From: "Theodoros Sp. Zarros" Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 16 Feb 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa) Athens News Agency Bulletin, Belgrade, 16/2/1994 (ANA - N. Georgiadis): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday called on all three warring sides in Bosnia to make equal concessions to salvage peace on the basis of the European Union peace plan. Arms withdrawal from around Sarajevo "is not an exclusive commitment by the Serbian side. The Moslems should act likewise. The Greek government attitude is that all three parties involved should make equal concessions to salvage peace and the European Union peace plan. The Greek Presidency insists on this", Mr. Papoulias told the press, after talks with his Yugoslav counterpart Vladislav Jovanovic and Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade. "There is a process under way. I do not think it is necessary for pressure to be exerted, since there is withdrawal is developing satisfactorily. The latest information we have is that the process is proceeding and this is encouraging", Mr. Papoulias added. Asked if he carried any fresh initiative, Mr. Papoulias said: "I must say talks were conducted in a cordial atmosphere, as usual. We examined the situation as it has grown. The effort focuses on finding a peaceful solution and the European Union plan to prevail: not be overturned by extreme situation and Greece, as EU presiding country, will continue its efforts in this direction". "I am here precisely for us to avoid the worse and, I must say, despite common assessment that times are difficult, many hopes persist. This would not only benefit Europe, but Balkan peoples as well. I would like to underline once again the sensitivity of Greece as a Balkan country, and of the Greek presidency of the European Union", Mr. Papoulias said, commenting on the possibility of NATO involvement in the Bosnian crisis. Referring to air strikes, Mr. Papoulias said such a development would not help in finding a solution, adding the Greek Presidency was considering to call an EU council of Ministers before Nato's ultimatum expired. Asked to comment on the activities of the US, New Yugoslavia Foreign Minister, Mr. Jovanovic, said "if such a move should benefit peace we endorse it. However, if it aims at maintaining imbalance, then we believe it might cause the situation to deteriorate". Asked whether or not Greece might use the right to veto possible NATO air strikes, Mr. Papoulias said "Greece is sceptical about using all available means to prevent a widespread conflict". Urged to disclose whether or not he and Mr. Milosevic had discussed the possibility of the war spreading to the south, Mr. Papoulias said: "When we discuss and analyse a situation such as this one, it is natural that the possibility of war spreading to the south should also be discussed. Anyway, it would be a dramatic development to start an armed conflict which would not only be Balkan in nature and texture, but have European dimensions too. Because no one can rule out participation by third parties". Asked why Greece, in contrast to other European countries, was not evacuating the Greek community from Serbia, Mr. Papoulias said: "Greeks in Serbia live and work in an atmosphere of security and spiritual calm. Serbia is their second homeland. There is no reason for them to leave. Evacuation of civilians of other Western countries is an assessment and decision made by such countries. Greece believes that its citizens live in absolute security in Serbia and that they can carry on with their lives and work as usual". Shortly before departing for Belgrade, Mr. Papoulias said "the way to peace is a one-way street" and warned that "whoever thinks that forceful interventions would bring about something better than what we have accomplished so far, fails to appreciate reality". "Those are the last-ditch efforts to salvage peace", Mr. Papoulias said, adding he believed there would be "significant and productive results in the desired direction of pushing ahead with the European Union peace plan". "There is no path other than peace", he stressed, adding that his talks would cover all aspects of the Bosnian crisis. --- Before his departure late last night from Belgrade, Mr. Papoulias held talks with Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. Speaking to the press, Mr. Papoulias reiterated his hope for a peaceful and political settlement of the crisis, adding Athens's fears of chain reactions which might be caused by escalated clashes, both in the Balkans and in Europe. Mr. Karadzic said that "so far, US attitude has been one-sided, supporting Moslems". "We are waiting to see whether their attitude will change, a somewhat difficult thing of course, but we will wait", he added. Athens, 16/2/1994 (ANA): Former Prime Minister and honorary New Democracy party President Constantine Mitsotakis had a telephone conversation with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, press reports said yesterday. Athens, 16/2/1994 (ANA): Former National Defence Minister John Varvitsiotis has written NATO Secretary General Manfred Woerner voicing concern at results of possible Alliance air strikes in Bosnia. With only a few days left before expiration of the NATO ultimatum to Bosnian Serbs to withdraw their heavy artillery from around Sarajevo, Mr. Varvitsiotis' letter expressed fears the solution of air strikes might not bring hoped-for results. "On the contrary, (air strikes) may have unpleasant results, because of special conditions prevailing in that sensitive region of former Yugoslavia", the former National Defence Minister cautioned. Mr. Varvitsiotis also told Mr. Woerner use of air power might make subsequent intervention by land forces inevitable, causing the conflict to spread beyond Bosnia. The former conservative national defence minister in the New Democracy Administration added the hope the NATO decision will not have to be implemented and the ultimatum serve as "a window to peace". Meanwhile, press sources reported former Premier Constantine Mitsotakis as being in touch with diplomats in Geneva, for a meeting with UN international mediators Lord Owen and Thorwald Stoltenberg. If a meeting were arranged, it would probably be preceded by talks between Mr. Mitsotakis and Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade, the sources noted. Mr. Mitsotakis last night briefed Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias on reports reaching him on the Bosnia crisis. Athens, 16/2/1994 (ANA): Thousands of Greeks yesterday braved freezing weather at a rally in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki to protest Washington's recent decision to establish diplomatic relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). For two hours before the scheduled time of the rally at 15:00 local time, church bells all over the city rang out, calling on the people to participate in the protest rally and march to the US Consulate. The rally comes two years and one day after a similar public gathering held in the city, to oppose any recognition of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) under the name 'Macedonia'. The 1992 rally was attended by an estimated one million Greeks. Greece insists that use of 'Macedonia' applies only to its northern province of the same name, and