Organization: University of Virginia
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.hellas
Date:         Mon, 6 Apr 1992 21:56:00 EDT
Reply-To:     "Michail Tsatsanis" <mt3f@GGSUN.EE.VIRGINIA.EDU>
Comments:     Warning -- original Sender: tag was SDA106@PSUVM
From:         "Michail Tsatsanis" <mt3f@GGSUN.EE.VIRGINIA.EDU>
Subject:      UPI NEWS

	LUXEMBOURG (UPI) -- European Community foreign ministers Monday
recognized the breakaway Yugoslav republic of Bosnia-Hercegovina and
offered to lift trade sanctions against the Serb-led Yugoslav federation
if certain conditions are met.
	Portuguese Foreign Minister Joao de Deus Pinheiro, current chairman
of the foreign ministers council, said recognition of Bosnia-Hercegovina
will officially take effect Tuesday to give other countries a chance to
join the EC in recognizing Bosnia's independence.
	``We could see no reason why we should delay any further,'' Pinheiro
told reporters.
	He said the former republic's 4.4 million people had approved
independence in a referendum last month, adding that the EC ministers
were satisfied with progress made by a conference to write a new
constitution.
	The ministers, however, postponed a decision on recognizing another
Yugoslav republic seeking independence, Macedonia.
	The EC recognized the independence of Slovania and Croatia in
January.
	The decision to recognize Bosnia-Hercegovina came as Serbs clashed
with the Croatian and Muslim majority in the worst fighting in the
republic since World War II.
	Pinheiro said the EC was ``very worried'' about renewed violence, but
argued that the decision to recognize the breakaway republic will take
arguments away from radicals.
	On trade santions, Pinheiro Serbian leaders have shown an improved
attitude towards finding a peaceful solution to the conflicts tearing
apart the federation, and said the sanctions would be lifted if Serbia
agreed to respect the new borders and ensure minority rightd.
	The Portuguese foreign minister said he expected the EC to recognize
Macedonia no later than May. He said a recent statement by Macedonian
authorities saying they have no territorial ambitions on Greece had gone
a long way towards helping their case.
	EC member Greece, fearing Macedonians in the Yugoslav federatation
could have designs on its own northern region of Macedonia, has strongly
opposed independence.
	``The general feeling is that we expect the effort to produce results
quite soon,'' Pinheiro said of the talks on Macedonia.
	In a statement to the ministers earlier Monday, Macedonian President
Kiro Gligorov urged immediate international recognition for the Yugoslav
province, saying it had met the terms for sovereignty established by the
EC Arbitration Commission.
	``Further postponement of its recognition, especially if it remains
the only former Yugoslav republic unrecognized, will lead to very severe
consequences,'' Gligorov said.
	``Further delay risks a breakdown of civil disorder and serious
instability,'' he added. ``Radical elements will be strengthened and
pressures will mount by those urging violent solutions. Postponement
will also risk a wider Balkan conflict.''
	The 12 ministers also heard a report from Lord Carrington on his
efforts to establish a permanent cease-fire in the former Yugoslavia.
	Earlier Monday, the ministers rejected an Irish request to change
that country's protocol on abortion as included in the Maastricht Treaty
on political and economic unity.


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