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A.N.A. Bulletin 24/3/95From: " Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa" < grnewsca@sympatico.ca>ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN, March 24, 1995 =========================================== Ellnviko Grafeio Tupou kai Plnroforiwv Ottawa, Canada E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca) CONTENTS ======== [1] Greek position on UN talks on Skopje unchanged, embargo will remain for time being [2] Greece urges immediate EU action as troika calls for speedy end to Turkish Iraq raid [3] Troika tells Ankara to pull out of Iraq [4] Iakovos to discuss Greek positions with Clinton Monday [5] Delvinaki seven remanded in custody [6] Cypriot president honours Greek defence minister [7] Kouris at Paris meeting on armaments policy ================================================================ [1] Greek position on UN talks on Skopje unchanged, embargo will remain for time being ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 24/03/1995 (ANA): Greece reiterated yesterday that it remained firm in its position of participating in UN-sponsored contacts on the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as well as on its trade sanctions against Skopje and the prerequisites for recognising the neighbouring state. " Only if there are tangible moves by Skopje on the issue of the (ancient Greek) symbols and (FYROM's) constitution can the Greek countermeasures be lifted," government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said in response to questions. The spokesman ruled out the possibility of Athens suspending its embargo prior to the commencement of direct talks at the UN. He also reiterated that there had been some encouraging signs indicating a softening of Skopje's intransigence, signs " which emerge from information which Greece has from the UN" . Greece has imposed trade sanctions as retortion measures against Skopje in an effort to force it to curb its intransigence and change its name, remove the ancient Greek symbols from its flag and amend its constitution expressing expansionist designs against Greece's northern province of Macedonia. Mr. Venizelos declined to comment on statements by Skopje officials. FYROM Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski said Wednesday that it was " too soon" to begin direct talks with Greece. Mr. Crvenkovski had also refuted reports that Skopje had agreed to drop ancient Greek symbols on its flag and amend its constitution in a trade-off that would see trade sanctions imposed by Greece removed and the establishment of diplomatic relations with the US. " We have clearly stated that we do not accept the embargo to become an object of negotiations, neither are we willing to agree to any concession in order to have the embargo removed," Mr. Crvenkovski said. Meanwhile, it was announced that Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias replied positively to an invitation from UN mediator Cyrus Vance for talks on April 6 in New York with Greek and FYROM representatives to examine ways of resolving the dispute between the two countries. Making the announcement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Costas Bikas said that Mr. Vance requested both sides to be present at the talks. It is not yet known whether Mr. Papoulias himself or a representative will participate in the talks in New York. Commenting on the Foreign Ministry announcement, opposition Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras said the government has made a fatal mistake despite Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's public commitment that a dialogue with Skopje was tantamount to a de facto recognition of Skopje. " But history never offers the same opportunity twice," Mr. Samaras said, " and therefore the government's responsibilities are enormous." [2] Greece urges immediate EU action as troika calls for speedy end to Turkish Iraq raid ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 24/033/1995 (ANA): Greece said yesterday Turkey's military drive into Iraq demanded the immediate attention and intervention of the European Union. " Greece is closely observing developments in northern Iraq which could affect the region's security and stability. Our country expresses deep concern and stresses the need for immediate intervention by the European Union presidency," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Costas Bikas. He made the statement as the EU's " troika" of the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Spain met in Ankara and warned that Turkey's incursion could harm a planned customs unions deal between the EU and Turkey. The EU troika called on Ankara to put an end to it " as speedily as possible." Speaking for the 15-member European Union, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said the Europeans were " worried by the massive character of the intervention, going way beyond its right to pursue" suspected terrorists into Iraqi territory. " As a country belonging to the greater region, Greece expresses deep concern and stresses the need for the immediate intervention of the European Union presidency," Mr. Bikas said. At the same time, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said that because of Greece's sensitivity on the issue, Athens was raising the matter with the EU and requesting " the activation of Community bodies" , namely the French presidency, the Council o f Ministers and the EU troika. Mr. Bikas also referred to earlier statements by Mr. Juppe calling on Turkey to respect Iraq's territorial integrity and the human rights of the inhabitants of the region. A customs union agreement signed between the EU and Turkey earlier this month hinges on ratification by the European Parliament, which has said it may block the deal because of Turkey's poor human rights record, citing in particular the conviction of eight Kurdish deputies and the continuing occupation of Cyprus. The main opposition New Democracy party yesterday denounced " Turkish atrocities against the Kurds" , adding that one " had no right to remain silent over the massacre of this people. An announcement by the party further denounced what it called " Turkish barbarity" and called on the international community to be vigilant before " it is too late" . It also criticised the government for " observing a provocative and inconceivable silence" . ND said it would refer the issue for discussion to international fora in which it participated. Communist Party of Greece Secretary-General Aleka Papariga said that following the signing of the customs union agreement with the EU, Turkey " now finds itself in an advantageous position and is proceeding with the genocide of the Kurds." Ms Papariga criticised the EU for its position on the issue, foreseeing that there would be " serious redistributions (of power) which will deal a blow against the peoples of the region." [3] Troika tells Ankara to pull out of Iraq ------------------------------------------- Ankara, 24/03/1995 (ANA - E. Athanasopoulou/A. Kourkoulas): The European Union's troika of foreign ministers called on Ankara yesterday to pull its troops out of northern Iraq as speedily as possible, find a political solution to the Kurdish issue and complete democratic reforms in the country. They also reiterated the importance Europe places on Turkey. The Cyprus issue was also discussed at a working lunch, European Council President Alain Juppe told a press conference in Ankara. He said the EU's decisions " create d a momentum" for progress in the Cyprus issue and that " resolving the issue is the target" which will anticipate whatever had been included in UN resolutions. " We are expecting greater progress