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[Gazhebo at aol.com]

Greek foreign minister sees new role for Yugoslavia

By Dina Kyriakidou

BELGRADE, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said on 
Saturday he saw a new role for Yugoslavia in the Balkans with President 
Slobodan Milosevic's ouster from power. 

``We see Yugoslavia as a country which has great potential for stability in 
the wider region of southeastern Europe and obviously has a role to play, a 
very important role,'' Papandreou told reporters at Belgrade airport. 

``I am very moved to be in Yugoslavia, in Belgrade, at this historic 
moment,'' Papandreou added, a day after Milosevic agreed to step down 
following his defeat in September elections. 

Papandreou arrived on the day that opposition leader Vojislav Kostunica was 
due to take the oath of office, ending 13 years of Milosevic's turbulent 
rule. 

The West traditionally views Yugoslavia as the main troublemaker in the 
region, with Milosevic blamed for inciting ethnic conflict and destabilising 
the Balkans. 

His departure opens the door to an end of Western sanctions and to Yugoslavia 
participating in aid programmes intended to build up the region's economies 
and democratic institutions. 

Papandreou and Kostunica attended a luncheon at the Yugoslav federation 
palace complex in one of the new sections of Belgrade. 

There was no indication in the official schedule that Papandreou would see 
Milosevic. Sources with the Greek delegation said the foreign minister 
planned to meet members of Milosevic's Socialist party, but ``probably not'' 
Milosevic himself. 

Papandreou said Greece, a key Yugoslav ally which has sought to temper the 
harsh effects of Western sanctions on the Balkan state, was keen for 
Yugoslavia to return to the fold of European nations. 

The end of the Milosevic regime, which saw Yugoslavia torn apart by four 
wars, ushers in ``a new era in relations between Yugoslavia and Europe,'' 
Papandreou said. 

Papandreou said that on a visit in September he had urged Yugoslavia to hold 
free and fair elections in order to bolster efforts to restore normal ties 
with Europe. 

``Today the people of this nation have spoken, President Kostunica is the new 
president of Yugoslavia. It is now the time for the EU and the world to 
respond to this message,'' he added. 

Greece has traditionally close ties with fellow Orthodox Serbia and opposed 
the NATO bombing last year. However, the government has supported EU and U.S. 
calls for democracy in Yugoslavia.