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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-04-14The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>CONTENTS[01] Few NATO raids on Yugoslavia due to poor weatherIn the continuing NATO attack on Yugoslavia, NATO planes carried out a limited number of raids last night and early this morning due to poor weather conditions prevailing in the area.Four explosions were heard in the capital of Kosovo, Pristina, where NATO planes flew over the city for at least half an hour. Residents in the towns of Leskovac and Vlasonice last night formed a human shield on the bridge where a passenger train was hit by a NATO missile yesterday, killing 10 passengers injuring another 16. [02] Three-point Kosovo peace plan promoted by GermanyIn the meantime, the German government is promoting a three-stage peace plan for Kosovo, to be guaranteed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, according to an article published today in a German daily.Following a meeting with members of the Congress yesterday, US president Bill Clinton said that NATO's attack on Yugoslavia has paralysed the Serbian army's capability to stage a war. The US president asked the Congress to approve the sending of 300 more US Airforce jets in the Adriatic to reinforce NATO forces. According to the leader of the republican majority in the Senate Tred Lot, NATO's attack on Yugoslavia is costing the US 100 billion dollars daily. [03] Albanian-Serbian forces continue clashes in Albanian borderMeanwhile, clashes between Albanians and Serbs are intensifying along the border of Serbia with Albania, while the refugee problem is reaching critical proportions.According to Albanian authorities, Serbian forces invaded northern Albania and attempted to occupy two villages. Belgrade denied the report and made reference to the reinforcement of the Kosovo Liberation Army with Albanian forces. Albanian president Rejxep Mejdani told a French radio station that the Albanian army is prepared to answer to renewed attacks by the Serbian forces on Albanian soil. [04] Albright-Ivanov Oslo meeting failsA meeting in the Norwegian capital Oslo yesterday between US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and her Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov failed to reach an agreement on the Kosovo issue.Ms Albright said after the meeting that despite agreement on several basic principles, it was not possible to settle the issue of the presence of foreign forces in Kosovo. Igor Ivanov reiterated the unswerving Russian stand on the immediate cessation of NATO air raids on Yugoslavia, adding that the UN ought to take on a more active role in the search for a political settlement. Both parties agreed that diplomatic efforts for a such a settlement should continue. [05] EU extraordinary summit to look into the Kosovo crisisThe latest developments in the Yugoslav crisis will be discussed at today's informal European Union summit in Brussels with the participation of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.From Washington it was announced that at a meeting he had with Congress members, Bill Clinton stated that the deployment of land forces in Kosovo has not been ruled out. [06] Time for compromise, says Yugoslav deputy PMYugoslav deputy prime minister Vuk Drascovic estimated yesterday that the time for a compromise has arrived insofar as the West has abandoned the two requirements in the Rambouillet which Belgrade staunchly rejected.The BETA news agency quoted a statement by Mr Draskovic saying that the international community "no longer requires either the intervention of NATO's military in Kosovo, or the establishment of a third republic in this specific Serbian province". Mr Drascovic, leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement reminded that both the Belgrade delegation, which participated in the Kosovo talks in France, and the Serbian parliament have stated that they concede to "international involvement" in implementing a political agreement. [07] Greek youth political organisations visit YugoslaviaA delegation of Greek political party youth organisations is visiting Belgrade in order to express the Greek people's feelings of solidarity towards the people of Yugoslavia. During their meeting with president Milosevic they emphasised that they condemn the exploitation of ethnic minorities for political ends.[08] UN member-countries historically accountable for NATO actionLeader of the Coalition of the Left, Nikos Constanopoulos described all the governments of NATO member-states as historically accountable for the continuation of the NATO operation against Yugoslavia.On Thursday and Friday, in the context of initiatives by the Coalition for peace in the Balkans, members of the party will be sent to Skopje. A European meeting is being organised in Athens on April 23 and 24 with the participation of parties of the Greek Left and of leading European thinkers. A marathon peace march is to take place on April 24. [09] Australians reportedly involved in espionage in YugoslaviaSpeaker of the Cypriot parliament Spiros Kiprianou has said that on the basis of information he had received by the Yugoslav foreign minister, it seems that two Australian nationals being detained in Yugoslavia have been involved in espionage.Mr Kiprianou had a telephone contact with the Yugoslav minister yesterday on behalf of the Australian government. Yugoslavia said that it had already briefed the Australian government on the details of the case. The course of investigations needs now to be completed, Mr Kiprianou said, in order to ascertain what may further be done with the two Australians. [10] PASOK Executive Bureau approves Euroelections platformThe ruling PASOK party's Executive Bureau approved yesterday the party's political platform for June's Euroelections.Party secretary Costas Scandalides described yesterday's first meeting of the newly elected executive bureau as constructive, beneficial and one where all the leading members' decision-making was unanimous. He also pointed out that developments occasioned by the crisis in Yugoslavia were taken into consideration in formulating the party's Euroelections platform. [11] Simitis to meet Gligorov during NATO meetingPrime minister Costas Simitis is to have a meeting with Skopjan president Kiro Gligorov on the sidelines of the NATO conference scheduled for April 25 in Washington.Making the announcement yesterday, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas also denied that an agreement exists on the issue of the neighboring state's final official title. Mr Reppas also said that no meeting has been scheduled between the president Simitis and Turkish president Suleyman Demirel. [12] Government ministers agree on budget to purchase new jetsThe government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) will meet on April 30 to approve the programme for boosting the Greek air force with new types of fighter jets.A meeting was chaired yesterday by PM Costas Simitis with the participation of National Defence Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, National Defence Undersecretary Dimitris Apostolakis and high ranking officers of the Greek army, to discuss the economic issues involved in the purchase of the planes. The PM and all the ministers attending the meeting agreed on the on the relevant budget. The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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