Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said yesterday the successful outcome of a Greek initiative in Bosnia was a significant step forward for peace in the war-torn region. "The Greek initiative is an important step in the peace process. Greece has the potential to play a peace-making role and bridge differences prevailing in the region," Mr. Papandreou said.
He was speaking after being briefed by National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis and Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias on their lightning trip to Pale and Belgrade. The two-man team won the release of 108 UN hostages after marathon talks with Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and Serb President Slobodan Milosevic earlier this week. A further three hostages were released late yesterday. A total of 145 UN peacekeepers are still being held by Bosnian Serbs, who snatched over 400 UN personnel in response to NATO air strikes on Serb positions ten days ago.
Asked whether Greece would contribute to the rapid reaction force in Bosnia, Mr. Papandreou said the government opposed all kinds of military intervention in the region. Mr. Arsenis said the developments in war-torn Bosnia were at a "very delicate point", warning that the crisis could not be solved through military means. Mr. Papoulias said that a settlement of the crisis could be achieved only through diplomatic and political means.
In an interview on a private radio station a few hours before his departure for Brussels to brief his NATO counterparts on the results of the Pale-Belgrade initiative, Mr. Arsenis said he expected more UN hostages to be freed within the next 48-hours. Mr. Arsenis described the unconditional release of the 111 as a "gesture of goodwill", and called on his NATO counterparts "to assess it as such".
"The developments in the region are at a very delicate point. The weight now falls on Greece to use convincing arguments that no solution can be found through military means," Mr. Arsenis said. The defence minister said he expected "more moves on the part of the Bosnian Serbs today (yesterday) or tomorrow (today)". Mr. Arsenis said that the peacekeepers were not "imprisoned" but "isolated in 'difficult areas' which creates problems in their transport after their release".
He said he would also brief his European Union counterparts on the Pale-Belgrade initiative. "Greece," he continued, "has earned the confidence of its neighbouring countries, and that enabled us to play this significant mediation role, which is a purely Greek initiative."
Mr. Arsenis said he had outlined to his US counterpart William Perry -- during his recent visit to Washington -- his thoughts of undertaking some kind of initiative, but not about specific moves. He said he had also outlined the Greek government's thoughts to his NATO counterparts during a recent meeting, but "I cannot say that there was encouragement, perhaps because they had doubts as to the success (of such an initiative)". "Now, though, things are different," he said.
Greece holds strong traditional ties with fellow Christian Orthodox Serbia and has spoken against military operations in Bosnia. It has long argued that, because of its Balkan location and experience, it should be the point-man for NATO and European Union policies.
The Greek initiative has been met with wide welcome by official European and international political circles. "Greeks have an advantage because they talk to the Bosnian Serbs, which most countries won't do," Reuters quoted a senior diplomat from a NATO country as saying when asked to assess the Greek initiative. "Because of this we believe that Athens has something unique to lend to this effort," the official said.
Main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Vassilis Manginas described the Greek initiative as "positive".
In a statement yesterday, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga said that "Mr. Papandreou, Mr. Arsenis and Mr. Papoulias are mocking the Greek people over the government's initiative." "In actual fact," Ms. Papariga said, "the government's delegation went to Pale and Belgrade as a US and NATO mediator for an insolvent and unilateral peace action plan." She added that in order for peace to prevail NATO should withdraw from the Balkan region.
Coalition of the Left and Progress president Nikos Constantopoulos described the initiative as "a positive step in the direction of a settlement to the Bosnian crisis." "This step .. shows the way Greece must follow in the Balkans," he added.
Mr. Arsenis told a press conference in Brussels yesterday that Greece would intensify efforts towards a peaceful settlement to the Bosnian crisis, adding that he detected a "feeling of positive expectation regarding developments in the Balkans" after talks with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic.
"Greece will intensify activities (for the finding of a peaceful solution to the crisis in former Yugoslavia) using its advantages, namely open communication with the parties concerned and its stabilising role in the region," Mr. Arsenis told the press shortly after his arrival in Brussels.
He added that he had spoken with US Defence Secretary William Perry by phone before he left for Brussels and had briefed him on the results of the Greek initiative.
Last night Mr. Arsenis was due to brief his EU counterparts over a working dinner and today he is expected to give a full briefing to his NATO counterparts about his visit to Pale. "Greece's contribution (towards defusing the crisis) will take place in the framework of contacts and initiatives for a diplomatic solution to the crisis," he said.