in talks after the Turkish Cypriot 'elections'," Mr. Juppe said, adding that Turkey could play a positive role in this respect. He said the agreement reached on March 6 on customs union was a " starting point" and not an end in itself, noting that the Turkish government had to take specific legislative action for customs union to be concluded. He said the state of democracy and human rights and the Kurdish problem were " obstacles" which had to be overcome, adding the Turkish operation in northern Iraq to these and expressing concern both over the repercussions it had from the point of view of international law and the fate of civilian populations. Replying to a questioner on whether latest developments had affected the possibility of the customs union being concluded, Mr. Juppe said " if the European Parliament were to vote on the issue tomorrow it is very likely that it would vote against the agreement, but there is still time." German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and Spanish Foreign Minister Javier Solana met yesterday with Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, Foreign Minister Murat Karayalcin and Republican Popular Party leader and former foreign minister Hikmet Cetin. Diplomats accompanying the troika disclosed that the issue of an immediate pullout from northern Iraq was put bluntly to Turkey's leadership. The mission also included European External Relations Commissioner Hans van den Broek. [4] Iakovos to discuss Greek positions with Clinton Monday ---------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 24/03/1995 (ANA): Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America said yesterday he would convey Greece's positions on its national issues to US President Bill Clinton, whom he is due to meet at the White House on Monday. Iakovos was speaking to reporters after a 45-minute meeting with Mr. Papoulias at the end of a two-day official visit to Greece. The Orthodox primate leaves for New York today to head events planned by the Greek-American community to celebrate Independence Day on March 25. He will meet with President Clinton on Monday for the annual signing of the Proclamation of National Independence of Greece and the United States. Replying to reporters' questions, Iakovos again expressed the hope that Jerusalem would remain the capital of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Together with other Christian leaders, Iakovos has signed a letter to President Clinton in support of their position that Jerusalem should not become a political capital. Iakovos also held a meeting yesterday with Education and Religious Affairs Minister George Papandreou to discuss issues concerning overseas Greeks and future co-operation between the Greek state and the Archdiocese of North and South America. [5] Delvinaki seven remanded in custody --------------------------------------- Athens, 24/03/1995 (ANA): The seven gunmen arrested on the Greek-Albanian border Sunday were remanded in custody yesterday for possession of weapons, judicial sources said in Ioannina, Northwest Greece. During a five-hour testimony, the group denied allegations of involvement in an ultra-nationalist movement known as the North Epirus Liberation Organisation (MAVI). They said they were touring the region and found the guns in a hidden cache during their hike. They said they planned to turn over the weapons to the police. The group denied involvement in MAVI activities, but conceded they were members of organisations promoting improved relations between Greece and Albania. [6] Cypriot president honours Greek defence minister ---------------------------------------------------- Nicosia, 24/03/1995 (ANA - G. Zarkadis/CNA): Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides honoured here yesterday Greece's National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis with the Makarios III Grand Cross, the republic's highest distinction, in recognition of his efforts to implement a joint Greco-Cypriot defence doctrine. The solemn ceremony took place at the presidential palace shortly after the arrival of the Greek minister in Cyprus for a four-day official visit, at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart Costas Eliades. Present at the ceremony were the head of the Cyprus Church Archbishop Chrysostomos, the president of the House of Representatives Alexis Galanos, the members of the cabinet and the military and police leadership. President Clerides said the joint defence area is proof that Greece has decided to fulfil its national obligations towards the Cypriot people, who are struggling for physical and national survival, as well as its conventional obligations for the protect ion of Cyprus' independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Greece, together with Turkey and Britain, were guarantors of Cyprus' independence under the 1960 treaty of establishment of the Cyprus republic. The Greek defence minister described the honour bestowed on him as " one of the most important moments of his career" . He said he came to Cyprus for the implementation of the second phase of the joint defence area, which was agreed upon by President Clerides and Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou in November 1993. Mr. Arsenis stressed that the decision taken by the two governments was purely defensive and did not work against anybody. The minister noted that the two countries are protecting their national rights and added the doctrine creates " better objective preconditions" for the negotiation and solution of the protracted Cyprus problem. Replying to a question regarding foreign objections to the Greece-Cyprus joint defence programme, especially by the United States, Mr. Arsenis said Greece had " clearly explained" to all its allies what it was about. He said foreign reactions could not delay the implementation of the defence dogma. President Clerides said the joint programme was a necessity because of the presence of more than 35,000 Turkish troops in the island's northern third since 1974. Before the ceremony, President Clerides had a 30-minute meeting with Mr. Arsenis. Also present were Mr. Eliades, Greek Ambassador in Nicosia Alexandros Sandis and Under-Secretary to the President Pantelis Kouros. [7] Kouris at Paris meeting on armaments policy ----------------------------------------------- Paris, 24/03/1995 (ANA - G. Zitouniati): Defence Under-Secretary Nikos Kouris yesterday represented Greece at the informal meeting of the Western European Armaments Group (WEAG), which met under the chairmanship of French Defence Minister Francois Leotard. The session examined issues such as the importance of armaments in the creation of Europe and armaments policy from the operational point of view. The reduction in defence spending in most countries as a result of the collapse of communism caused a crisis in the armaments industry and has fuelled the need for European Union countries to unite their technological and industrial forces in order to compete with the US. " The effort for the creation of a European market," said Mr. Kouris, " is obviously connected with the Maastricht Treaty, and the provisions for external policy and defence. But it does not mean it will be a closed protected market so that countries may receive the largest possible returns from the money they devote to defence. It must not be a closed system where production and consumption is exhausted in Europe" . *************************************************************** The Bulletin will not appear tomorrow due to the Greek national holiday. The next issue will appear on Monday, March 27. *************************************************************** |
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