Brief items for which space was lacking in earlier editions
*** Europe/United States: Madeleine Albright and Javier Solana are the recipients of an award for the development of trans-Atlantic relations, presented by Washington's European Institute. At the presentation, Mrs Albright criticised those trying to come between Europe and the United States, saying: "We are cousins, not clones. We have disputes over trade. We differ, at times, on sanctions". "Not even a whirling dervish could see eye to eye with all of Europe, all the time", she added.
*** EU/Federalists: The Young European Federalists (JEF) have welcomed the ideas expressed by Jacques Delors in Le Monde on a European "avant-garde", which would allow a "quick and wide enlargement" protecting the interests of the countries not yet ready to go further while making possible a federal pact among the willing countries. According to the YEF, Delors' proposals "makes sense only if the new entity is not conceived as just a stronger Union, but as an effective federation, with a democratic supranational government".
*** EP/Flexibility: German Christian Democrat Harmut Nassauer, MEP, sees the Commission's proposals on enhanced cooperation as a "new version of the Schäuble-Lamers paper" of autumn 1994. Just as free movement is possible between the Schengen countries, flexibility would make possible asylum regulations between the countries that are ready without, for instance, a British veto blocking it, he said.
*** Greece/Turkey: Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos has told the press that Greece and Turkey have nothing to settle in the Aegean and that compliance with the Papoulias-Yilmaz agreement of 1998 on the movements of both parties in airspace and at sea should suffice. Further, Greek Government Spokesman Mr Reppas has reiterated that Athens' policy is being maintained within the framework of the Helsinki Summit Conclusions, in reaction to an article by former Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos stating that, "by choosing to appease the Turks and to submit to their plans, we made a colossal historical error".
*** Balkans/Stability Pact: At a meeting on 22 January in Issar (Bulgaria), the Prime Ministers of seven countries neighbouring former Yugoslavia (Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Hungary, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia) discussed with CFSP High Representative Mr Solana and NATO Deputy Secretary General Mr Balanzino the prospects for the Stability Pact for South East Europe. Mr Solana noted how useful it was to sometimes take the time to listen frankly and informally to the desires of the countries concerned.
*** Euro/Sweden: Sweden's Trade Minister Mr Pagrotsky has told the financial daily Dagens Industri that it is too early for Sweden to agree, "even in principle, to monetary union". In his view, numerous factors, especially the crown's sound performance, argue in favour of Sweden's staying out of the euro area.
***Council of Europe/Belarus/Bulgaria: The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has declared that it is still concerned by failings in compliance with Council of Europe standards in Belarus, and has consequently maintained the suspension of the special guest status (allowing a delegation of national MPs to participate, without voting rights, in Assembly debates), and the freeze on the procedure for this country's accession to the organisation. Further, the Assembly decided to close the follow-up procedure on Bulgaria's respect for the obligations and undertaking made at the time of its accession to the Council of Europe: it praised the progress made by this country and the stability it contributes to the Balkans, but called for better guarantees of the independence of the judicial system and the media, the rights of minorities and local autonomy, and for a tougher fight to combat corruption and police brutality.
**** EU/Tunisia: The International Institute of Children's Rights has awarded its year 2000 award to the President of Tunisia, who recalled at the award ceremony the undertakings made by his country in favour of children (including the creation of a Commissioner's office for the protection of childhood).
*** Chechnya/Turkey: Speaking at the Davos Forum, Mr Ecevit said Ankara had expressed its "disillusionment" with Moscow's methods in Chechenya and highlighted the risks of this conflict for Georgia. He added that it would be "high time for a compromise to be found" between Azerbaijan and Armenia (the latter, he said, should "hand over the occupied territory" to Azerbaijan).