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Kranidiotis in Gjirokaster for talks

According to sources, Kranidiotis may also meet with Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino.

Greece prepared to help restructure Albanian army

Tsohatzopoulos was speaking after a meeting of the working group of the ministries of defence and foreign affairs which convened to discuss matters related to the new structure of NATO.

He reiterated that Greece had a particular responsibility in the Balkans and as a neighbour of Albania as well as due to its interest in the safety of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania.

''We must cooperate in the most effective way and help Albania to find its direction towards stability, the smooth operation of a democratic system of government and above all, ways must be found to provide economic assistance to Albania in this crucial period,'' Tsohatzopoulos said.

He stressed however that Greece would not intervene in order to influence political developments in Albania.

''Our role will be restricted to a purely humanitarian basis and be on the level of the collective decisions of international organisations, either of the European Union, of the Western European Union or the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe,'' he said.

Greece offers Albania 20 billion dr. loan

The Minister made the announcement in his address to the fourth conference on economic cooperation in southeastern Europe, saying that every effort should be made to deal with Albania's economic and structural problems.

Papantoniou said the loan would be extended by the National Bank on favourable terms and the government would try to have the initiative incorporated in a broader European or international financing plan.

In other statements to the conference, Papantoniou said Greece's role in southeast Europe can and should be a strong and substantial one, since it went hand in hand with the modernisation and development of the Greek economy and the rapid and effective adjustment to the new conditions in the world economy.

Papantoniou stressed that Greece enjoyed many comparative advantages which would help it in its effort to strengthen its role in the broader region.

''Greece must contribute substantially to procedures for the reform and modernisation of the economies in these countries (of the region), while at the same time promoting the formulation of a more integrated European policy,'' Papantoniou told delegates.

Papantoniou said the consolidation of conditions of steady progress in the Balkans dictated the charting of a long-term strategy aimed at strengthening cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit.

PM: Solution for Albania through peaceful, political means

''This policy consists in confronting the crisis with political and peaceful means, not only in cooperation with the Albanian government and political forces but also with international initiatives within the framework of the European Union and the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe,'' Simitis said.

In the statement, the premier underlines that ''this is the most effective way to protect the Greek minority in the neighbouring country'' while concluding that the contacts of all Greek political parties should be aimed at the said target.

Meanwhile, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas announced that the interministerial body would convene at the foreign ministry tomorrow to discuss the problems which have arisen due to the crisis in Albania.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday stressed Greece's support and willingness to participate in a European Union police force in Albania if the Union takes such a decision.

Speaking to 40 foreign journalists of Greek origin from various countries, Mr. Simitis said that the only possible solution to the Albanian crisis was a political one, with the holding of elections, which however, presupposed a restoration of law and order.

"We believe this is necessary for the solution of the economic and social problems of the neighbouring country," he said.

"It is up to the EU and the OSCE to decide which countries will participate in the police force for Albania," he added in reply to a question on the possible inclusion of a Turkish contingent.

He expressed hope that there will not be a wave of Albanian refugees to Greece.

"But if there is we will not be able to say no. Nevertheless, we have adopted all necessary measures to avert such an eventuality," he added.

Expanding on Greece's foreign policy concerns, the prime minister stressed the existence of problems on all sides of the country's geopolitical borders and that Greece wants close cooperation and friendship with all countries surrounding it and with all countries of Europe, including Turkey, but with concurrent guarantees for the EU's borders.

Pangalos urges Turkey to decide on European orientation

However, he reiterated his earlier statements regarding Turkey's place in Europe, declaring his opposition to the view that Moslems could not be Europeans.

"There are certain circles in Turkey who are not only discussing but planning the partition of the Aegean Sea," said Pangalos, addressing a conference on business cooperation in southeastern Europe today in Thessaloniki.

He added that Ankara's continually expanding territorial claims were an obstacle to Greece's sitting down at the negotiation table.

If Turkey abandoned its claims, or even declared its intention to do so, this could form the basis of a discussion as it would create "a new kind of relationship" between the two countries.

"Nowhere in the world have there ever been negotiations between two countries under the threat of war," he stressed.

He expressed the view that Turks had the "cultural perspective" to be a part of Europe, reminding "those who had forgotten... the cohabitation of Greeks and Turks in the past."

The Minister declared his opposition to the position that Moslems were not Europeans, saying that "a European is whoever feels himself to be one" and that neither he nor his political belief system could entertain the mentality of exclusion.

"However, there is no room for hegemony in Europe and if Turkey acts correctly and chooses the road to Europe under the necessary conditions, Greek-Turkish problems will be solved as if by magic," he concluded.

With regard to the enlargement of the European Union, Pangalos warned that the issue would be the subject of much discussion, readjustments and conflicts among member states of the EU. Greece's position, he said, was in favour of the accession of those states who fulfilled two conditions. These were participation in the Council of Europe and a positive report from the European Commission on each country's economy.

Albanian teaches tough lesson - Pangalos

Describing the situation in the neighbouring country as ''horrendous'', Pangalos said the manifestation of ''such extreme phenomena'' could not be ruled out in other neighbouring countries also.

US Ambassador in Greece Thomas Niles also referred to the situation in Albania at the conference.

Niles said that in the opinion of President Bill Clinton, the situation in Albania will have been normalised within a matter of weeks or months.

Speaking at the same conference, Clinton's security adviser Richard Shifter said that the immediate priority for Albania was the provision of humanitarian aid.

He added that Washington would be planning investment programmes in Albania if the situation in the country was normalised.

Prime minister to visit Romania

On Thursday evening, Simitis will have talks with his Romanian counterpart Victor Ciorbea and on Friday the premier will be received by President Emil Constantinescu.

During his stay, Simitis will also meet with the presidents of the Romanian parliament and senate, former President Ion Iliescu and Patriarch Theoktistos.

Electricity strike later this month

The action will also be to protest European Union directives concerning the liberalisation of power production.

Sources said a 24-hour nationwide strike could be expected on 28 or 31 March, possibly followed by a 48-hour strike during the first ten days of April.

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