Alternate Foreign Minister George Mangakis and Cypriot Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides expressed their satisfaction yesterday on the outcome of the European Union-Cyprus Association Council, in a joint press conference held after the meeting. The two ministers stressed that "with today's action, which confirms the decision of March 6, a long and strenuous course where many difficulties had to be overcome has been completed."
Mr. Mangakis underlined that with the decision taken yesterday "the EU's clear volition for Cyprus' accession as the state of the Republic of Cyprus is recorded." With the decision taken, he added, Cyprus is no longer "hostage" to Turkey since "the political solution of the Cyprus problem is in no way linked to Cyprus' accession to the EU."
Mr. Michaelides said the outcome of the meeting should be interpreted on the basis of the March 6 decision, adding that "if we, the Association Council, did not meet today (yesterday), the decision of March 6 could be questioned."
Mr. Michaelides said the decision for the beginning of Cyprus' accession negotiations will work as a catalyst for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, "a fact which is confirmed by Turkey's reaction." "The decision touches upon the (Cyprus) problem at its roots and we hope Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot leadership will understand this message in a positive way."
In reference to the decision taken by the Association Council concerning the beginning of structured pre-accession talks between the Cyprus government and the EU, Mr. Michaelides said this process has already started, with the first important step being an invitation to Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides to participate in this month's EU summit in Cannes, France.
Michel Barnier, the French Minister of European Affairs, said the decision on the beginning of negotiations for Cyprus' accession to the EU six months after the conclusion of the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference is "final." He added that its materialisation will be aided, if in the meantime an agreement is reached between the two communities concerning a resolution of the Cyprus problem. The March 6 decision "is not subject to anyone's veto," he added.
The Cypriot government is convinced the present time should be used constructively for the promotion of a solution to the Cyprus problem, while the Turkish-Cypriot side has every reason to act accordingly for its own safety and prosperity."
The fourth EU-Cyprus protocol providing for Ecu74 million was signed at the end of the Association Council yesterday. Ecu12 million will be allocated to "initiatives aimed at promoting an overall solution to the Cyprus issue."
"Negotiations for Cyprus' admission will start, on the basis of the Commission's proposals, six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference in 1996 for the revision of the Maastricht Treaty and taking into consideration the results of this Conference," the Association Council decision stated. It is noted that Belgium and Holland do not agree completely with this summation.
"The Council determined that the accession of Cyprus to the European Union should coincide with the greatest prosperity for each of the two communities of the island and to facilitate the economic growth of the northern part of the island (now under Turkish occupation), bringing better prospects of development and employment, particularly for the Turkish-Cypriot community and that their relative anxieties will be appeased. In the same spirit, the Council has invited the Commission to organise the necessary contacts with the Turkish-Cypriot community in co-operation with the Cyprus government.
"We believe the prevailing status quo in Cyprus is unacceptable.
"We believe that the accession of Cyprus should contribute to domestic peace and reconciliation and to lead to greater security for each of the communities of the island.
"The European Union supports an overall solution to the Cyprus problem in accordance with the resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations and based on the principle of a bi-zonal, bi-communal Cypriot Federation."
For the establishment of a structured pre-accession dialogue for the European Union and Cyprus "the Council of Ministers reminds that it has requested from the Commission that it undertake the necessary contacts with the Turkish-Cypriot community in co-operation with the government of Cyprus. The government of Cyprus remains the only interlocutor of the European Union for the holding of a structured dialogue.
"The structured dialogue in its details will be defined before the end of July 1995," during the Spanish presidency.
The issue of Turkish sabre rattling against Greece was raised by Greek Alternate Foreign Affairs Minister George Mangakis yesterday during a meeting of foreign ministers of the EU's 15-member states.
Mr. Mangakis briefed the foreign ministers on Turkey's reaction concerning possible expansion of Greek territorial waters and the possibility of unpleasant developments in the southern section of a united Europe. The Turkish national assembly last week passed a referendum authorising the Turkish government to take "all necessary measures" for obstruction of any expansion, including military measures.
Mr. Mangakis underlined that the vote contradicts Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, which forbids the use of violence and the threat of violence in relations between states. He said Turkish threats violate international law and threaten Greece by considering "casus belli" any legal extension of territorial waters up to 12 nautical miles, a right guaranteed by the Law of the Sea Convention.
