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Saturday, 21 December 2024
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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 97-03-15Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.Last Update: 17:37 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] BALKANSNEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] MR.KRANIDIOTIS WILL VISIT ARGYROKASTROWeb Posted: 17:37 GMT+2Athens 15 March (MPA)Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis will visit Argyrokastro, while the EU Foreign Ministers will meet in Holland to discuss the crisis in Albania, as well as the developments in Cyprus and the issue of Turkey's customs union with the EU. In the meeting Greece will be represented by Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.Defence Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos pointed out the need for a mutually acceptable stance supporting internal procedures, while he stated that dialogue in Albania must be backed. He also underlined that the solution of the problem is a political one. [02] THE SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS DECIDE ON THE CONTINUATION OF THEIR STRIKEWeb Posted: 17:37 GMT+2Athens 15 March (MPA)Today's meeting of the local teachers' unions presidents is very critical as a final decision will be made on the future of the teachers' mobilizations.Yesterday, 44 local teachers' unions voted for the end their strike, while 39 voted in support of its continuation. [B] BALKANS[03] THE SITUATION IN ALBANIA CONTINUES TO BE OUT OF CONTROLWeb Posted: 17:37 GMT+2Tirana 15 March (MPA)Chaos still reigns in Albania. Prime Minister Baskim Fino after his meeting yesterday with OSCE mediator Frants Vranitski and Greek Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis on board an Italian frigate, stated that Albania can not overcome the crisis alone and requested the assistance of an international military force.Meanwhile, the insurgents continue to call for the resignation of President Berisha and more cities in the north-west of the country are now under the control of the rebels. In the early morning hours today, US helicopters evacuated 89 Americans from Tirana while the Italian authorities stated that 500 Albanian refugees have arrived at the port of Printizi. The Russian news agency ITAR-TASS reported that the Russian Embassy personel will leave Tirana after a decision made by President Yeltsin. [04] THE ARCHBISHOP OF ALBANIA APPEALS FOR NO MORE BLOODSHED IN THE COUNTRYWeb Posted: 17:37 GMT+2Tirana 15 March (MPA)Archbishop of Tirana and all of Albania, Anastasios appealed for no more bloodshed in the country, stating that the role of the "Pilate" does not suit anymore neither Europe nor the United States.The Archbishop said that it is hard to be found a solution that will satisfy everyone for as long as there are different interests in Albania, while he underlined that Greece until now has offered decisive assistance to the economic and social development of Albania, as well as to its democratic development. Archbishop Anastasios expressed the wish that the political forces in Albania will reach an understanding and the transitional government will have wide support, while he also wished for free and fair elections to be held in the country in due time. [05] NEW HUMANITARIAN AID FROM GREECE TO ALBANIAWeb Posted: 17:37 GMT+2Athens 15 March (MPA)A Greek warship will carry 4 tons of food to the port city of Agii Saranta in Albania, while the residents in the south part of the country appeal for more food aid requesting mainly, pasta, flour, sugar and milk.Meanwhile, the operation for the evacuation of foreign nationals from Albania continues with the participation of Greek Navy missile-carrier "Kavaloudis". Today, the missile-carrier will hold a new operation for the evacuation of 200 Chinese and 60 Jordanian nationals from the city of Durres to the Ionian island of Corfu. The Greek Embassy is still open, as only the family members of the diplomats were evacuated. [06] THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER FINO GOT A VOTE OF CONFIDENCEWeb Posted: 17:37 GMT+2Tirana 15 March (MPA)The government of Albanian Prime Minister Baskim Fino got a vote of confidence yesterday and now it attempts to defuse the tensions in the country.The sacking of the secret police chief is regarded as a significant move, while a number of measures have been decided such as, the imposition of a curfew and the increase by 300% of police officers' wages. Also, an appeal was made to all police officers, who were removed by President Berisha, to return to the force. According to information, the Albanian Minister of Defence has fled the country while the whereabouts of President Berisha are still unknown and the insurgents continue to demand his resignation before handing in their weapons. [07] THE OSCE DECIDES TODAY IF AN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY FORCE WILL BE SENT TO ALBANIAWeb Posted: 17:37 GMT+2Tirana 15 March (MPA)The deployment of a multi-national military force in Albania is being considered seriously, based on a request made by Albanian Prime Minister Baskim Fino.OSCE mediator Frants Vranitski stated yesterday that an international military intervention is necessary but the final decisions on the matter will be made today in Vienna by the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The situation in Tirana was calm this morning, while the Presidential building and many government ministries are being guarded by armoured tanks. [08] THE FYROM-ALBANIAN BORDERS REMAIN CLOSEDWeb Posted: 17:37 GMT+2Skopje 15 March (MPA)The borders between FYROM and Albania remain closed and only nationals of FYROM and other countries, except Albania, are being allowed by FYROM's border police to enter the country.According to the semi-official Skopje newspaper "Nova Makedonia", the Albanian border check-points have been abandoned by their guards and they have been looted, while the border crossing station is being controlled by armed robbers. [09] CLASHES BETWEEN STUDENTS AND POLICE IN SKOPJEWeb Posted: 17:37 GMT+2Skopje 15 March (MPA)Students from the University of Skopje took part in a protest rally that was held yesterday in the center of FYROM's capital. The demonstrators were protesting against the passing of the law that will allow the teaching of the Albanian language in higher education.In the protest participated 5 thousand students, elderly people as well as residents from other cities. The violent clashes between the demonstrators and police erupted when the growd tried to attack an Albanian-speaking Parliament deputy. [10] 44 POLITICAL PARTIES AND POLITICAL GROUPS DECLARED PARTICIPATION IN THE BULGARIAN ELECTIONSWeb Posted: 17:37 GMT+2Sofia 15 March (MPA)Intense activity is being observed in the Bulgarian political parties in view of the April 19 early elections that will be held in the country.According to a statement made by a representative of the Central Electoral Committee, by last night participation in the elections had been declared by 44 political parties and political groups. Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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