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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 98-10-05

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.


MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, October 5, 1998

SECTIONS

  • [A] NATIONAL NEWS
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • NEWS HEADLINES

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

  • [01] HELLENIC PARLIAMENT'S PLENARY SESSION BEGINS TODAY
  • [02] PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS CONFERENCE STARTS IN ATHENS TODAY
  • [03] PRIME MINISTER: LOCAL ELECTIONS WILL NOT AFFECT STATE'S ECONOMIC POLICY
  • [04] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER URGES TALKS TO AVERT NATO STRIKE IN KOSSOVO
  • [05] GREECE, BULGARIA, ROMANIA URGE CEASE-FIRE IN KOSSOVO AT DELPHI SUMMIT
  • [06] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER DIDN'T MINCE HIS WORDS IN THESSALONIKI
  • [07] UPWARD TRENDS PREVAILED IN THE EUROPEAN STOCK MARKETS
  • [08] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: GREECE REINFORCES CYPRUS'S DEFENSE SHIELD
  • [09] REPPAS EXPRESSED OPTIMISM FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION IN KOSOVO
  • [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • [10] INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND CONVENES TODAY OVER GLOBAL CRISIS
  • [11] INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MOUNTS PRESSURE ON F.R. YUGOSLAVIA
  • [12] HOLBROOKE ARRIVES IN BRUSSELS TODAY TO MEET WITH NATO OFFICIALS
  • [13] GREEK ALTERNATE FM IN VIENNA FOR EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTY MEETING
  • [14] EUROPEAN COUNCIL TO DISCUSS CYPRUS'S ACCESSION TO EU
  • [15] EUROPEAN COUNTRIES CALL ON THEIR CITIZENS NOT TO VISIT YUGOSLAVIA
  • [16] US-CANADA PANMACEDONIAN UNION RECEIVES $10,000 PRIVATE DONATION
  • [17] BERISHA TO APPEAR BEFORE TIRANA PROSECUTOR IN OCTOBER
  • [18] THE BALKAN MASS MEDIA ON THE DELPHI MEETING
  • [19] THE YUGOSLAV FEDERAL PARLIAMENT WILL EXAMINE THE KOSOVO CRISIS
  • [20] YUGOSLAVIA WILL DEFEND ITSELF IN CASE OF A NATO ATTACK
  • [21] THE RUSSIAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE IS ON A VISIT TO ATHENS
  • [22] THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES CALL ON THEIR NATIONALS NOT TO VISIT YUGOSLAVIA
  • [23] THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL REPORT ON KOSOVO WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY
  • [24] PLANS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BALKAN CENTER OF COMMERCE
  • [25] THE GREEK-AMERICAN COMMUNITY EXPRESSED ANGER AND CONCERN OVER THE STAGNATION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

  • NEWS IN DETAIL

    [A] NATIONAL NEWS

    [01] HELLENIC PARLIAMENT'S PLENARY SESSION BEGINS TODAY

    With the customary holy water rites, to be performed by Archbishop Christodoulos, the Hellenic Parliament is to embark on its plenary session today. Following the oath taking ceremony, the parliamentarians will elect the House's proctors and secretaries.

    Tomorrow, the Finance Ministry's legislation concerning the operation of the stock market will be tabled for discussion.

    [02] PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS CONFERENCE STARTS IN ATHENS TODAY

    The political and military aspects of peace-keeping missions will be reviewed during a three-day conference which is to start in Athens today, under the aegis of the peace-keeping missions cooperation group of the Euro-Atlantic Cooperation Council.

    The Euro-Atlantic Cooperation Council provides a forum for NATO members and members of NATO's Partnership for Peace program to discuss and fine-tune programs on a wide range of security issues.

    About 60 representatives from NATO and Partnership for Peace countries are expected to attend the conference which will be opened by NATO Assistant Secretary-General for political affairs Klaus-Peter Klaiber.

