From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Fri, 15 Apr 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Greece welcomes Albanian "positive' move over shooting row ----------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 15/4/1994 (ANA): Greece said yesterday that Albania had made a positive move towards settling a row between the two countries, by backing away from earlier accusations that Athens had staged a bloody cross-border raid last weekend. Speaking to reporters after the PASOK party congress, Mr. Papandreou described as "a good first step" a reported statement by Albanian President Sali Berisha that Greece "might not have been directly responsible" for Sunday's incident. Mr. Berisha reportedly made the statement in a letter asking the European Union to set up an inquiry into the attack. He also accepted a Greek proposal that the two states meet to discuss the incident, and called for an EU inquiry. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos also described Mr. Berisha's letter as "undoubtedly positive", adding that "it facilitates things". Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the PASOK congress, Mr. Venizelos noted Albania had in recent days "unjustifiably" tried to escalate tension. From the outset, he said, Greece's position had been both "rational and steady, with specific proposals for defusing the situation." "Albeit with a few days' delay," Mr. Venizelos said, "the response of the Albanian side facilitates things." Albania accused Greece of organising an attack against a conscript centre in Albania on Sunday, in which two Albanian soldiers were killed and three wounded. Greece categorically denied any involvement in the alleged cross-border attack and called for a joint investigation by the two countries. Describing Albania's accusations as "unacceptable," Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday reiterated that the government desired the normalisation of relations with Tirana, but underlined that "we are uncompromising on the issue of human rights of the ethnic Greek minority (in Albania)". Replying to press questions before participating in the ruling PASOK party conference, Mr. Papoulias said that the government would continue to pursue its policy of friendship and co-operation with Albania "because it is the only way to overcome the crisis". In reply to another question on the Premier's visit to Washington next week, Mr. Papoulias revealed that the US, Russia and a number of Balkan countries were concerned about the tension in Greek-Albanian relations. "This," he said, "must be understood by Tirana. The more the crisis escalates, the more it plays against the interests of the Albanian government and of the Balkan peoples in general." Commenting on a BBC report yesterday, regarding possible involvement by Turkey in the deterioration of relations between Athens and Tirana, Mr. Papoulias said that "what is broadcast by the British radio network does not coincide with reality". In a related development, Foreign Ministry spokesman Constantine Bikas confirmed that the Albanian government Wednesday delivered a verbal note to the Greek embassy in Tirana requesting it to reduce its diplomatic staff from 10 to six. In the note, Mr. Bikas said, the Albanian Foreign Ministry said that "in the absence of an agreement on diplomatic personnel ... the Albanian side considers it appropriate that it should be reduced reciprocally to six diplomats." It gave the Greek ambassador 10 days to comply with the request. Turning to the issue of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania, Mr. Bikas said that the government was closely following events in the neighbouring country, and was "determined to protect the rights of the minority with all lawful means". Meanwhile, asked to comment yesterday on tension along Greece's northern border with Albania, National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis replied that "there is no new development". "If certain circles outside Greece want tension, we should not fall into the trap. We shall respond to developments with cool-headedness and determination," Mr. Arsenis said. Meanwhile in Brussels, the European Commission welcomed Albanian President Sali Berisha's proposal for a dialogue between Athens and Tirana, sources close to European Commission Jacques Delors said yesterday. The sources said Mr. Berisha made the proposal in a letter to the European Commission. According to the sources, there is concern among European Union member-states that a possible breach in relations between Greece and Albania might lead to a new major crisis in the Balkans. "We have enough foci of conflagration to cope with in former Yugoslavia. We don't need another on the borders of one of our member-states with Albania," the sources said, adding that "things appear to improve." Greek Consul ------------ Athens, 15/4/1994 (ANA): The Greek Consul General in the southern Albanian town of Gjirokastr returned to Greece yesterday morning, after expiration of Tirana's 48-hour deadline for him to leave the country. Christos Iacovou was declared persona non grata by the Albanian government, following an attack on a conscript training centre in Gjirokastr near the border with Greece early Sunday. Greece retaliated to Mr. Iacovou's expulsion by requesting the first secretary of the Albanian embassy Kastriot Robo to leave Athens. Mr. Iacovou made no statement to reporters on his return to Greece. Premier calls for PASOK regeneration at party congress ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 15/4/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister and Socialist leader Andreas Papandreou called for a "regeneration" of his Panhellenic Socialist Party (PASOK) yesterday, saying the move was necessary to meet the challenges of a new era. "PASOK needs revival to continue along its course into the future," Mr. Papandreou said. "Challenges of this new era are becoming even more intense and urgent. But we will carry on with this effort using as weapons national wealth, language, cultural identity, Orthodoxy in conjunction with our modern European role," said the 75-year-old leader. He was addressing the Third Party Congress of the 20-year-old Socialist party that came back to power last October, after a landslide victory against the conservatives. Mr. Papandreou said the need to revive the party was dictated by situations like the rekindling of ethnic strife in the Balkans, global economic recession and the opening of new markets for trade. "In such conditions we are called on to chart a specific course for our country, in quest of political solutions that can add substance to the hopes of the Greek people," he said. Mr. Papandreou reiterated PASOK loyal devotion to social justice, saying his party would combat human exploitation and support efforts for development. He also urged the ruling party to forge ahead with fulfilling major institutional changes in education, health, management, environment, state welfare and taxation. "In international relations, although the danger of a sudden nuclear holocaust breaking out has been removed along with the end of the Cold War, long-standing dangerous local and regional conflicts have rekindled, the first example