A special US envoy arrived yesterday in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Monday, urging the Skopje government to commence negotiations with Greece in a bid to resolve the current impasse between the two countries.
"The purpose of my visit is to facilitate direct talks between Athens and Skopje," US Envoy Matthew Nimetz was quoted as saying. "The time has come to reach a final settlement," he said, adding that Athens and Skopje have agreed to US positions on a set of issues. Mr. Nimetz made the statement on arrival in Skopje for a two-day visit that includes talks with FYROM President Kiro Gligorov and Foreign Minister Stevo Crevenkovksi.
"We will review what action Skopje should take in accordance with its positions on the dispute, our recommendations and those which we discussed with Greek representatives," Mr. Nimetz said.
Athens imposed trade sanctions against the landlocked former Yugoslav republic last year in a bid to stop the Gligorov government from using the name of Greece's northern province of Macedonia, to refrain from displaying Hellenic symbols on the neophyte Balkan state's flag, and delete expansionist language from the preamble of the FYROM constitution.
The American envoy, appointed by US President Bill Clinton to help resolve the dispute, flies back to Washington after his talks in Skopje.
A Political Spring (Pol.An) party spokesman said the government and main opposition party were involved in "backstage" negotiations with Washington in a bid to resolve the Skopje problem. Main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Vassilis Magginas denied the accusation, saying his party's positions on the issue were "known and crystal clear."
Meanwhile, Greek Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis said Athens would lift its trade sanctions against FYROM the moment it agreed to change its flag and constitution.
"I am surprised why the political leadership in Skopje has not, up to now, accepted the mediating proposal of (UN mediator Cyrus) Vance and pressed ahead with changes in specific articles of its constitution and the flag's emblem," Mr. Arsenis said.
"If this happens, then there will be a simultaneous lifting of the embargo from our side," Mr. Arsenis said in an interview with the Skopje daily "Nova Makedonia". He reiterated that Athens wished for friendly relations with its northern neighbour, but said it hinged on "rules of mutual understanding and respect."
Asked about developments in war-ravaged Bosnia, Mr. Arsenis said he did not foresee an expansion of the conflict, but warned of a "humanitarian" problem that could arise from a flood of political refugees.
"If the situation grows beyond control we could witness a wave of political refugees, a situation that would create a humanitarian problem," Mr. Arsenis added. He said he had raised the issue at several international meetings, specifically NATO, in a bid to prepare for the "reception and care of refugees."
The Greek defence minister said Greece had already recorded a rise in the number of illegal refugees pouring in from the Balkans. He reiterated Greece's objections to Balkan states, including Turkey, participating in peace-keeping operations in Bosnia.
However, he conceded that Athens would assist in a NATO operation to extricate 40,000 UN peace-keepers (UNPROFOR) stationed in Bosnia. "As a NATO member and together with other NATO allies, we are prepared to send in forces to assist in the withdrawal of those forces," Mr. Arsenis said.
Asked about Greece's relations with its neighbouring states, Mr. Arsenis said Turkey continued to be Greece's "visible threat" and urged Ankara to change its "aggressive behaviour" if it wanted to established closer ties with the European Union. "It is to Turkey's advantage to change its offensive behaviour and act according to European standards that will provide the potential for closer relations with Europe."
He praised Greece's close relations with its other Balkan neighbours, stressing that co-operation protocols signed with them aimed at bolstering security and peace in the region. "The defence co-operation agreements that we've signed are not aimed against anyone. They aim to strengthen security and peace in the region," the defence minister said.
He reiterated that Athens used its alliance with NATO, the Western European Union (WEU) and the European Union as a "tool" to create conditions of peace and security in the region and "bring the Balkans closer to the European Union." "The Balkans are an inalienable part of Europe and there will be no peace and security in Europe if such conditions of co-operation are not secured in this region," Mr. Arsenis said.
An agreement for construction of Athens' new international airport at Spata was signed yesterday by the Greek government and a consortium led by the German group Hochtief. The agreement is expected to be tabled in Parliament for final ratification be fore becoming law.
The Greek side at yesterday's signing was represented by the Minister and Alternate Minister of Environment, Town Planning and Public Works, Costas Laliotis and Costas Geitonas; Transport Minister Athanasios Tsouras; Alternate National Economy Minister George Romaios and the legal adviser to Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, Antonis Vgontzas. The German side was represented by Hochtief Chairman Hans Dieter Kaetel.
Speaking after the signing, Mr. Laliotis said the 2.3 billion dollars project was one of the largest currently in progress in Europe. The new airport, located approximately 25 kilometres from Athens' centre, will be named after one of Greece's leading statesman, Eleftherios Venizelos. It is expected to be completed by the year 2000.
Mr. Kaetel praised the Greek government for signing the agreement within the framework that had been previously announced. The contract, bruised by a string of delays, won cabinet approval Friday after Greece secured favourable revisions, including a 100 billion drachmas reduction in cost and the shortening of the duration the airport will be operated by the contractor, fro m 50 to 30 years.