    [03] PRIME MINISTER: LOCAL ELECTIONS WILL NOT AFFECT STATE'S ECONOMIC POLICY

    The government will not relax its tight economic policies for the sake of political gains from nationwide local elections to be held this weekend, according to Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.

    Mr. Simitis stated yesterday that the cornerstone of the state's economic policy remained attaining entry into the European Union's economic and monetary union by the target date of January 1, 2001.

    Replying to reporters' questions in Delphi on the sidelines of talks he held there during the weekend with the presidents of Bulgaria and Romania, Mr. Simitis rejected allegations that economic policy was a hostage to election politics as Greece still had leeway of one year to meet the five economic criteria needed for EMU entry.

    "The priority of EMU entry is decisive in any decisions taken," he stressed said.

    [04] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER URGES TALKS TO AVERT NATO STRIKE IN KOSSOVO

    Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos called on Yugoslavia and Kossovo's Albanians to start a dialogue in order to avert a military intervention by NATO in Kossovo.

    In Thessaloniki yesterday, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and Kossovo's Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova "should proceed immediately with the start of dialogue to allow broad autonomy in Kossovo within the framework of Yugoslavia's existing borders."

    "I am optimistic that the logic of dialogue will prevail and that there will be a political solution," he added.

    [05] GREECE, BULGARIA, ROMANIA URGE CEASE-FIRE IN KOSSOVO AT DELPHI SUMMIT

    The Prime Minister of Greece Kostas Simitis and the Presidents of Bulgaria and Romania, Petar Stoyanov and Emil Constantinescu respectively, issued a common statement at the Delphi summit yesterday, urging for an immediate cease-fire in Kossovo.

    "The (countries') three leaders make an urgent and dramatic appeal to all sides involved, and in particular the Yugoslav authorities, to work for a negotiated settlement of the conflict in Kossovo...namely a cease-fire should be put immediately into effect," a joint statement by the three countries said.

    "Parties should come to the negotiating table without preconditions, aiming at achieving a peaceful solution for a large autonomy for Kossovo within the internationally recognized borders of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and respecting the rights and freedoms of all the inhabitants of Kossovo, so that another course of action be avoided," said the statement.

    "Bulgaria, Romania and Greece, immediate neighbors of Yugoslavia, are deeply concerned that the escalation of the conflict in Kossovo has reached a crucial point; further negative developments could have serious consequences for the three countries and the region as a whole," the declaration said.

    In regards to Albania, the three leaders called on the country's government and political parties to use political dialogue and create a state of law, enabling democratic institutions to operate.

    Moreover, the leaders welcomed the start of the enlargement process for the European Union, in which Bulgaria and Romania are candidate countries and Greece, as an EU member-state, has worked on behalf of their applications for accession.

    Mgrs. Simitis, Stoyanov and Constantinescu also praised NATO's "open door policy:, hoping that an upcoming summit in Washington would result in concrete steps being taken to enhance the Alliance's decisive role in consolidating peace and stability in southeastern Europe and the continent as a whole.

    They also stated that they supported an agreement signed recently to establish a multinational peace force in southeastern Europe.

    "The three leaders, whose countries share a common European destiny, reaffirmed their commitment to principles of international law, on peace, security and good-neighborly relations, respect for sovereignty, integrity and inviolability of external borders, as well as the recourse to the International Court of Justice to settle territorial differences, which are enunciated in the European Union Presidency Conclusions of the Luxembourg Council of December 1997 and in the 'Agenda 2000'," the statement also read.

    Lastly, the three leaders agreed to step up their trilateral cooperation, which was launched in the Greek city of Ioannina in 1995.

    They "further agreed that their Ministers of Interior/Public Order and Justice should convene on a regular basis in joint meetings. They expressed support for the establishment in Bucharest of the SECI Regional Center for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption and the initiative of Bulgaria to host the Regional Coordinating Center for Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking," the statement said.

    The three countries agreed to hold regular summits, with the next session due in Bulgaria in 1999.

