Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou expressed disappointment on Saturday at the results of the European Union's informal summit here, and said he was pessimistic over the future of the Union and the tackling of its serious problems, especially unemployment.
"These two days were rather not worth... the trouble," the premier told Greek reporters after the summit, held to informally discuss issues to be covered in depth by next year's conference on revising the Maastricht treaty. "An extremely conservative climate is prevailing, perhaps the most conservative I have encountered through the years," he said.
He said he was concerned over the likely emergence of a strong 'directorate' within the European Union, which would decide in advance on the course of developments, and moves to abolish the institution of unanimity.
"It is impossible for us to accept the abolition of unanimity on national issues of vital importance," he said. He added he was certain of the existence and operation of a directorate inside the EU. "But we must resist the development of a strong directorate," he warned, saying this was still possible precisely because of the existence of the principle of unanimity.
Referring to national issues, the premier said he had asked European leaders to abstain from any move in relation to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) until the interim accord recently signed in New York with that country came into effect, "so as not to upset the existing delicate balance".
"I fear recognition under the name 'Macedonia' before the agreement is activated," he said, adding that he believed his appeal had been tacitly endorsed.
He expressed confidence concerning the issue of the name for FYROM. "We are certain that the issue will be solved. Exactly how, I am not in a position to say today," he said.
He denied the possibility of the commencement of dialogue with Turkey in New York this week, when Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias is likely to meet his Turkish counterpart. "Such an eventuality belongs to the imagination of some," he said.
Concerning EU enlargement, Mr. Papandreou said he stressed the implications for member-states such as Greece and called on the Commission to undertake a study on the issue. However, he welcomed the fact that all his counterparts "had included Cyprus and Malta in their speeches as given prospective members. "It is a very positive message, both for us and our Cypriot brothers," he said.
He expressed his vexation over the lack of response by the partners to his call for guarantees of the Union's external borders in the framework of the Common External and Security Policy. "I posed the question whether there are borders of the European Union, and whether we are ready to defend them. The answer was silence. They are not ready to do it," he said.
Referring to other issues, the prime minister expressed apprehension over "the lack of enthusiasm" to tackle the problem of unemployment, which he described of "colossal significance".
Press Minister Telemahos Hytiris, who briefed Greek reporters on the premier's speech at the dinner hosted Friday night by Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez, said Mr. Papandreou attributed basic responsibility to the premature recognition of the former constituent Yugoslav republics by EU member states.
"In return for this responsibility, we now have to proceed to the provision of humanitarian aid," he was quoted as saying.
Mr. Papandreou also stressed the effectiveness of the American intervention, "contrasting with European hesitation", and referred to the need to prevent the crisis from spreading to the southern Balkans.
Regarding institutional reform in the EU, in view of next year's intergovernmental conference, Mr. Papandreou rejected the marginalization of small countries and insisted on maintaining the right of veto where vital national interests and crucial community issues were concerned.
After the briefing, sources close to the prime minister expressed their regret over statements by Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez, of which Mr. Papandreou had not been made aware, to the effect that the European Union's negotiations for the entry of Malta and Cyprus should begin not simply after conclusion of the revision of the Maastricht treaty, but rather, after its ratification by member-states.
However, questioned by the ANA, Commission President Jacques Santer said, "the Commission's position is that entry negotiations with Cyprus and Malta will begin six months after the signing of the (results of the) intergovernmental conference".
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday launched a fierce attack on the prime minister, saying that Mr. Papandreou was "again, after (last summer's EU summit at) Cannes, surprised, ignored and failed in Majorca."
"When the prime minister fails, the country's foreign policy also fails," Mr. Evert said. "The government's responsibility and (the responsibility) of those who support it (the government) is enormous."
"The prime minister effectively said that there is a risk that, twenty days from now, the European leaders will recognize Skopje with the name 'Macedonia'," the opposition leader charged.
He further said his party "had warned" Mr. Papandreou to be well prepared and "secure a commitment from our European partners that they will not proceed to a Skopje recognition under any other name than FYROM." "The prime minister, the government and those who support it are dangerous for the country," Mr. Evert concluded.
On Saturday, ND spokesman Vassilis Manginas said that the prime minister "finally kept silent (during the summit) on our national issues and on the issue of immediate financial aid to Skopje". "It is a pity for Greece to be represented in such a way," he added.
Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras yesterday accused the prime minister of "asking from the EU for breathing space for his government on all issues, from the Skopje issue to the problem of the shipyards."
On Saturday, Political Spring spokesman Notis Martakis said "a prime minister's duty is to defend in practice the country's interests." "Mr. Papandreou has confessed today (Saturday) that the disastrous accord he signed leads us to the usurpation of the name 'Macedonia' by Skopje, with Greece being unable to react," he said.
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) in a statement called immediately for a referendum on the Maastricht Treaty. "The debates and the content of the (Majorca) summit, as well as the prime minister's positions, confirm the KKE's stance that the European Union's policy does not guarantee our country's borders, national independence and peace in the Balkans," the statement said.
"Unemployment is galloping and the workers' standard of living in Europe and in our country is worsening dramatically," the statement added.
Coalition of the Left and Progress party President Nikos Constantopoulos said in Thessaloniki that the prime minister went to Majorca "unprepared, without having elaborated the Greek positions, without informing the Greek people and without a prior cabinet meeting."
In response to ND and Political Spring criticism, acting government spokesman Nikos Athanassakis called on the opposition not to "distort reality and not to misinterpret the prime minister's positions."
