Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-03-26
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, March 26, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] "WE GOT THE MONEY"; GRD 9 TRILLION FOR GREECE FROM THIRD CSF
[02] GREEK ALTERNATE FM TO MEET WITH US AMBASSADOR TODAY
[03] DEADLINE FOR IONIAN BANK BINDING BIDS IS TODAY
[04] GREEK FM: GREECE IS A BRIDGE TO KOSOVO AND YUGOSLAVIA
[05] CLOCKS TO BE SET AN HOUR AHEAD ON SUNDAY, MARCH 28
[06] GREEK PRESIDENT TO RECEIVE MINISTER OF DEFENSE TODAY
[07] PROTEST RALIES TO BE HELD IN ATHENS, THESSALONIKI THIS
EVENING
[08] BURNS CLARIFIED THE CLINTON STATEMENTS ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF
GREECE AND TURKEY
[09] ALL THE GREEK NATIONALS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED FROM YUGOSLAVIA
[10] THE ASSOCIATION OF BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES ISSUED AN APPEAL FOR
PEACE IN THE BALKANS
[11] GREECE IS NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM IN KOSSOVO
[12] KRANIDIOTIS-BURNS MEETING
[13] YIANNIS NIKOLAOU: THE AGENDA 2000 AGREEMENT IS VERY POSITIVE
FOR GREECE
[14] YIANNIS NIKOLAOU: GREECE WILL FACE NO CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE OF
THE CRISIS IN KOSSOVO
[15] GREEK VOLUNTEERS IN YUGOSLAVIA
[16] THE TSOCHATZOPOULOS-STEPHANOPOULOS MEETING HAS BEEN COMPLETED
[17] GREECE HAS TAKEN MEASURES FOR THE RECEPTION OF REFUGEES
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] GREECE SECURES SIZEABLE FUNDS AT BERLIN SUMMIT
[19] BELGRADE READY TO SIGN RAMBOUILLET AGREEMENT, UNDER TERMS
[20] RUSSIA DEMANDS IMMEDIATE END TO NATO AIR STRIKES
[21] US PRESIDENT RECEIVES GREEK DELEGATION IN WHITE HOUSE
[22] US PRESIDENT'S DECLARATION ON GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY
[23] GREEK DIPLOMAT TO REPRESENT BELGRADE IN GERMANY
[24] F.R.Y. BREAKS OFF DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH US, FRANCE, UK,
GERMANY
[25] BORISLAV MILOSEVIC: RUSSIA CAN VIOLATE THE ARMS EMBARGO ON
YUGOSLAVIA
[26] THE SIRENS WERE HEARD AGAIN IN PRISTINA
[27] THE "GREENS" CALL FOR THE END OF THE NATO AIR STRIKES IN
YUGOSLAVIA
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] "WE GOT THE MONEY"; GRD 9 TRILLION FOR GREECE FROM THIRD CSF
In what has been hailed as a "significant success", Greece
has secured nine trillion drachmas (approximately 30 billion
dollars) from the European Union's third Community Support
Framework, earmarked for the time period of 2000-2006.
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated that "in ancient Greece
they used to say that we need the money. We got the money."
He added that this amount (which surpasses the second CSF by
two trillion drachmas) will serve as an important lever for the
country's course to cohesion since it will allow Greece to rise
to the 80% mark of the EU's median national income.
The Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos
Papantoniou expressed the government's satisfaction, pointing out
that Greece is the only country that managed to secure a funds
increase.
"This constitutes a national success," he stated.
Mr. Simitis stated that the marathon talks held at the Berlin
Summit were especially arduous.
The Summit dealt with the EU's fiscal prospects and the
Agenda 2000, namely
the issue of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) expenditures,
expenditures for the EU's structural policies, as well as the
issue of restructuring the EU budget's own resources.
As far as Greece is concerned, Mr. Simitis stated, the
country achieved a marginal increase in CAP-allocated funds and
significant increases from the Structural Funds.
Specifically, Greece will be allocated 24.9 billion euros
during the 2000-2006 period, a notable increase from the 21.9
billion euros allocated to the country between 1993-1999 and 19.3
from the second CFS.