    [06] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER DIDN'T MINCE HIS WORDS IN THESSALONIKI

    The leader of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's (ND) Kostas Karamanlis launched an attack on the government during a speech in Thessaloniki yesterday evening, held before the city's ND youth chapter (ONNED) at the city's indoor stadium Palais de Sport.

    Mr. Karamanlis criticized the government's policies on health, education, the economy, investments and tourism, to name a few.

    According to the opposition leader, the state has deprived the country's youth of the means to achieve a competitive future.

    Earlier, in the city of Komotini, Mr. Karamanlis addressed a rally organized by the 'Kalimera Thraki" coalition, running for the prefecture of Thrace, and referred to the problems faced by the region's farmers, pledging that as a prime minister he would personally undertake the responsibility "to negotiate on agricultural products with the European Union."

    Further, he accused the government for delays in the completion of major infrastructure projects, describing a new law on development as "unacceptable", as it abolished investment incentives for the specific region.

    Mr. Karamanlis also visited predominantly Muslim villages in Thrace where he was greeted by drums and bagpipes.

    [07] UPWARD TRENDS PREVAILED IN THE EUROPEAN STOCK MARKETS

    Upward trends prevailed since noon today in most European stock markets, while big losses had been recorded earlier in the Asian markets. In the Athens Stock Exchange the general price index closed with a loss of 0.15%.

    Meanwhile, the big investors await for the outcome of the International Monetary Fund meeting that is being held in Washington today aimed at finding ways to deal with the global economic crisis.

    [08] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: GREECE REINFORCES CYPRUS'S DEFENSE SHIELD

    Greece reinforces the Cypriot Republic's defense shield both as a guarantor force and based on an agreement for a joint defense against any foreign threat, pointed out Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, speaking in a conference held within the framework of a defense exhibition in Athens.

    Present in the conference was Cypriot minister of defense Yiannakis Omirou. According to Mr. Tsochatzopoulos, the role of Greece in the wider region has changed and therefore, the development of a strong and internationally competitive defense industry is necessary.

    [09] REPPAS EXPRESSED OPTIMISM FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION IN KOSOVO

    Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the bloodshed in Kosovo must end. Mr. Reppas also stressed the need for self-restraint and calm, expressing optimism that the consultations underway will bring results.

    The Greek government spokesman also reiterated the clear and firm position of Greece for a political solution in Kosovo.

    [B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

    [10] INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND CONVENES TODAY OVER GLOBAL CRISIS

    Investors all over the world have their eyes turned to the International Monetary Fund which is convening in the United States today, in order to discuss the global economic crisis.

    The Finance Ministers of the Group of Seven nations met in Washington and expressed interest in US President Clinton's plan to provide emergency funding for countries affected by the global turmoil in the hopes of forestalling a global recession.

    [11] INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MOUNTS PRESSURE ON F.R. YUGOSLAVIA

    While the international community is mounting the pressure against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, over its actions in Kossovo, Belgrade has issued an announcement-response to the threats of NATO's intervention.

    F.R.Y.'s highest defense council, which is led by president Slobodan Milosevic, stressed that the country will defend itself with every means.

    Meanwhile, Moscow has reiterated its opposition to a potential military intervention in Kossovo.

    [12] HOLBROOKE ARRIVES IN BRUSSELS TODAY TO MEET WITH NATO OFFICIALS

    United States special envoy Richard Holbrooke is to arrive in Brussels today in order to hold talks with high-ranking NATO officials before traveling on to Belgrade to meet Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

    According to Reuters, Mr. Holbrooke will try to use his influence to convince Mr. Milosevic to comply with United Nations orders to cease the violence in Kossovo. His trip coincides with the release of a report by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan that could give the green light for NATO air strikes over the crisis in Kossovo.

    Mr. Holbrooke will meet with NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana and other senior NATO officials before flying on to Belgrade later in the day.

    Mr. Solana stated yesterday that Yugoslavia should take the threat of allied air action seriously, because time was running out for political alternatives.

    State department spokesperson James Rubin stated that ''the purpose of Ambassador Holbrooke's meeting with President Milosevic is to underscore the clear requirements of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1199 and to emphasize the need for prompt and full compliance.''

