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur, is designed to prevent the outbreak of tension and crises in the region of Central-Eastern Europe and the Baltic region. The European Union troika, namely Belgium, Germany, and Greece, and countries with a direct interest in the Pact, have been engaged in tense diplomatic consultations in past months, to achieve harmonisation of their positions. EU troika to tackle Yugo crisis settlement ------------------------------------------ Luxembourg, 10/5/1994 (ANA-G.Daratos and P.Pantelis): The Troika, namely Belgium, Greece and Germany will represent the European Union in the talks to find a solution to the crisis in former Yugoslavia, in Geneva Friday, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said yesterday. The decision was taken at yesterday's meeting of the Western European Union (WEU) Foreign and Defence Ministers meeting in Luxembourg. The decision was taken despite a United States suggestion that Europe be represented at talks by France and Britain, Europe's permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Greek presidency hails Russia-Latvia troop pullout accord --------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 10/5/1994 (ANA): The Greek European Union Presidency on Monday hailed the signing of the Russian-Latvian agreements providing for the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Latvia, saying that it would contribute to stability in the region. "The signing and timely ratification of the agreements by the two sides will contribute to general stability in the Baltic region," an announcement issued in Athens by the Presidency said yesterday. The Russian-Latvian agreements could become incorporated in a European Stability Pact, pursued by the European Union, it added. Russia has agreed to withdraw its troops from Latvian soil until 31 August. "The signing of the agreements," the announcement said, "constitutes an important step in the history of the independence of Latvia, and removes a serious obstacle to the development of bilateral relations with Russia." Albania should act with greater ponderation - spokesman ----------------------------------------------------- Athens, 10/5/1994 (ANA): Greece expects Albania to act with greater ponderation, in the knowledge that the two countries stand on an historically burdened region. It follows there is no need for uncalled tension, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday, commenting on statements by Albanian President Sali Berisha Sunday, accusing Greece of irredentist tendencies. Mr Venizelos said Greece is not prepared to tolerate groundless allegations and slanderous claims designed to breed tension, reiterating normalising relations between the two countries hinged on respect for the Greek ethnic minority's rights, as laid down by international law, and implemented through specific provisions in Albanian legislation and administrative, police and judicial practice. He dismissed Mr Berisha's reference to the existence of a European and a Byzantine tendency in Greek foreign policy as lacking in historical basis, and reminded him that a European tendency means foremost respect for European institutional civilisation, the principles of the rule of law and human rights. G. Papandreou: Skopje settlement soon ------------------------------------- Athens, 10/5/1994 (ANA): Foreign Under-secretary George Papandreou yesterday expressed the view that there will soon be solutions to normalising relations between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Speaking at the 10th Conference of External Affairs Committees of the European Parliament and the Parliaments of European Union member states, Mr Papandreou referred to Greek-Turkish relations, stressing that Greece will be the first country to help Turkey become a member of the European Union if its neighbour accepts European principles, without arbitrary practices on borders and human rights. Referring to the FYROM issue, Mr Papandreou said the survival of this state was an important matter, and Greece's interests were identified with it, but it violated basic CSCE principles, through use of ancient Greek symbols, its Constitution and, chiefly, through education. He also referred to the need for a speedy accession of Cyprus and Malta to the European Union, stressing that the former has made significant progress in promoting the necessary institutional and fiscal changes. The Conference was declared open by Greek Parliament President Mr Apostolos Kaklamanis, who referred to Greek concern over continuing bloodshed in the former Yugoslavia and the existence of 17 million unemployed and 40 million of social outcasts living under subsistence level in European Union countries. Mr. Kaklamanis also stressed the need for national Parliaments to assume a more active role in building a more democratic Europe.