USIA Article: Kornblum Stresses Import Of U.S.-Greek Relationship (96-05-09)

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From: The U.S. Information Agency (USIA) Gopher <gopher://gopher.usia.gov>

(Southeastern Europe "has new strategic importance") (1010)

By Jane A. Morse
USIA Diplomatic Correspondent

Kornblum spoke May 8 at the "Conference on the Greek-U.S. Relationship and the Future of Southeastern Europe" organized by the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis.

He said the break up of the Soviet Union, the breakdown of the former Yugoslavia, and the prospects for peace in the Middle East have made Southeastern Europe "the center of a very important strategic and dynamic region which is in many ways the fulcrum of what we are seeking to achieve in Europe."

According to Kornblum, the prospects for peace in Bosnia and the Middle East as well as the new accessibility of the former Soviet Union create immense cultural, economic, and peaceful cooperative opportunities for a country like Greece.

The conflicts in the region "have a much different strategic and structural importance than they did before," he said. "In the past ... we treated the conflicts -- including the Cyprus problem, even including some of the tensions between Greece and Turkey -- as specific issues," Kornblum said.

Now a broader strategy is needed, and "establishing a structure of peace" is critical to insuring that the Mediterranean region. Key players such as Greece, Turkey, Russia, the United States "are going to be able build the kind of Europe we wish to build."

The United States, Kornblum said, is working with Europe to build security, democracy, and an integrated continent. This strategy includes NATO as a force for peace and security, and the European Union's efforts to build economic prosperity and political integration and stability.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, now with some 55 members worldwide, may be currently "weak in its formal powers, but (it is) strong in its coverage and strong in its definition of values and goals," Kornblum observed. It "brings countries together to work for open societies and full respect for the rule of law. These principles will guarantee real stability in the future."

He added that "through the Partnership for Peace and through our bilateral relations, we must also build a strong, productive relationship with Russia."

The U.S. goal is "the integration of all Europe -- not into a single organization, which would never be possible, but into a sense of common values, of common goals, and with the most practical and positive possible relationships among the countries," he said.

Kornblum acknowledged Greece's important relationships with other countries in the region. "Greece has a traditional relationship with Serbia, which has helped especially in some times of tension to maintain and open up channels of communication," he said.

Having just returned from the former Yugoslavia, Kornblum said the U.S. goal is to build a structure for permanent cooperation. This cooperation had existed for some 70 years under a very centrally-organized authoritarian state, he said.

"The challenge we have now is whether democratic structures can be built there," Kornblum said, "and whether these democratic structures can in fact through positive encouragement and through the opening of opportunities build the kind of cooperation we know is possible, and which has been possible in the past.

"We are now at the four-month period of the Dayton agreement. As is often stated in the press, the military tasks have been fulfilled -- not totally, but to a large extent. Forces were not only separated, they are now demobilizing. Armaments have been put into so-called cantonment areas. And there is a very strong sense of peace in the region.

"But it is not accurate to say, as it is sometimes argued in the press, that there has been great military progress and no political progress. While we have obviously not achieved the kind of democratic multi-ethnic state that we are looking for, it was also not our goal to have achieved it by this point."

Kornblum emphasized that "the Dayton peace agreement is a cumulative agreement, building step by step from a military cease-fire, to a military separation of forces, to the beginning of political consultations through the Joint Civilian Commission, to the building of joint structures, and slowly moving towards elections, the establishment of a new constitution, and the establishment of a democratic government."

In four months, "a tremendous amount of progress has been achieved," he said. "All of the deadlines proscribed in the Dayton Agreement have been met in the political as well as military side," albeit with difficulty, Kornblum acknowledged.

The important step now is to "look at the process underway and make sure there is the political determination to continue it." Once a stable situation is established, economic progress will be possible for the entire region, he said.

Regarding tensions between Greece and Turkey, Kornblum said the United States "does not intend to be a mediator, because we think in the end a mediator must take sides.... But we do stand for the exiting borders, the sovereignty of countries, and the existing treaties...."

Kornblum also said, in response to questions, that the United States has worked with both sides "so they can understand the opportunities for dialogue." He added that the International Court of Justice would be useful as a mediation tool if Turkey and Greece are willing to use it.

Regarding Cyprus, Kornblum said there is a "unique opportunity" for the settlement of conflicts there. Old points of view are changing, he noted, and the European Union has made two important, helpful decisions. First, the EU agreed to begin negotiations for membership for Cyprus once the current intergovernmental conference is completed. Second, it has concluded a customs agreement with Turkey, which "gives Turkey a stake in making sure the role of the European Union develops positively in the region."

The United States is committed to working to insure that "Cyprus does not remain the last major unresolved conflict in Europe," Kornblum said.