Turkey's claim that its interest lies only in retaining free navigation of the Aegean is untrue, given that international law ensures that right, he added. "Turkey, in any case, is the last country which has the right to speak of free navigation when it is attempting to unilaterally change the Montreux Agreement concerning the (Bosporus) straits.
"We face a dangerous case of disdain of international legal order and an unprovoked military threat," Mr. Mangakis said, adding: "We wish to bring to your attention our protest of this case, which not only offends Greece but also international interests, and, of course, those of a united Europe."
The French president of the Foreign Ministers Council, Michel Barnier, agreed that the incident concerns the interests of a united Europe and said that the French presidency is "noting" the Greek protest.
Meanwhile, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis sent protest letters condemning the Turkish threats to the presidents of the European Parliament, the parliaments of the EU member-states, the national parliaments and parliamentary assemblies of the Council of Europe NATO and the Western European Union (WEU).
Main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert said the government is attempting to turn the people's attention away from real foreign policy problems by focusing on illusionary issues, in his second reference over the weekend to the wedding of ex-king Constantine's son.
Addressing a gathering of ND members on the Ionian island of Lefkada Sunday, Mr. Evert referred to the thorny wedding issue, which has arisen after certain ND deputies expressed a desire to attend. Mr. Evert said his party's policy has been justified, stating: "New Democracy's message on modernisation and renewal is the ultimate message of victory for the whole of Greece."
He accused PASOK of being untrustworthy, claiming there's no ideological continuation in the governing party's positions from 1974 until today. Mr. Evert also redefined the identity of his party, saying it is "national" because it places national interests before party interests. He also called ND the "people's party because it has never had relations with vested interests or with small groups and classes."
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos expressed his concern in a televised statement Sunday over the decision by deputies of the main opposition New Democracy Party to attend the wedding of ex-king Constantine's son, Paul.
"I am not interested in anyone's wedding. What I have to say is that those who hold public office are obliged to respect and support the democratic form of government," Mr. Stephanopoulos said. Certain ND deputies have expressed a desire to attend the ceremony, to take place in London on July 1.
Two earthquakes measuring 4.1 and 4.8 on the Richter Scale were recorded Sunday with an epicentre in the Kozani region of northern Greece. Theodoros Tsapanos, an assistant professor at the Geophysics Laboratory of the Aristoteleion University in Thessaloniki, told the ANA the earthquakes were natural aftershocks of a strong earthquake which struck the same region May 13.
Meanwhile, another quake measuring 4.2 on the Richter Scale was recorded yesterday with an epicentre in the underwater region of Ierissos in Chalkidiki, 78 km east-southeast of Thessaloniki.
Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou may proceed with a minor ministerial cabinet reshuffle in the coming days, according to press information. According to the same sources, Mr. Papandreou has apparently rejected suggestions by prominent cabinet members to proceed with a radical restructuring of his cabinet.
Press sources, however, indicated that Vasso Papandreou (no relation), a prominent PASOK dissident deputy and former EU Commissioner may enter the government as an agricultural minister, while former Labour Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos may take over as transport minister.
According to press sources, there is very little possibility of former Transport and Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and former Finance Minister Dimitris Tsovolas being included in the reshuffle.
Former US President George Bush attended the opening ceremony of the privately owned Eurobank yesterday, controlled by Greek shipping tycoon Yannis Latsis. During his address, Mr. Bush commented on major foreign policy successes he said highlighted his term in office, but conceded that his failure was an inability to persuade US voters on the "true picture of the US economy." "The positive indicators and the signs of economic growth were there. I was just not a good enough communicator to present the truth of the US economy," he said.
The former president, a self-proclaimed retired and unemployed politician, spared criticism against policies of his Democratic successor, Bill Clinton, but forecast a Republican victory in the next round of US presidential elections. "My political days are over. But I can make a fearless prediction, the Republicans will win the next US presidential elections," he added.
Mr. Bush, visiting Greece with his wife, Barbara, celebrated his 71st birthday yesterday by setting sail on a 10-day cruise in the Aegean. The birthday cruise was provided by Mr. Latsis. It is the second time Mr. Latsis has invited the former US president and his wife to a cruise onboard his luxury super-yacht "Alexander." No announcements have been made on whether Mr. Bush will meet with government officials.