being the tragic case of former Yugoslavia. The outbreak of a trend for violence is not accidental. It is due to many factors (injustice against peoples, unequal exchanges imposed by the powerful and conflicts purposely fuelled by big powers)," Mr. Papandreou said. Referring to the world economy, Mr. Papandreou said the problems which should be resolved include poverty and hunger in the Third World and unemployment and part-time employment in industrialised countries. On international trade, he said the major challenge was the effort by nations to organise markets. "Through such conditions, we are called upon to chart a specific course for our country, seeking political solutions which will add substance to the hopes of the Greek people," he said. Mr. Papandreou said the ultimate aim was a just society without exploitation in relations between human beings, aiming at growth and social justice, fair taxation and a rational and just remuneration system. Referring to the Balkans and the tragedy of war in former Yugoslavia, Mr. Papandreou said that despite attempts to rekindle old Balkan conflicts, Greeks had launched an economic campaign in the Balkans. Mr. Papandreou called on PASOK members to realise that Greece "must tread firmly on the ground of new reality, a world without borders." He said PASOK's ideological and political autonomy should be established and defined against "the new centres of economic and political power wanting designate governments and manipulated parties," adding: "We must feel proud that our movement has not been incorporated until now and was not dependent on anyone." Mr. Papandreou outlined PASOK's aims and targets as follows: -Utilising all the resources of Hellenism productively. -Developing all regions in a balanced way and utilising the country's production potential. -Completing major reforms in institutions, education, health, administration, the environment, the welfare state and taxation. Greece writes Security Council: Albanian charges "unsubstantiated, unfounded" ----------------------------------------------------------------- New York, 15/4/1994 (ANA): The Greek government rejected as "un-substantiated" and "unfounded" accusations by Albania on the incident in a letter by Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias delivered to the UN Security Council President on Wednesday. The letter, handed over by Charge d'Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Greece to the United Nations Adamantios Vassilakis, said: "The Greek Government categorically rejects the unsubstantiated allegations and unfounded charges put forward in haste by the Albanian Government against my country, without evidence or a thorough investigation of the matter. "The Greek Government has expressed its sorrow for the criminal incident mentioned in the letter of the Albanian Foreign Minister, and is investigating the various aspects of it. "From the very beginning, the Greek Government has communicated to the Albanian side its willingness and readiness to contribute so that the matter may be handled in co-operation by the authorities of the two countries. "However, the Albanian Government has evaded to respond and the Albanian Police not only did not establish contact with the respective Greek Authorities, but it also has so far failed to provide any useful information or objective fact which could be contributory for the clarification of the case. Vance, Zaharakis discuss Skopje, meeting with FM too --------------------------------------------------- New York, 15/4/1994 (ANA): Face-to-face negotiations with FYROM will not take place, unless Skopje provides tangible signs of goodwill, Foreign Ministry Secretary General Christos Zaharakis declared, after a two-hour meeting with UN mediator on Skopje Cyrus Vance, in New York yesterday. The two men described the meeting as useful, but gave no further details. Mr Zaharakis said he will meet Mr Vance again on Monday, adding Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias is also scheduled to confer with the international mediator during Premier Andreas Papandreou's forthcoming visit to Washington. Australia State PM: Greek Skopje offer generous, peace-oriented ---------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 15/4/1994 (ANA): Greece's offer to lift its retortion measures against Skopje if the issues of the constitution, symbols and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) irredentist intentions are resolved is "generous", Australia's Victoria State Prime Minister Jeff Kennett said in Thessaloniki yesterday. Mr. Kennett, who began a four-day visit to Northern Greece Wednesday after talks in Athens with the Greek government, said the latter's offer "is generous and good, and aims at peace and progress". "I hope that other countries of the world will understand Greece's good effort, which stems from common sense," he said. Mr. Kennett is on a visit to Greece aimed at increasing commercial and cultural relations between Greece and Australia. He met in Athens with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and Foreign Under-secretary George Papandreou, and in Thessaloniki with Minister for Macedonia-Thrace Kostas Triarides and Aristotelion University Rector Antonis Trakatelis. Mr. Kennett's itinerary includes a sightseeing tour of Thessaloniki, a meeting with Mayor Dinos Kosmopoulos and a visit to the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday, a visit to the Thessaloniki International Fair installations today, and a tour of the Vergina and Dion archaeological sites tomorrow. Yugoslav FM in Athens, believes in Greece peace-maker role ---------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 15/4/1994 (ANA): Visiting New Yugoslavia Foreign Minister Vladislav Jovanovic yesterday said Greece could play a positive role in the peace-making process in the Balkans. "New Yugoslavia believes in Greece's positive role in the peace-making process in the Balkans," Mr. Jovanovic said in an arrival statement at Athens airport yesterday. He was greeted by his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias. "We believe," he added, " that Greece's involvement could be useful in establishing peace in the region and in promoting peace procedures, as it has done in the past." The two ministers are due to have a meeting today. Parliament enacts royal property bill ------------------------------------- Athens, 15/4/1994 (ANA): Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill, seizing the property of ex-king Constantine and depriving his family of their Greek passports. Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said passports might be restored, if Constantine acknowledged the results of the 1974 referendum abolishing the monarchy, gave up his title and registered as a simple citizen. The ex-king's property automatically reverted to the state with the abolition of the monarchy, because he never held deeds of property, said PASOK deputy Yiannis Papaspyrou. Constantine stated in London Tuesday that he would fight the decision in Greek courts and, if necessary, in the European Court of Justice. Government officials said, however, that any legal recourse would be automatically rejected if the ex-king used a royal title to identify himself.