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1994-05-02
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<text>
<title>
Greek Article Examines Nation's Policy On Balkans
</title>
<article>
<hdr>
Foreign Broadcast Information Service, December 13, 1991
Greece: Article Examines Nation's Policy on Balkans
</hdr>
<body>
<p>[Article by K.I. Angelopoulos: "Seeking Roles and Influence in
the Balkans...." Athens I KATHIMERINI in Greek 17 Nov 91 p 9]
</p>
<p> [Text] For some time now Greek diplomacy has centered its
attention on the Balkans. Not only to confront the well-known--and complex--problems that have been created in that
region, but also because the government, according to reliable
sources, does not believe that under the present circumstances
there are any prospects for immediate developments on the Cyprus
issue and for any substantial improvement in Greek-Turkish
relations.
</p>
<p>Strong Interest
</p>
<p> The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of course, knows the scope
and size of the problems our country has to face in the
Balkans. It also knows that it is essential to find a "role" for
Greece in this region where many things are scheduled to be
"played" in the years to come. Moreover, Washington, too, is
calling for a "role" from Athens in the Balkans. Washington has
never concealed its lively interest over developments in the
Balkans which, among other things, give the United States--as
well as to certain other European countries--opportunities for
"zones of influence."
</p>
<p> However, Greek foreign policy does not appear to have
progressed much on this issue. With the disadvantage, of
course, of the country's bad economic situation, Athens is
moving forward with much hesitation over the correctness of
certain options in the Balkan "chess game." And for that reason
it has not managed in getting any initiative made by it on the
region "passed," in succeeding in developing any firm alliance,
or even in opening up prospects for anything like that.
</p>
<p>With Albania
</p>
<p> Athens still does not have any substantial "access" to
neighboring Albania. The small amount of economic aid the Greek
Government promised Tirana, as a show of its good intentions
and capabilities, has still not crossed the Greek-Albanian
frontier. At the same time, Athens has still not managed to
create an atmosphere of trust vis-a-vis Tirana, with the result,
of course, being that Italy's "influence" in Albania is
presently complete. As much as Tirana's fear and insecurity
vis-a-vis Athens are in certain respects exaggerated, the fact
should not be ignored that this is due to a large extent to
Greece's stance that appears to want to, but cannot change the
situation....
</p>
<p>Skopje
</p>
<p> Greek foreign policy on the Skopje issue also appears to be
changeable. In this case it is Athens that shows that it is
obsessed by insecurity and fears vis-a-vis a weak Skopje with
an uncertain future. Indicative of Greece's perplexity is also
the spasmodic and hasty positioning by Greece on the matter of
preconditions for a future recognition of an independent state
of Skopje. And yet, Athens knows that Skopje, pressured by many
sides, does not have much latitude for any "offensive game"
vis-a-vis Greece. To the contrary, indeed, Skopje's recent
attitude shows that the disposition of this "peculiar" neighbor
is to handle the situation with Greece in such a way as not to
leave any doors open for any lengthy dispute.
</p>
<p> At any rate, the Greek Government is already accepting
advice from both Greeks and foreigners for some "other approach"
to the matter. The view is being formulated that Greece, by
remaining steadfast, of course, to a series of points
(frontiers, "an end to matters regarding minorities, etc.") will
be able to gain more if, taking advantage of Skopje's
insecurity, it were to move forward toward making an "overture"
to it. Those who propose such a view point out to the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs that a breakup of the federative small state
of Skopje cannot at all be to Greece's advantage since that
would in all probability lead to "fierce" vicissitudes regarding
frontier changes in the Balkans.
</p>
<p> According to these same sources, what Athens should pay
close attention to is the matter of the U.S. services creating
an artificial "Macedonian minorities" problem in our country.
If Washington wants Athens to share the view than an
independent small state of Skopje in the future would function
as a "pillow" in that explosive region, it should, at any rate,
also be convinced that Greece cannot accept a "game" with a
"minority."
</p>
<p>With Bulgaria
</p>
<p> The issue of Greek-Bulgarian relations because of Turkey's
"wedge" in Zhelev's country is also a difficult one for Athens.
Greece continues to have good relations with Sofia, where,
however, much has changed and where perhaps much more will
change in the future. Bulgaria is presently caught in Turkey's
"Muslim" trap with people in the current regime promoting
military cooperation with Ankara while Washington is not at all
unhappy with all of this.
</p>
<p> At the same time, in the face of Turkey's economic "inroad"
into Bulgaria, Greece is very much behind, since, indeed, the
business world of northern Greece has not yet been "mobilized"
to reach out to Bulgaria economically speaking, as the
government would have liked and expected. And yet, according to
information, Sofia (where there are many forces that are very
much displeased over the Turkish "trap") is seeking a
development of economic and trade relations and seeks from
Greece new "avenues" of cooperation. However, it is meeting with
Greek "obstructions." Thus, substantial "access" by Greece into
Bulgaria does not exist either. And questions about the future
of the original Athens-Sofia-Ankara "triangle" (with Thraki
being the centerpiece of Greek anxiety) remain--together with
the big questions on the capability of our country to assume
some "role" in the region.
</p>
</body>
</article>
</text>