Acting government spokesman Nicos Athanassakis late last night rejected Mr. Evert's statements saying that the opposition leader "opts for subordinating his public statements to petty party expediencies."
Events marking the 1,900th anniversary of the writing of the Book of Revelation by St. John the Evangelist on the island of Patmos continued for the second day yesterday, attended by a host of church leaders - including representatives of the Vatican and the Church of England - government and international organizations officials, party representatives, scientists and environmentalists.
Orthodox Patriarch of Serbia Pavle officiated over the Holy Liturgy, and attendants, headed by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, later visited the hillside grotto where St. John lived and wrote in exile.
"The heads of the Orthodox churches will unite their voices with a view to undertaking initiatives for peace," said the Patriarch, adding that a message for peace in Bosnia would be elaborated at the ensuing conference.
During an interdisciplinary symposium which started aboard a cruise ship en route to the island, Vartholomeos linked St. John's vision to modern ecological disasters. A second round of talks on the relevance of the Apocalypse to the environment, and its influence on the sciences and the arts continued yesterday and today.
After arriving on Patmos to attend events yesterday, Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said he regretted repeated and "absolutely false" media reports that he had received letters from Vartholomeos expressing the patriarch's displeasure at the premier's wife's involvement in the organization of events, especially at a time when the premier was defending the country's interests at Majorca.
"It is a fact that myself, my private office (headed by Mrs. Dimitra Liani-Papandreou), as well as other members and cadres of our Movement helped and are helping in the success of this event," he said.
"It is a pity that the press has no sense of sacred and difficult moments. The moments and our struggles are difficult," he said.
He said he was moved to be on Patmos, and that his visit did not have a political character at all, but was a purely religious and spiritual expression.
He refused to comment on New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert's decision not to be present in the culmination of events tomorrow.
Speaking in Thessaloniki yesterday, Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos criticized the government for attempting to politically exploit the Patmos celebrations, resulting in a weakening of the real message the Patriarch had wished to attribute to them.
Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras accused the two major parties of staging a bogus disagreement concerning the cele-brations, in order to cover up their agreement on economic policy and national issues.
Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday said the European Court had to make a final ruling on whether Greece had violated EU rules in imposing trade sanctions on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
"Greece can not be left with the stigma of being the violator of European Union rules," he said. "The European Commission is obliged to end what it has begun, whether by vindicating or condemning Greece."
Mr. Papoulias was speaking to reporters before leaving for New York yesterday, where he will attend the 50th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In the aftermath of the signing of the Greek-FYROM interim accord, there have been reports that the Commission may drop its injunction against Greece at the European Court. A ruling on the legality of the sanctions is still pending.
Mr. Papoulias will have extensive contacts with his counterparts on the sidelines of the UN assembly; his programme includes meetings with US Secretary of State Warren Christopher and the Russian, Bosnian and Iranian foreign ministers. He said his customary meeting with his yet-to-be-named Turkish counterpart, in light of the continuing political crisis in Turkey, "reduced the possible substance" of such a meeting.
Asked whether an end to the present crisis in the neighboring country might pave the way to a Greek-Turkish dialogue, Mr. Papoulias said that one might have to see first how the political map might be formed.
He noted that fresh elections could change the political scene in Turkey, but that it did not automatically follow that there would be a parallel change in foreign policy. "Turkey follows a steady course of claims", he said.
Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias was scheduled to leave Naples for New York at approximately 01:00 hours Greek time this morning after an anonymous bomb threat forced his plane to land in Naples yesterday.
The Olympic Airways Boeing 747 plane was forced to land at Naples' Capodichino airport at approximately 13:10 Greek time when an anonymous caller told Athens airport there was a bomb in the luggage hold. A search by Italian security police failed to reveal any explosive device.
Mr. Papoulias, his party of eight and the 470 passengers were awaiting a fresh Olympic Airways plane from Athens to take them direct to New York, where the foreign minister is to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
The "Revelation and the Environment AD 95 - 1995" symposium on board the vessel 'Preveli' was launched on Friday en route to the island of Patmos, where St. John the Evangelist wrote the Book of Revelation, with a welcoming address by Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos.
To a crowded auditorium of some 200 delegates made up of over 30 representatives of the Orthodox Church and journalists, scientists and environmental activists from around the globe, the Patriarch celebrated the coming together "of many cultural tribes, tongues, nations and faiths" to discuss the shared future of the planet - "our common home".
"I hope and expect that this conference will increase our understanding of the various ways in which we may perceive and engage with the world around us... We seek your expert counsel, suggestions and input," he told those present, "so that Orthodox (people) worldwide can better contribute to the common front being forged by scientists, environmentalists and theologians who desire not only a pollution-free world but a 'healing of nations' as well."
"The Orthodox Church is particularly well represented in parts of the world where the earth has been hurt," the Patriarch continued, quoting from the Book of Revelation. He compared the martyrs which St. John describes in the Revelations with contemporary suffering in countries witnessing acute environmental decline.
Representing HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh and co-patron of the symposium as president of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), Luc Hoffman of the organization applauded the Orthodox Church for taking the lead in promoting consciousness on the environment and said he was looking forward to their taking action on the issue.
Contributors to the first session of symposium, which focused on the theological approach to the ecological crisis, included Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, representing the Vatican, and the Rt. Rev. Richard Chartres, Bishop of Stepney and Bishop-elect of London.