    [13] GREEK ALTERNATE FM IN VIENNA FOR EUROPEAN SOCIALIST PARTY MEETING

    Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou will depart for Vienna today where he will attend a meeting of party leaders affiliated with the European Socialist Party (ESP).

    The meeting to be chaired by ESP President Rudolf Sharping, will examine "Europe's future", with emphasis granted on employment, benefits, and security policies. It takes place in preparation of an EU summit organized at the initiative of Austria's current EU presidency, to be held on October 25.

    Tomorrow, Mr. Papandreou will participate at the EU's general affairs council, which will review issues related to the European Summit.

    [14] EUROPEAN COUNCIL TO DISCUSS CYPRUS'S ACCESSION TO EU

    The European Union's Foreign Ministers are to discuss the various issues that arise out of the 15-nation bloc's expansion, with Greece being represented by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.

    Among the issues to be discussed is the accession course of the Republic of Cyprus. According to the BBC, France and Italy are expected to reiterate the positions developed by their permanent representatives during the recently-held committee session, wherein they associated the island's accession with the improvement of Turkish-EU relations and the resolution of the Cyprus issue.

    The representatives stated that a framework and specific prerequisites need to be drawn prior to negotiations for Cyprus' accession and further demanded that a written agreement follow which would bind all the EU member-states.

    Greece's permanent representative Ambassador Lukas Tsilas strongly protested to these proposals.

    According to the BBC, the proposals of the French and Italian Foreign Ministers are expected to be met by Greece's categorically opposed position to be developed by Mr. Pangalos.

    [15] EUROPEAN COUNTRIES CALL ON THEIR CITIZENS NOT TO VISIT YUGOSLAVIA

    Four European countries have so far issued travel advisories, calling on their citizens to avoid travel to Yugoslavia, given the possibility of NATO's military intervention.

    Yesterday. Austria's foreign ministry issued such advisory, while Germany had already done so on Saturday. Its foreign ministry stated in an announcement that "the situation in Kossovo and the unforeseeable developments that may follow endanger the safety of foreign nationals currently in Yugoslavia."

    On Friday, both Ireland and the Netherlands also issued a travel advisory. Dutch Foreign Minister Hans Van Mirlo added that his government is looking into the possibility of removing the Dutch embassy's staff from Belgrade.

    [16] US-CANADA PANMACEDONIAN UNION RECEIVES $10,000 PRIVATE DONATION

    The Greek-origin businessman Panayiotis Xenopoulos has made a $10,000 donation to the Pan-Macedonian Union of US-Canada, for strengthening the organization's program.

    Mr. Xenopoulos also undertook the task of forming a committee which will serve as a liaison between the Union and Macedonia- origin, or other, businessmen, in order to acquire additional funds for the Union.

    [17] BERISHA TO APPEAR BEFORE TIRANA PROSECUTOR IN OCTOBER

    The President of Albania's Democratic Party Sali Berisha is expected to be summoned for an appearance before the Tirana prosecutor in mid-October, in order to testify for the events that took place on September 14.

    Mr. Berisha, whose parliamentary immunity was lifted, is accused of instigating the attempted coup d'etat last month.

    The Tirana prosecutor's office has also filed charges against five other deputies of the Democratic Party, but their parliamentary immunity has not been lifted.

    [18] THE BALKAN MASS MEDIA ON THE DELPHI MEETING

    The Balkan mass media made positive comments on the tripartite meeting of Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis, Romanian president Emil Constantinescu and Bulgarian president Petar Stoyanov that was held in Delphi during the weekend.

    The front-page headlines of the Sofia newspapers referred to the summit meeting and to the positive conclusions reached by the three leaders.

    [19] THE YUGOSLAV FEDERAL PARLIAMENT WILL EXAMINE THE KOSOVO CRISIS

    The crisis in Kosovo will be examined today in the plenary session of the Yugoslav federal Parliament.

