From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Tue, 31 May 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Premier warns Albania of possible political, diplomatic retaliation ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 31/5/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday said Greece was capable of responding to Albanian provocations through political and diplomatic means, cautioning strict border control in order to check the flow of Albanian illegal migrants entering Greece might be one of those means. In an interview published in yesterday's edition of the Athens afternoon daily "Ta Nea", Mr. Papandreou said recent provocations by Albania were "deliberate", describing violations of human rights of the ethnic Greek minority as "blatant and unacceptable". Mr. Papandreou also expressed the view that Albania's policy was "not completely autonomous." "Although I cannot say with certainty which powers might act through Albania," Mr. Papandreou said, the possibility of non-Balkan countries being involved cannot be ruled out. He said Albania's policy clearly pointed to an effort by Tirana to force the ethnic Greeks to flee their birthplaces, either to Greece or elsewhere in Albania. Mr. Papandreou charged Tirana with trying to sever the relationship between the geographical area mainly inhabited by the Greek minority (Northern Epirus) and their "capacity as Greeks of Albania". "This is unacceptable to us and, of course, we are in a position to take appropriate measures. We would prefer not to though, we would prefer instead to see Albania follow a policy consistent with internationally accepted criteria for human rights, rather than continue its efforts aimed at the demographic and geographical distortion of the Greeks (of Albania)," Mr. Papandreou told Ta Nea. "We are in a position to respond both politically and diplomatically," he added. Asked if Greece might close its border with Albania or enforce stricter controls on the entry of illegal immigrants from the neighbouring country, Mr. Papandreou replied: "That is included too. The only thing we have not raised is military action. That is clear." Publication of the interview coincided with the arrest Sunday night of the president of the ethnic Greek political organisation "Omonia", Christos Kyriazatis, the Prefect of Delvino and an unknown number of ethnic Greeks in the region. According to an ANA despatch from Tirana, Sotiris Kyriazatis was released by the Albanian authorities early yesterday morning. Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias strongly condemned the latest wave of arrests, saying that they were aimed at terrorising the ethnic Greek minority and members of Omonia. "There must be an end to all this. Such play-acting should stop," he said. Mr. Papoulias also warned Tirana that Greece had the capability to stop "any barbarous attacks which are taking place or might take place against the Greek minority", adding that Albania's credibility was being tested by its behaviour toward the ethnic Greeks. He described as "unacceptable" recent acts and statements of the Albanian government, referring in particular to accusations by the foreign ministry that Greece wanted to create "a new Bosnia in the southern Balkans". Mr. Papoulias called on Albania to display "cool-headedness" and refrain from making various accusations against Greece, adding that the government had lodged protests with a number of international organisations and, in particular, the European Union. He said that the EU would soon launch an initiative aimed at protecting the human rights of the Greek minority in the neighbouring country. Mr. Papoulias has also sent letters concerning the treatment of the Greek minority to UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and US Secretary of State Warren Christopher. Mr. Papoulias also expressed disappointment at the stance adopted by "certain US circles" and termed "unacceptable" a recent statement by State Department spokesman Mike McCurry that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the view that the rights of the Greek minority in Albania were being violated. Meanwhile, asked if the Albanian government acts might in any way be linked with Turkish accusations that Greece was allowing its territory to be used for the training of Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos replied that "the government does not indulge in simplistic interpretations". "The government takes into consideration all parameters and follows all developments carefully and closely," he added. Mr. Papoulias said that during his recent trip to Albania he had offered the Albanian side numerous possibilities for co-operation. "Despite difficulties," he continued, "Greece continues to offer Albania all that which we had agreed on in the recent past." Mr. Papoulias stressed, however, that Greece was not prepared to tolerate any violation of the human rights of the Greek minority. "Greece will respond to Tirana at political and diplomatic level," he said, adding that "we have full capability of taking all necessary measures to stop the downhill course of the Albanian government." The Greek government's unwillingness for aid to be given to Albania is not because of the tension in Greek-Albanian relations, Mr. Papoulias said, but within the framework of its position regarding respect for human rights in Albania in general. "Today, the Greek minority has a problem. Tomorrow, another minority may find itself in the same position," he said. Mr. Papoulias said that the presidency of the European Union (currently held by Greece) "cannot be an accomplice and say yes to a country which violates human rights in such a manner". The foreign minister said that the government was not at present considering deporting the thousands of illegal Albanian immigrants working in Greece. "Before hurling such shameless accusations against our country, (Albanian President) Sali Berisha should know that he will have to provide jobs for approximately 400,000 Albanians who are working in Greece," Mr. Papoulias said. "Their employment in Greece provides support for Tirana. If relations between Greece and Albania deteriorate, this cannot be allowed to continue and our country will have to take certain measures," he added. Evert ----- Athens, 31/5/1994 (ANA): Main Opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday said Greece was faced with systematic provocation, and urged the government to take steps in every direction, through the European Union, the United Nations and all Human Rights International Organisations. "We are the target of a plot which aims at depicting Greece as a destabilising factor in the Balkans," Mr. Evert said, adding that Turkey could be the only country inciting Albania, and requesting the government to adopt a more decisive attitude toward Albanian provocations. Mr. Evert also called on major international powers to take action, and "not passively let events take their course." "Or they may reach a point when they will no longer be controllable," he said. Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Paparriga, commenting on Greek-Albanian relations, accused the United States of promoting destabilisation through supporting chauvinistic and nationalistic circles. Coalition of the Left and Progress party leader Nikos Costantopoulos stressed the need for a national strategy on Greek policy in the Balkans. Mr. Costantopoulos said provocations against Greece by Tirana and Ankara were part of a common plan. "To this, we may oppose our national strategy," he added. PM cautions over Turkey's accusations, 'may suggest something to come' ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 31/5/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said yesterday that Greece should not only be "very wary" and "determined" in rejecting Turkish accusations, but also condemn them as "deliberate action in anticipation of something to come." Mr. Papandreou was rebutting Turkey's accusations that Greece was allowing its territory to be used by members of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) for training, in an interview with the Athens afternoon daily "Ta Nea". He said that he had raised the issue at his recent meeting with US President Bill Clinton in Washington, adding that among Ankara's aims in making the accusations was to isolate Greece internationally. Mr. Papandreou said that Greece supported the rights of Kurds, but condemned terrorism as a means of resolving any problem. He stressed that "there is nothing in Greece to suggest any grounds for suspicion that we maintain contact with Kurds who, as free citizens, are living in this country." In a related development, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias expressed grave concern at the frequency of attacks against the Ecumenical Orthodox See in Istanbul, following discovery of three bombs planted by an Islamic group at the Patriarchate building . "The government is handling the matter with a cool head," Mr. Papoulias told reporters, adding that he would raise the issue with his Turkish counterpart Hikmet Cetin at the NATO foreign ministers' conference in Istanbul on June 9-10. He said Greece would lodge a strong protest "against Turkey's groundless accusations that our country supposedly fosters PKK terrorist activities." "Turkey's accusations are unacceptable, slanderous and groundless, and are not conducive to rapprochement between the two countries," he added. Meanwhile, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos charged Turkey with "systematically attempting to export its domestic problems by hurling slanderous and unsubstantiated accusations of alleged ties between Greece and Kurdish guerrillas which border on the absurd." "Greece appreciates Turkey may have very serious problems. We would request, however, that it refrain from involving our country in such problems and refrain from funnelling them abroad," Mr. Venizelos said. Evert accuses Turkey -------------------- Athens, 31/5/1994 (ANA): Main Opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday accused Turkey of carrying across its border the huge domestic problems which it faces, in an attempt to divert Turkish public opinion from them. "Every time Turkey is faced with major domestic problems, it tries to shift them outwards in an effort to mellow their effect," Mr. Evert said. Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Paparriga said Turkey displayed tolerance for the rise of nationalistic, chauvinistic and imperialistic circles. "Turkey aims at turning the attention of the Turkish people to such issues as the incidents against the Patriarchate, in an effort to cover up for the on-going genocide against the Kurds," she said. Papoulias in Moscow for wide-ranging talks ------------------------------------------ Athens, 31/5/1994 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias is due in Moscow today, for talks on the situation in the Balkans and former Yugoslavia, including bilateral economic and commercial co-operation. Mr. Papoulias told reporters yesterday the visit was "of great significance" regarding Greek-Russian relations. The visit by Russian President Boris Yeltsin to Greece had given "great impetus" to bilateral relations, Mr. Papoulias said, adding that Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's forthcoming visit to Moscow would further promote the "already important relations" existing between the two countries. Greek presidency response to "rebuild Mostar" appeal ---------------------------------------------------- Athens, 31/5/1994 (ANA): European Union administrator for Mostar, Hans Koschnick, said yesterday that both the Greek presidency of the EU and Greece would provide "considerable" aid for rebuilding Mostar and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Speaking to reporters after talks with Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, the former mayor of the German city of Bremen said that he had come to the current holder of the EU presidency seeking Greek assistance both for a peaceful solution of the Bosnia n crisis and reconstruction of the region. Bosnia-Herzegovina is not only in need of material reconstruction, he said, but also of " building bridges between people so that they may live together". Mr. Papoulias gave Mr. Koschnick assurances both European and Greek support for the divided city of Mostar would be "unreserved". The EU has already agreed to spend about 30 million dollars on rebuilding Mostar. Greece protests Kosovo leader's presence at NATO meeting --------------------------------------------------------- Oslo, 31/5/1994 (ANA): The presence of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova at the spring session of Nato's Parliamentary Assembly currently taking place in Oslo, sparked a strong protest from the Greek delegation. A Greek delegation statement expressed regret and denounced Mr. Rugova's participation which, it stressed, took place despite a Permanent Committee of Nato's Parliamentary Assembly decision at its recent meeting in Athens not to invite the ethnic Albanian leader from Kosovo to the spring session. The Greek statement noted that criteria used to invite Mr. Rugova might jeopardise both the Alliance mission and targets for bringing to and preserving peace in the Balkan region. With regard to Mr. Rugova's views on possible dangers stemming from changing borders of Balkan states owing to existing domestic political problems, the delegation stressed Greece upholds international law in opposing any change of borders by use of force. Defence Minister inspects Greek-Albanian border ----------------------------------------------- Athens, 31/5/1994 (ANA): National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis is due in Kastoria this morning, en route to Dipotamia border check-post. Mr. Arsenis will also visit the Kastoria prefecture and the First Army Corps, where he will be hosted to lunch at the officers' mess. His tour of the Greek-Albanian border is of special significance, in light of the present state of Greek-Albanian relations following Tirana's hostile attitude toward the ethnic Greek minority in Albania.