Asked about the release of the remaining hostages, Mr. Arsenis said "technical difficulties" could mean the safe release of the hostages could take "a little time". He said the Serb president also felt that hostages should be released. Mr. Arsenis clarified that the Greek side "did not undertake any commitment for the cessation of NATO air strikes against Bosnian targets" during talks in Pale.
Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou received Yugoslav ambassador to Greece Milan Milutinovic at his home in Ekali last night.
Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday that the dispute with Skopje was being discussed in the framework of the initiative by UN mediator Cyrus Vance.
Replying to a press question on whether, following Greece's successful mediation in the Bosnian crisis, Greece was prepared to undertake other initiatives on national issues and, particularly, the dispute with Skopje, Mr. Venizelos said Greece's non-involvement in the Bosnian war was the reason that Athens was able to mediate.
"The Skopje issue is a national issue and is being discussed within the framework of initiative of UN mediator Cyrus Vance," he said. He added the issue was also discussed at the meeting in Belgrade between the Greek foreign and defence ministers and Serb President Slobodan Milosevic.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Co-operation Organisation concluded its work last night with the election of three deputy presidents. The deputy presidents elected were G. Seleszniov from Russia, O. Tkachenko from Ukraine and C. Dumitrescu from Romania, while Babken Araksian from Armenia assumed the rotating presidency of the Assembly for the next six months.
The election of the three deputy presidents confirmed the rift in the organisation's Parliamentary Assembly since the Albanian candidate deputy president, nominated by the bloc of Islamist countries, failed to be elected. The candidate was supported by the delegations of Turkey and Azerbaijan, which had both attempted to block Greece's participation as a full member of the Parliamentary Assembly on Tuesday.
It was agreed that bank officials be trained to serve at the Investment and Development Bank (Black Sea Bank) which will operate in Thessaloniki. A Greek request was also accepted to include tourism in the organisation's strategic development sectors, but another request on sea transport was referred to a future assembly meeting. The organisation's Parliamentary Assembly will convene again in Turkey in November.
National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis said yesterday the pending issues of reactivating the two NATO headquarters in Larissa and establishing the multinational rapid deployment division's command in Thessaloniki would not be discussed as a "package", as proposed by NATO Secretary-General Willy Claes during today's session of NATO defence ministers.
"Greek positions are known. These issues are not linked between, either legally, or operationally, or historically," Mr. Arsenis said, adding that "Nato's credibility is at stake and all must help to restore it."
At the request of Greece, the issue of NATO headquarters in Greece will be discussed at the meeting of NATO defence ministers this afternoon. Mr. Arsenis will hold private talks with the NATO Secretary-General and his US counterpart William Perry before the session starts. The activation of NATO headquarters in Larissa has met with objections from Turkey. Greece has consistently said that the issue is not a Greek-Turkish problem but one between NATO and Ankara.
Chief of Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Constantine Voulgaris, yesterday held talks with his visiting Romanian counterpart Lieutenant-General George Grigoras on issues of bilateral interest. The Romanian official ends his official visit today.
Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias met late last night with his Bulgarian counterpart Georgui Pirinski. Their talks, focused on Bulgarian Prime Minister Zhan Videnov's visit on June 19-20 and other bilateral issues.
Greece's infant mortality rate is the lowest among developed countries in relation to the country's Gross National Product (GNP), UNICEF sources said in Athens. They said the rate stood at ten per cent and was the lowest among the world's 22 developed nations. The figure is included in a UNICEF report titled Progress of Nations 1995, to be officially presented in Berlin today.
The report also showed there has been a significant drop in Greece's birth rate over the last 30 years. Greece is estimated as having the fourth lowest birth rate figure among developed nations. Between 1963 and 1993, the figure dropped from 2.2 to 1.4, the report said.
The report also shows that Greece holds second-last place along with France in the participation of women in national parliaments (6 per cent), just ahead of Japan (3 per cent), compared to Sweden at the top of the list with 42 per cent.
Israel yesterday honoured 11 Greeks who risked their lives to save Jews from Nazi death camps during the German occupation of Greece. "You, my 'Righteous of Nations', dared to save your Jewish brothers by risking your lives and the lives of your beloved," Israeli ambassador to Athens David Sasson said during a solemn ceremony at the Athens city hall.