    The session is characterized as crucial, as based on its decisions will be determined whether Belgrade is ready to comply with the UN demands for the easing of the tensions in Kosovo and avoid the likelihood of a NATO military operation in the Serb province.

    [20] YUGOSLAVIA WILL DEFEND ITSELF IN CASE OF A NATO ATTACK

    The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia wants peace and is ready to solve all pending issues in a peaceful manner but in case of an attack it will defend itself using all available means. This was the conclusion reached yesterday by the Supreme Defense Council of Yugoslavia.

    Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic presided over the meeting that was attended by Serb president Milan Miludinovic, President of Montenegro Milo Juganovic, Serb prime minister Momir Bulatovic, federal minister of defense Pavle Bulatovic and Army Chief of Staff general Momcilo Perisic.

    [21] THE RUSSIAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE IS ON A VISIT TO ATHENS

    Russian minister of defense Igor Sergeyev arrived in Athens today for a formal visit until October 9.

    The Russian minister of defense will meet with president Kostis Stephanopoulos, prime minister Kostas Simitis and his Greek counterpart Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

    Their talks will focus on the prospects of the Greek-Russian cooperation, mainly in the military sector, while a special emphasis will be given to problems of European security, the situation in the Balkans and especially, in the region of Kosovo.

    The Russian delegation is scheduled to visit Greek military units and the exhibition of defense armaments held in Athens.

    [22] THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES CALL ON THEIR NATIONALS NOT TO VISIT YUGOSLAVIA

    The European countries call on their nationals not to visit Yugoslavia because of the increased likelihood for a NATO military intervention.

    Yesterday, the Austrian foreign ministry issued a statement calling the Austrian nationals to avoid the trips to Yugoslavia, while a similar warning was issued by Germany last Saturday. As it is mentioned, the situation in Kosovo and the unforeseeable developments can put at risk the security of foreign nationals who are in Yugoslavia.

    A warning was also issued by Ireland and Holland on Friday. The Dutch foreign minister stated that the possibility to evacuate the diplomatic personnel from the Dutch embassy in Belgrade is being considered.

    [23] THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL REPORT ON KOSOVO WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY

    The report on Kosovo that will be presented to the UN Security Council today by UN secretary-general Kofi Annan is expected to play a decisive role in the developments that will take place in the Serb province.

    The report, which can become the legal basis for a NATO military intervention, will include the UN secretary-general's assessments on whether the promises of Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic on the withdrawal of the Serb forces from Kosovo are being kept.

    Meanwhile, the human rights organization Human Rights Watch in its latest report speaks about systematic human rights violations in Kosovo by the Serb forces and by the ethnic Albanian separatists, who are accused of hostage-taking, using the people as human shields as well as, of summary executions.

    [24] PLANS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BALKAN CENTER OF COMMERCE

    An agreement for the establishment of a Balkan Center of Commerce will be signed in the Balkan prime ministers' meeting that will be held in Antalya, Turkey on October 12-13.

    According to a statement issued by the Bulgarian government press office, prime minister Ivan Kostov will attend the meeting in which will be examined the prospects for the further development of the regional cooperation.

    [25] THE GREEK-AMERICAN COMMUNITY EXPRESSED ANGER AND CONCERN OVER THE STAGNATION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

    The stagnation observed in the Cyprus problem has caused the strong concern of the Greek-American community and the leading members of the Greeks living in the United States have underlined that the United States can if they want to put an end to the gross violation of human rights and the illegal occupation of northern Cyprus by the Turkish forces. They have also stressed that Washington can impose a balance of power between Greece and Turkey and limit the Turkish provocation and intransigence for the sake of peace.

    This was the message sent by the Greek-American community leaders to high US government officials, House Representatives and Senators during the 14th conference of the Greek-American leadership, under the title "Initiative for peace", that was recently held in Washington.

    The Greek-American leaders had talks in the White House with US presidential envoy Richard Halbrooke, special mediator to Cyprus Thomas Miller and the special assistant to the US president on national security issues.


    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/


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