BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN (27/02/1996)

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@uranus.ee.auth.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIA PRESS AGENCY

February 27, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[01] NEW ROUND OF TALKS ON THE ISSUE OF THE NAME THAT WILL BE USED BY SKOPJE IS BEING HELD IN NEW YORK TODAY

A new round of talks for the settlement of the issue of the name that will be used by Skopje opens today in the UN headquarters in New York between the delegations from Greece and FYROM.

The representatives from both countries ambassadors of Greece and Skopje Christos Zacharakis and Ivan Tosefski were scheduled to meet at 10am (local time) in the office of UN special mediator Cyrus Vance.

According to New York greek-american newspaper "Ethnikos Kirix", diplomatic circles in New York estimate that no substantial outcome is expected from the Zacharakis-Tosefski meeting. Nevertheless, the recent statement made by mr.Tosefski that he comes to New York in order to discuss the settlement of the problem based on Article 5 of the interim accord signed by the two sides and that the ultimate goal of the talks is to reach a final solution to this issue, is regarded as an indication of the skopjan side's positive intentions.

The first direct talks between ambassadors Zacharakis and Tosefski had taken place in the UN headquarters in the beginning of January in a "cordial and friendly climate" according to a statement issued by the United Nations which led the diplomats to estimate that the necessary conditions for a final agreement are being created.

[02] BRITAIN OBJECTS TO EUROPEAN UNION'S HAGUE PROPOSAL

Great Britain objected to last night's decision issued by the members of the Summit Meeting of Foreign Ministers, which advocated taking the Hague venue for the settlement of the recent Imia islet crisis in the Aegean, a decision considered by most to be favorable to Greece.

Following the session of the European Union's Council of General Affairs, Mr. Malcolm Rifkind, Britain's Secretary of State, insisted that direct talks between Greece and Turkey be emphasized, while, referring to the imminent Customs Union between Turkey and the EU, he stated that the wording of the agreement must be such that it will not leave room for arbitration.

Earlier, the Foreign Ministers of the 15 countries-members of the EU had discussed the possibility of re-negotiating the Customs Union issue when Turkey acquires a government. The EU's Customs Union agreement with Turkey, signed on March 6, 1995, foresees the provision of communal aid to Turkey at the start of the Cyprus inclusion to the EU procedures, following the inter-governmental meeting of 1996.

The British Secretary of State expressed his misgivings for the re-negotiation of the aforementioned announcement, while the Italian Foreign Minister Giovanna Agnieli, who holds the Community's presidential post during this time period, stated that "Greece expects an announcement from the turkish government, when it is formed, that it will not declare war against it."

The document, distributed to journalists as a press release, and not as a binding decision of the "15", refers to the Aegean Sea crisis as an issue of concern not only for Greece but for the EU as a whole, and refers the resolution of the matter to the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

Following last evening's outcome, Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos emphasized that the Council's assumptions undertakien with the decision datied March 6, 1995 constitute a whole.

"The regulation of funding to Turkey remains frozen until the Join Council, which must look for procedures and estimates that will fall within the parameters foreseen by the EU and will include solution venues based on International Law, and not arms," Mr. Pangalos stated.

Meanwhile, various sources stemming from EU allies stated that the Council's support of Greece is in line with the lift of Greece's veto regarding the economic funding granted to Turkey.

Such impediment, according to the view maintained by Commissioner Hans Van Der Broek, will result in the hampering of Cyprus' pre-inclusion negotiations.

[03] TURKEY BLASTS GREECE FOR OBSTRUCTING CUSTOMS UNION

Turkey's acting Premier Tansu Ciller stormed against Greece yesterday, festered by the Greek government's decision to obstruct Turkey's Customs Union with the European Commuity and impede Turkey's receipt of econonic funding from the European Union.

Ms. Ciller accused the Greek Premier Kostas Simitis as having "misused his EU membership status, by his (recent) tour of the european capitals, in order to strengthen Greece's side of the dispute."

The Turk Acting Premier also accused the EU of having succumbed to greek demands.

Ms. Ciller will visit Rome today where she will meet with the Italian Foreign Minister, who currently holds the presidency of the Council.

[04] GREEK COALITION PARTY LEADER TO VISIT SOFIA TOMORROW

The Presidnet of the Greek Coalition Party Nikos Konstantopoulos will visit Sofia tomorrow, following an invitation from Bulgaria's Socialist Party.

