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Date:         Thu, 7 Jan 1993 13:52:33 +1030
Reply-To:     Paul Hellander <phelland@ADAM.ADELAIDE.EDU.AU>
From:         Paul Hellander <phelland@ADAM.ADELAIDE.EDU.AU>
Subject:      Greek trucks diverted to Bulgaria, after Skopje den... (fwd)
Comments: To: Hellenic Discussion group <hellas@brownvm.brown.edu>

Forwarded message:
From 100036.607@compuserve.com Wed Jan  6 15:34:49 1993
Date: 05 Jan 93 23:56:41 EST
From: Demetres Dounas <100036.607@CompuServe.COM>
To: Paul Hellander <phelland@adam.adelaide.edu.au>
Subject: Greek trucks diverted to Bulgaria, after Skopje den...
Message-Id: <930106045640_100036.607_DHM50-3@CompuServe.COM>



--------------- Forwarded Story ---------------

Headline: Greek trucks diverted to Bulgaria, after Skopje den...
Wire Service: UPn (UPI US & World)
Date:   06 I 1993

Greek trucks diverted to Bulgaria, after Skopje denies entry
   ATHENS, Greece (UPI) -- The former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia is
denying entry to Greek trucks, and Greece has begun diverting its trucks
through Bulgaria to reach Serbia, a Foreign Ministry official said Tuesday.
   Border officials of the former Yugoslav republic stopped 10 Greek trucks
late Monday after the drivers failed to produce transit cards bearing the name
"Macedonia," and the drivers spent the night outdoors in freezing weather, the
official said.
   Athens responded by closing the Greek border to trucks bearing Skopje
license plates, he said. Greece has begun diverting its northbound trucks
through Bulgaria, and those heading for Serbia will pass through Sofia, the
official said.
   The border incident was the latest twist in the dispute between the two
countries over the name "Macedonia," which the former Yugoslav republic
insists on using. Athens says use of the name indicates Skopje harbors
territorial ambitions in Greece.
   Officials said Skopje precipitated the latest incident when it demanded
that trucks passing through its territory should carry transit cards bearing
the name "Macedonia."
   Greece says the transit cards should bear the words "The Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia," because Skopje has not been recognized by the European
Community and other international bodies under the name "Macedonia.
   Athens is currently conducting an interntional diplomatic campaign to
prevent recognition by the U.N. Security Council.
   Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis's government is however considering a
proposal by French President Francois Mitterrand that the dispute should be
settled by international arbitration.
   Foreign Minister Michalis Papaconstantinou said the initiative "is within
the framework of the United Nations and will be the subject of careful study
and attention, especially as it was made by a leader of international stature
and a tried and true friend."
   Mitterrand made the proposal Sunday at a joint press conference with U.S.
President George Bush in Paris.
   "The problem is not one of recognition of this country, but of the name,
which brings it into direct confrontation with Greece," Mitterrand told
reporters. "The objections of both sides must be taken into consideration," he
said.


  Copyright 1993 The United Press International


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