accuses Skopje authorities of using it to justify territorial designs against this Greek northern province. Athens insists the former Yugoslav republic change its constitution, remove a Greek symbol from its flag and cease hostile propaganda against Greece as preconditions for the resumption of a UN dialogue. Defying sub-zero temperatures, the protesters yesterday carried placards asserting that "The Heart of the Greeks beats in Macedonia", "Macedonia is and will always be Greek" and "Hands off Macedonia". A handful of protesters threw eggs at the closed shutters of the US Consulate building. Minister for Macedonia and Thrace, Constantine Triarides, said that "the government supports all manifestations by the people and, at the same time, is supported by them". Mr. Triarides attended a special church service held as part of the rally, but did not take part in the protest march to the US Consulate "because a government does not demonstrate". Replying to press questions on how the government viewed the rally, Mr. Triarides said that "what frightens the government is apathy and warmongering, not events such as today's rally which reflects the sensitivities of the people". Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said later the government would not be officially represented at the rally, but ministers and deputies of the ruling PASOK party were free to participate as individuals. He said that he had sent a message to the rally organisers in his capacity as a member of Parliament. Mr. Triarides said he did not believe the protest would adversely affect Greek-US trade relations in the region, adding that a meeting of Greek and US businessmen on co-operation had been scheduled for April in Thessaloniki. A similar rally was held earlier yesterday in the northern Greek town of Drama, marked by anti-US slogans and placards declaring that Macedonia is Greek. Scores of resolutions adopted by organisations, labour groups and associations protesting the US decision to establish diplomatic relations with the neighbouring state were read out. During the rally, protesters removed from buildings street name plates associated with American personalities. A rally was also held in Melbourne yesterday, with hundreds of Overseas Greeks protesting an Australian government decision to grand diplomatic recognition to Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as FYROM. In Montreal, Overseas Greeks sent thousands of letters to Government officials and political party deputies, in an effort to exert pressure on the Canadian Government to remain steadfast in their decision not to grand recognition to Skopje as FYROM, unless it first settled differences with Greece. Athens, 16/2/1994 (ANA): The Australian government yesterday granted recognition to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia under the name FYROM, adding that it was ready to proceed with establishing diplomatic relations with the Balkan state. According to an official statement, Foreign Minister Gareth Evans said Australia was ready to establish diplomatic relations with Skopje "as Greece's European partners have done". But Mr. Evans said FYROM should meet a fixed set of criteria in order to establish an embassy in Australia, these including the following: The Embassy should call itself Embassy of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, not Embassy of the 'Republic of Macedonia' and remove the Vergina Star or any other Ancient Greek symbol from their flag. Mr. Evans said 59 countries have recognised Skopje as FYROM. "Australia, with Greece and another 62 countries supported Skopje's accession to the United nations under the temporary name FYROM in April 1993", he said. "By supporting Skopje accession to the United Nations, many countries automatically granted it recognition", he added. According to the statement, Mr. Evans said Skopje could continue the dialogue with Greece "to settle their differences by removing the Vergina Star from their flag, stop using the term 'Republic of Macedonia' until a commonly accepted term is found, and amending the articles of the constitution and take all necessary measures to stop the anti-Greek propaganda in and out of Skopje". "We call on the FYROM government to immediately act in that direction", the Minister said. The Australian government decision to grant recognition to FYROM also caused reactions among Australian politicians. Shadow Foreign Minister Andrew Peacock said he disagreed with the way FYROM was recognised by the Australian government. Recognition, which caused rage amongst the members of the Overseas Greeks in Australia, took place just a day after Mr. Evans had a meeting with the representatives of the Greek-Australian Community in Sydney, at which they expressed strong opposition at a (then possible) Australian recognition of FYROM. --- Meanwhile in Athens, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said Australia's decision to establish diplomatic relations with Skopje, was a mistake. "The reaction of the Greeks living in Australia will convince the Canberra government that recognition of Skopje was a mistake", Mr. Papoulias told the press. Athens, 16/2/1994 (ANA): The government reiterated yesterday its patience on the Skopje issue has almost run out, adding there is very little time left now. "Greece's patience on the Skopje issue is almost exhausted", government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said. Asked to specify the point at which government patience would be exhausted, Mr. Venizelos replied "very soon". The spokesman said the international community should not overlook two basic positions of the government on the Skopje issue. "First, there is a limit to patience, and such limit is nearly exhausted. The next thing is, the government does much more than what it actually says". Mr. Venizelos said he had no information on the possibility of an initiative by UN mediator Cyrus Vance on the Skopje issue. He told questioners if such an initiative were undertaken, the government position was Skopje should offer concrete examples of good will, before Greece might reconsider resuming dialogue with the neighbouring state. Athens, 16/2/1994 (ANA): Main opposition New Democracy party criticised the government on its handling the Skopje issue, accusing it of "paralysis" and "lack of credibility", in a statement yesterday. The Prime Minister and ministers concerned "publicly expressed diametrically opposed views and kept refuting each other's statements on a daily basis", the statement added. Meanwhile, Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras called on Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou to dismiss Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos at today's cabinet meeting, and propose calling meeting, of political leaders. He also called on the President of New Democracy, to launch such initiative in the event Mr. Papandreou turned it down. Athens, 16/2/1994 (ANA): Moroccan Foreign Minister Mr. Abdellatif Filali is meeting with Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias this afternoon, to sign agreements on cultural, tourist and investment co-operation between the two countries. Athens, 16/2/1994 (ANA): US Ambassador Thomas Niles hosted main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert to lunch, at the American embassy, yesterday.