From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 14 Feb 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Athens, 14/2/1994 (ANA): Greece's position, that the NATO ultimatum to warring factions in Sarajevo is unnecessary and will only result in spreading hostilities in the region, is well-founded and will be borne out by developments, Foreign Ministry spokesman Constantine Bikas said yesterday. Mr. Bikas was referring to an earlier statement by Belgian Foreign Minister Willy Claes that he would exert pressure on Greece to back Nato's threat for air strikes against the Bosnian Serbs. "Greece which, due to historical and geographical reasons, is more sensitive to events in the Balkans, has set the settlement of the Yugoslav crisis as a basic priority of its EU presidency," Mr. Bikas said. Athens, 14/2/1994 (ANA): Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos yesterday reiterated Greece's warning that its patience was waning in the face of continued Skopje intransigence and provocativeness. Noting that this was a tough and clear message in every direction, Mr. Venizelos told the press that Greece's patience was running out. "We cannot wait for long or indefinitely", Mr. Venizelos said, emphasising that Greece would participate in UN-sponsored dialogue, only if Skopje showed concrete examples of good will. The fresh warning comes in the wake of a statement by the Australian government Sunday, to grant Skopje recognition. Greece has said that it would be prepared to resume dialogue with FYROM, if the neighbouring state provided concrete examples of good will, such as removal of a Greek symbol from its flag, cessation of hostile propaganda against Greece and amendments to sections of its Constitution. Meanwhile in Athens, Main Opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert on his arrival Saturday from a European tour to advance Greece's national issues, criticised the government for breaking the UN-sponsored dialogue with Skopje. "We should resume negotiations (with FYROM)", Mr. Evert said. Athens, 14/2/1994 (ANA): UN Chief's special mediator for Skopje, Cyrus Vance, will undertake a fresh initiative to settle differences between Greece and neighbouring Skopje, Main Opposition New Democracy deputy Stavros Dimas said yesterday. Upon arrival from the United States, where he headed a ND delegation at a meeting with Mr. Vance, Mr. Dimas told reporters "a fresh initiative is expected by Mr. Vance to settle the Skopje issue". "Mr. Vance did not specify the form or timing of the initiative", Mr. Dimas said. He said, however, that Mr. Vance had expressed certain thoughts which he would transfer to the government. Mr. Dimas also expressed content at a letter to US President Bill Clinton signed by 50 US representatives requesting that Mr. Clinton does not proceed with conclusion of diplomatic relations with Skopje. Washington, 14/2/1994 (ANA): In a letter to President Bill Clinton, AHEPA President John Economou wrote US recognition of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was "a serious mistake", adding it should made it clear to Skopje that "its continuing irredentist claims are unacceptable". Athens, 14/2/1994 (ANA): Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Sereki arrived in Athens yesterday, for talks of efforts to expand co-operation between Albania and the European Union. Mr. Sereqi is expected to confer today with his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias in his capacity as President of the EU Foreign Ministers Council. The two ministers are also scheduled to discuss bilateral relations. Athens, 14/2/1994 (ANA): In an interview with a Cyprus daily, Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said a meeting between PM Andreas Papandreou and Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides for the promotion of EU-Cyprus relations would be held shortly. Mr. Pangalos added the Greek EU presidency had planned a series of initiatives designed to expedite Cyprus' entry, for which negotiations should not take long.