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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-07-11Macedonian 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: 23:27 GMT+2SECTIONS
NEWS HEADLINES[A] GREECE[B] BALKANS[C] EUROPENEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] KOSOVO WAS THE CAUSE OF CONFRONTATION IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BALKAN NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FEDERATIONWeb Posted: 16:35 GMT+2Thessaloniki, 11/07/1998 (MPA) The issue of Kossovo was the cause of an intense confrontation between the Albanian Trade Unions Confederation general secretary Kastriot Muco and president of United Nations Association of Yugoslavia Andreja Miletic during the general assembly meeting of the Balkan non Governmental Organizations Federation (FEBANGO) that will be completed in Thessaloniki today.Mr. Muco maintained that the right of self-determination of the ethnic Albanians in Kossovo must be recognized, while Mr. Miletic stressed that it is unthinkable for the Serbs to speak of an autonomy for the ethnic Albanians. Mr. Miletic underlined that the ethnic Albanians in Kossovo are emigres, who went to the region to work and pointed out that this region is the heart of Serbia and it is also called Metochia due to the hundreds of monasteries built there. Meanwhile, during the general assembly meeting this morning a decision was reached on FEBANGO's expansion to include two more countries and 7 non governmental organizations. [02] MICUNOVIC: GREECE CAN STILL PLAY THE ROLE OF THE MEDIATOR IN KOSOVOWeb Posted: 16:35 GMT+2Thessaloniki, 11/07/1998 (MPA) The position that Greece has not played the role of the mediator in Kossovo to the extend it could was expressed by Yugoslav professor Dragoljub Micunovic head of the Democracy Center.Speaking to MPA, Mr. Micunovic expressed the belief that Greece could have intervened in a more decisive manner in the crisis in Kossovo. Mr. Micunovic is in Thessaloniki to participate in the working meeting of the non governmental organizations from the Balkans, the EU, the United States and Russia, held under the auspices of the Royaumont Initiative. Outlining the existing political situation in Yugoslavia, the Serb politician characterized it as very complicated and expressed the fear that the crisis will be very difficult to be resolved as Kossovo has a background, which is a fact that constantly creates problems. In conclusion, Mr. Micunovic stated that he hopes that a peaceful solution will be found and expressed the wish for an autonomy in Kossovo based on a completely new model. It should be reminded that according to Serb press reports, government vice-president Ratko Markovic had suggested a plan for Kossovo's autonomy two months ago based on the New Tyrolo pattern in Italy. [03] TURKISH FIGHTER JETS VIOLATED THE GREEK AIR SPACEWeb Posted: 16:35 GMT+2Athens, 11/07/1998 (MPA) Turkish fighter jets violated the Greek air space and were intercepted by Greek warplanes.Meanwhile, Turkey is expected to react with military means in case the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles are installed in Cyprus, stated head of the Turkish armed forces general, Ismail Hakki Karadayi. [04] OSCE OFFICIALS SUPPORT THE UNDERTAKING OF MILITARY ACTION IN KOSOVOWeb Posted: 16:35 GMT+2Thessaloniki, 11/07/1998 (MPA) OSCE officials are in support of military action aimed at ending the crisis in Kossovo. Meanwhile, according to information that was reported yesterday by Albanian mass media and was later denied by the UN High Commissioner on Refugees, UNHCR, the town of Pec became the target of the Serb artillery and at least 300 refugees were forced to leave their homes.The Serb information center announced the arrest of 11 ethnic Albanians, who were suspected of organizing the armed uprising on behalf of the Kossovo Liberation Army. [05] Â.Â. KING ENCHANTED THE AUDIENCE IN SIVIRI WITH HIS MUSICWeb Posted: 16:35 GMT+2Thessaloniki, 11/07/1998 (MPA) The king of blues B.B. King captivated the audience that packed the amphitheater in Siviri Chalkidiki, northern Greece last night.In statements he made to reporters B.B. King expressed his love for the blues saying that this music has an eternal value and moves a large part of the music audience. Today, the king of blues will visit the monastic community of Mount Athos accompanied by artistic director of Kassandra Festival Giorgos Moustakas while tomorrow he will be in Milan, Italy next stop of his tour. [06] ÔÇÅ FEBANGO MEETING CONTINUES IN THESSALONIKIWeb Posted: 16:35 GMT+2Thessaloniki , 11/07/1998 (MPA) The meeting of the representatives of non governmental organizations from countries of the wider Balkan region, the European Union, the United States and Russia continues in Thessaloniki today. Over 100 delegates present their thoughts and proposals aimed at strengthening the democratic principles in all the participating states.The organizers aspire that the meeting will be the start for a closer cooperation among the south-eastern European countries. [B] BALKANS[07] CYPRIOT PRESIDENT CLERIDES RESPONDED TO THE THREATS OF MESUT YILMAZWeb Posted: 16:35 GMT+2Nicosia, 11/07/1998 (MPA) "I don't forget means that Cyprus does not forget the Turkish invasion of 1974 and takes measures so that it will not be repeated", according to a statement made by Cypriot president Glafkos Clerides just before his departure for Moscow.The statement was made in response to the threat of Turkish prime minister Mesut Yilmaz that in case the Russian S-300 missiles are installed in Cyprus, Turkey will respond with the installation of missiles in the occupied territories of northern Cyprus. Mr. Clerides also stated that such a development would be an illegal action of the Turkish forces. [C] EUROPE[08] EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE: THE DEFENSE OF THE GREEK CHARACTER OF MACEDONIA IS GREECE'S LEGAL RIGHTWeb Posted: 16:35 GMT+2Strasbourg, 11/07/1998 (MPA) It is the legal right of the Greek authorities and the country's courts to face every attempt aimed at disputing the Greek character of Macedonia and its residents as well as, its territorial integrity, according to a European Court of Justice ruling that was issued after examining an appeal that challenged the Greek court decisions based on which, the establishment of an association in Florina, north-western Greece had been rejected because it indirectly raised the Macedonian issue.The refusal of the Greek courts to recognize the association named "The House of the Macedonian Culture" in Florina was based on law and sought legal purposes, mentions the European Court of Justice, even though it found that in the specific case the restriction of the freedom to associate was not necessary. The court observed that if the association's founders goals were illegal they could be faced by dissolving the association in question based on article 105 of the Civil Code. The European Court of Justice in Strasbourg examined the case after an appeal by four people, who adduced their alleged "Macedonian national origin" and "Macedonian national conscience". The European Court of Justice recognized as legitimate the Greek courts right to face what they judged to be an intention to challenge the Greek identity of Macedonia and its people as well as, the country's territorial integrity, taking under consideration the situation existing at that period of time (1990) in the Balkans and the political differences between Greece and FYROM. In the decision is made a specific reference to Greece's complaints over the threat that FYROM's hostile propaganda was posing at the time of the events, its attempt to claim that the name Macedonia was Slav and the inclusion of certain articles in FYROM's Constitution toward that purpose as well as, the systematic promotion of the nationalist idea of a "united Macedonia". 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 |