[Via Communist Internet... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] . . ----- Original Message ----- From: Rick Rozoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2001 8:08 AM Subject: Greece Fears Macedonia Crisis "Could Destabilize Entire Region" [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK] STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- ListBot Sponsor -------------------------- Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ekathimerini.com/news/content.asp?aid=88158 KATHIMERINI ATHENS, FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2001 "The situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is exceptionally critical." "Sending out conflicting measures would contribute to a continuation of the crisis." "Extremists who turn their guns on democratic institutions have no place at the negotiating table." "We are categorically opposed to proposals for ethnically 'clean' states which are aimed at redrawing borders and population exchanges." Athens fears FYROM could shake Balkans Calls for a united response Greece yesterday welcomed the cease-fire mediated by NATO in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) but expressed fear that the situation in its neighboring state "is exceptionally critical" and could destabilize the entire region. Athens has been trying to help defuse the situation in FYROM, concerned about instability on its northern border and the fate of sizable Greek investments in the country. It has proposed an international conference to solve the differences between the Slav majority and ethnic Albanian minority and has also offered about 300 troops for a NATO force that would be deployed to safeguard a cease-fire. Yesterday the Inner Cabinet discussed the situation in the Balkans and Greece's investments in FYROM. "The situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is exceptionally critical. The future of FYROM, the protection of its integrity and independence have a direct bearing on peace and stability in the broader region," Foreign Minister George Papandreou said in a statement afterwards. He said the cease-fire was a "positive fact." Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas also welcomed the agreement. "I would like to express our satisfaction at today's very positive development," he said. "This could be the beginning of the end of the crisis." Athens is afraid that the crisis in FYROM could provide an arena for conflicting powers to compete with each other. "(Greece) considers it essential that there be close cooperation between Europe and the United States, as well as with Russia, so that the international community can act in a unified and effective way throughout the entire region. Sending out conflicting measures would contribute to a continuation of the crisis," Papandreou said. "The solution will have to be found by the legal political forces that are represented in Skopje's Parliament," Papandreou said. "Extremists who turn their guns on democratic institutions have no place at the negotiating table," he said. At the Inner Cabinet meeting, fears were expressed that the dismemberment of FYROM would lead to the dissolution of Bosnia-Herzegovina and further changes of borders in the region. "We are categorically opposed to proposals for ethnically 'clean' states which are aimed at redrawing borders and population exchanges," Papandreou said. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