Mr. Konstantopoulos will be received by the Bulgarian Premier Jan Videnov and Bulgaria's President of Parliament B. Sedov, while he will also meet with various leaders of the other bulgarian parties.

[05] FYROM'S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER FAVORS DOUBLE NAME

FYROM's newly appointed Foreign Minister Lubomir Frchkovski appears open to the possibility of giving Greece the opportunity to call his country by whatever name it wishes, although he maintains that the dispute can be ressolved "without changing the constitutional name."

In his first thorough interview, given to the state-owned radio station, Mr. Frchkovski clarified that his country's obligation, as is based on the decisions drawn by the United Nations' Security Council is "the engagement of talks for the name and not the change of the name."

Moreover, Mr. Frchkovski referred to a so-called "macedonian minority" living in Greece. However, in a relevant question, he stated that "the citizens of ethnic minorities must initially address their claims with the appropriate officials of their countries and, if not satisfied with the results, they can resort to international organizations."

He concluded that the minority issue is an open-ended topic for the Balkans and Europe and "will remain open for some time."

Regarding the name issue, the new Foreign Minister's statements were assessed in FYROM as indirect suggestions made to Greece to accept a double name. That is, Greece can call FYROM with whatever name it wishes, while FYROM will call itself as it chooses.

Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos sent a letter of support to FYROM's newly-appointed Foreign Minister in which he emphasized that "the achievement of a mutual agreement on the name difference will contribute to the expansion of bilateral cooperation."

[06] THE PRESIDENTS OF US AND CYPRUS WILL MEET IN WASHINGTON ON JUNE 18TH

US President Bill Clinton will meet with Cypriot President Glafkos Kliridis in Washington on June 18th, according to Cypriot government spokesman Yiannakis Kasoulidis who avoided to make any comments on the meeting of the two leaders.

Nevertheless, the Cypriot side attributes special importance to the Clinton-Kliridis meeting because it will be an opportunity to discuss the basic issues making up the Cyprus problem.

[07] EFFORTS FOR THE DEFUSING OF TENSIONS BETWEEN THE PATRIARCHATE OF MOSCOW AND THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE IN CONSTANTINOPLE

Intense mediatory efforts are being made, according to well-informed sources, aiming at defusing the tensions in the relations between the Patriarchate of Moscow and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and at reaching an acceptable solution by both sides on the issue of the jurisdiction over the Orthodox Christians in Esthonia. According to the same sources, a special effort is being made so that the ecclesiastical problem that has been created will not affect the excellent level of the greek-russian relations.

In statements made to Athens News Agency (A.N.A.), Patriarch of Moscow and All of Russia, Alexios said that there is no schism but certain difficulties and serious obstacles in the relations between the two Patriarchates expressing the hope that immediate measures will be taken by both sides so that the division will not become deeper.

[08] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH TO BE AWARDED DEGREE IN VIENNA

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartolomew will officially visit Vienna in October, as was announced in Austria today.

Mr. Bartolomew will be awarded an honorary doctor's degree from the University of Vienna's Law School.

[09] MODERN GREEK LANGUAGE CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN SPAIN FROM FEB.29TH TO MARCH 3RD

Conference on "Modern Greek Studies and Modern Greek Language in the Spanish-speaking world" will be held in Granada, Spain from February 29th to March 3rd with the support of the Greek Civilization Institute and in cooperation with the greek Embassy in Madrid.

In the Conference which is organized by the Modern Greek Studies Department of the University in Granada will participate over 50 academicians from Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Greece who will deal with issues concerning the greek language and the greek civilization as they are being developed in the spanish-speaking countries.

Also, will be discussed prospects and ways for a more effective presentation of the greek studies and civilization in those countries.

[10] UN SANCTIONS ON BOSNIAN SERBS TO BE LIFTED TODAY

The sanctions imposed on Bosnianserbs are expected to be lifted today according to diplomatic sources in the United Nations Security Council.

Specifically, the sources assess that the United States Ambassador Madeleine Allbright, who currenly holds the presidential post of the Security Council, will announce the lift today, thereby enacting it effective immediately.

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Butros-Butros Ghali has received a letter from NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana which confirms that Bosnia's Serbs have abided by the military conditions, as provided for by the Dayton Accord.

Belgrade appears to look forward to the imminent sanctions lift, as local press reported so far. Both the leading Serb television channel and the "Politika" newspaper consider the Security Councils' decision as one that constitutes "a fullfillment of the promises made by the American representatives as well as the representatives of the international community."