Under the amended terms of the deal, Hochtief will own 45 per cent of a company established with the Greek state to operate the airport. The original deal gave the German consortium a 60 per cent portion. Initially, the airport will have two runways and terminal capacity of close to 16 million passengers annually.
Mr. Laliotis said last week the existing Athens airport next to the seaside suburb of Hellenikon will close after the new airport is completed. The 1,250-acre area will be converted into a park. According to the minister, the new airport adds weight to Greece's significant geopolitical position and secures a modern infrastructure that will give a boost the economy and development".
Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Ioannis Pottakis said yesterday his ministry is considering introduction of an unprecedented voluntary retirement programme for civil servants in an effort to decrease excessive employment.
"The Ministry to the Prime Minister's Office is drafting plans for a reduction in civil service," Mr. Pottakis said in a statement. He said it was common knowledge that employment in Greece's public sector had reached excessive levels, adding that with application of advanced technologies, "the problem of excess personnel will acquire acute dimensions in the future."
"It is only natural for the ministry to consider various ideas and make plans for reductions in employment levels in the public service, it is a more efficient operation in terms of speed, quality, efficiency and cost effectiveness," he added.
Mr. Pottakis said upon completion of the proposals the ministry would invite Civil Service unions to state their opinion. It is the first time a voluntary agreement option is considered for civil servants.
According to the announcement, the programme will give employees a number of incentives, including a full year's pay on the first year of retirement, 50 per cent of the salary the second year and 25 per cent the third year.
The programme, which will apply only to certain age groups, also provides for the maintenance of employees' vested rights. It also calls for training of individuals planning to enter the private sector.
In reference to new appointments to public service, the statement states: "New people with new ideas and New specialisations will be employed in the public sector." According to Mr. Pottakis' statement, new appointments will be based on objective criteria and rules of meritocracy, while terms of appointment will be constitutionally safeguarded.
Meanwhile, the Civil Servants' Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) called on the minister to abandon implementation of the programme, warning that otherwise public service employees will proceed with militant protests. ADEDY issued an announcement branding the statements of the Minister to the Prime Minister's Office for voluntary retirement as "a provocation for public service employees and a new blow public services as well as the whole people.
"The formulation of these projects has been based on no study and no dialogue, thus revealing the 'seriousness' with which the minister handles public administration problems," the ADEDY announcement added.
Receipts from shipping exchange revenue increased by 20.9 per cent in the four-month period of January-April this year to total 668 million dollars, compared with 552.3 million dollars in the corresponding period of 1994, according to figures released by the Merchant Marine Ministry.
During April this year, shipping exchange totalled 154 million dollars, compared to 146.5 million dollars in April 1994, posting an increase of 5.1 per cent.
A delegation of Greek boy scouts arrived in the Netherlands yesterday to participate in the 19th World Scout Jamboree. The Greek delegation is composed of five groups of scouts from various parts of Greece.
Alternate Interior Minister Giorgos Daskalakis brushed off press speculation yesterday concerning early national elections, saying such rumours are damaging government efforts to improve the nation's economy.
"I don't know where these speculations spring from, but they affect and destabilise efforts to develop the economy," he said. Mr. Daskalakis said modifications under consideration for the electoral law concerned only "technical" issues.
The National Supervisory Committee completed its selection of Greek tourist destinations nominated for a pan-European award for tourism and the environment, an announcement said yesterday. Destinations include the region of Zagori, Epirus; the historic city centre of Corfu and the island of Kos. The contest is organised by the 23rd General Direction of the European Union Commission.
The Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Lt. Gen. Constantine Voulgaris, will officially visit Bulgaria this week at the invitation of his Bulgarian counterpart, Lt. Gen. Iliev Zakarin. During the three-day visit beginning on Wednesday, the Greek Army's top officer will visit training camps, military formations and hold talks on bilateral issues with Bulgarian political and military officials. Gen. Zakarin paid an official visit to Greece in April.
Meanwhile, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis met yesterday with his visiting Bulgarian counterpart Blagovest Sendov. During their meeting the two officials discussed issues of bilateral interest.
Mr. Sendov, heading a Bulgarian parliamentary delegation, is set to also meet with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos today, Alternate Foreign Minister for European Affairs Georgios Alexandros Mangakis, main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert and Communist Party (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga.
The Athens Secretariat of the Ipekci Awards yesterday praised the "exemplary behaviour and co-operation" of all parties at the funeral of former Greek Moslem deputy Ahmed Sadik, who died in a traffic accident last week.
The funeral in the Greek province of Thrace was attended by several Turkish government officials and politicians, including Algan Hadjaloglu, the Turkish Minister of State for Human Rights Affairs.
"Let this example of moderation, careful and constructive behaviour and co-operation surrounding the death of Ahmed Sadik be transferred to other areas and levels in relations between Greece and Turkey. The example tells us that when we want, we can succeed on both sides of the Aegean... and can promote Greek-Turkish friendship and co-operation," the statement said.
The bi-annual Ipekci Awards were established after a Greek initiative immediately following the 1979 murder of Abdi Ipekci, a prominent Turkish journalist. They are awarded for contributions to the promotion of Greek-Turkish friendship.