About 54,000 Greek Jews were exterminated in the gas chambers of Auschwitz and Birkenau during the 1941-1944 Nazi occupation of Greece. Just a few thousand remain from a community numbering about 80,000 at the turn of the century.
Mr. Sasson said that altogether 161 Greeks, a high number compared to other European nations, have been honoured with the title 'Righteous of Nations', awarded to any man or woman who has saved the life of a Jew.
A collection organised in Melbourne for earthquake victims in the Kozani and Grevena regions has brought in 300,000 Australian dollars (approximately 48 million drachmas) so far. The collection will continue until July 2, while separate collections are taking place in other major Australian cities for the same purpose.
The Archdiocese has also gathered 50,000 dollars in a separate call. Greek community leaders hope the total amount will exceed 500,000 dollars. "It is another indication of the expatriates' love and concern for Greece," they said.
The possibility that several opposition New Democracy party deputies will attend the wedding of former king Constantine's son Paul on July 1 in London is causing friction within the party.
Yesterday, a number of deputies made statements favourably disposed to the event and the royal family, but most said they would not attend. According to sources, parliamentary party secretary general Stavros Dimas is exercising "discreet pressure" to avert such an eventuality.
Questioned whether the possible presence of deputies at the event amounted to a challenge to the constitutional order, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday that respect was not only due when the constitutional order was under threat, and actions or statements likely to be construed as a challenge ought to be avoided.
Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos said that the country's political life could well afford to ignore such quaint matters when there were more important and serious problems to be addressed.
Greece voted to abolish the monarchy in a referendum held in 1974, on the return to parliamentary rule after a seven-year military dictatorship that had exiled the then-king Constantine.
European Affairs Minister George Mangakis and Cypriot Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides yesterday conferred on issues to be discussed at the Cyprus-European Union Association Council session on Monday. The agenda will include the issue of the structured dialogue between the two sides.
Mr. Michaelides, who stopped in Athens on his way back from an official visit to Slovakia, told reporters afterwards there had been an identity of views and decisions were adopted jointly. "We are making joint efforts so that the decisions reached at the Association Council are the best possible for Cyprus... There are issues on which we insist, work, and hope a way out will finally be found," he said. Mr. Mangakis said the two sides were in "very close communication".
Alternate Industry, Energy and Technology Minister Christos Rokofyllos said that the joint defence doctrine between Greece and Cyprus should serve as a model for similar co-operation in the industrial sector. Speaking on his arrival in Cyprus yesterday on an official three-day visit, Mr. Rokofyllos said his visit would focus on providing an answer to European and international competition.
Mr. Rokofyllos is due to meet President Glafcos Clerides and Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos today, while tomorrow morning he will visit Parliament President Alexis Galanos. He will exchange views on energy, industry, trade and technology issues with Trade, Industry and Tourism Minister Kyriakos Christofi before returning to Athens tomorrow afternoon.
Ruling socialist PASOK party deputy Vasso Papandreou will begin a three-day visit to Cyprus today. Ms Papandreou will be received by President Glafcos Clerides and meet Archbishop Chrysostomos, Parliament President Alexis Galanos, leaders of parliamentary parties and Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides. She will also participate in a Cyprus TV and Radio Corporation (RIK) programme on relations between Cyprus and the European Union today.
Orthodox Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos yesterday attended the inauguration ceremony of the Hellenic Cultural Foundation Centre in New York, describing it as "an historical landmark for the Greek presence in America".
Among those who also attended the ceremony were Foreign Under-Secretary for Greeks Abroad Grigoris Niotis, Greek parliament Vice-President Panayiotis Sgouridis, Greek ambassador to the US Lucas Tsilas and Greek permanent representative at the UN Christos Zaharakis, member of the US permanent delegation at the UN ambassador Victor Merrero and chairman of a committee for the protection of the arts and letters, former US senator John Brademas.
The event was also addressed by director of archives and historian of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Barbara Hawes, who supervised the first exhibition at the centre, which includes memorabilia and archive material from the life and work of conductor Dimitris Mitropoulos in the US, and from his tours of the American continent and Europe with the Philharmonic.
The centre honoured the well known artist and cartoonist David Levine, who donated a sketch of the Greek poet Cavafy. Also yesterday, Archbishop Iakovos held a 45-minute meeting with Mr. Sgouridis at the Archbishophric. Discussion centred on the promotion of Greek national issues in the US.