The overall amount distributed by the Structural Funds and
the Cohesion Funds was augmented by five percent, while Greece's
share was increased by 13%.
During the next seven years, the overall funds will amount to
5-6% of the Gross National Product, a positive development as,
presently, every country sends a
proportion of its VAT revenue to Brussels, whereas, with the
reform, most of the budget contributions will be calculated as a
proportion of the GNP.
[02] GREEK ALTERNATE FM TO MEET WITH US AMBASSADOR TODAY
Greece's alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis is to
meet today with the United States Ambassador in Athens Nicholas
Burns, with whom he will discuss the US President Bill Clinton's
repeated verbal speculations of a potential Greek-Turkish war.
Foreign Minister Yiannos Papandreou has already relayed the
government's displeasure over the matter to his US counterpart
Madeleine Albright during a telephone conversation.
Moreover, Mr. Kranidiotis will have a series of contacts with
the European Union's ambassadors in Athens whom he will brief on
the initiatives undertaken by Greece in holding an international
conference on the Kosovo crisis.
[03] DEADLINE FOR IONIAN BANK BINDING BIDS IS TODAY
The deadline for binding bids in a tender for the sale of a
51 percent stake in Ionian Bank expires this evening, with the
bids due for delivery at JP Morgan's offices in London.
The Bank of Piraeus, Credit Bank and Eurobank, in
collaboration with the Labor Bank, submitted non-binding offers
earlier this year, and they are the only eligible bidders in the
tender's final phase.
The Board of Directors of the Commercial Bank of Greece,
Ionian's main shareholder, is to convene on Monday in order to
review the bids to be submitted this evening.
[04] GREEK FM: GREECE IS A BRIDGE TO KOSOVO AND YUGOSLAVIA
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou has stressed that
the country has tried, within the boundaries of its abilities and
capabilities as a power of stability and peace in the region, to
undertake initiatives that would secure a political solution to
the Kosovo issue, adding that "although this has not been
achieved, it does not mean we will remain idle."
Further elaborating on his statement made to the Cable New
Network, where he said that Greece is a bridge to Kosovo and
Yugoslavia, Mr. Papandreou referred to his recent visit in
Bucharest where five Balkan countries agreed to form a task force
for humanitarian cooperation.
"If you wish, this also serves as a response to the various
scenaria that wider conflict will erupt in the region,. Mr.
Papandreou stated.
He further added that Greece intends to press on with its
diplomatic efforts to resolve the Kosovo crisis through political
means, pointing out that he plans to meet with his counterparts
from FYROM and Turkey and the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs
from Romania.
[05] CLOCKS TO BE SET AN HOUR AHEAD ON SUNDAY, MARCH 28
All European Union member-states will set their
clocks one hour ahead tomorrow, a mandatory adjustment enforced by
the EU.
Specifically, the clocks will be set one hour ahead
on Sunday, March 28, at 3 a.m.
The daylight savings time will be into effect until
October 31.
[06] GREEK PRESIDENT TO RECEIVE MINISTER OF DEFENSE TODAY
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
is to receive the Minster of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos
today.
In turn, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will have successive meetings
with the Russian and Yugoslav Ambassadors in Athens, as well as
with representatives from the youth charters of the country's
political parties.
[07] PROTEST RALIES TO BE HELD IN ATHENS, THESSALONIKI THIS
EVENING
In protest to NATO's raids against Serbia, Greece's minor
opposition parties are organizing a rally in Athens this evening
where the participants will march to the United States Embassy,
while in Thessaloniki the gathering will be held in the town's
center.
The parties undertaking the initiatives for the marches are
the Communist Party of Greece and the Coalition of ht Left and
Progress, both of which will hold separate walks to the embassy.
[08] BURNS CLARIFIED THE CLINTON STATEMENTS ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF
GREECE AND TURKEY
The meeting Greek deputy foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis
had with US ambassador Nicholas Burns in Athens today lasted over
an hour.
According to information, in the meeting that was held at the
request of Mr. Burns, an effort was made to exert pressures on
Greece not to go along with Italy's position which called for the
end of the NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia.
Based on the same information, the response of Mr.
Kranidiotis was that the Greek government's stance is that a
political solution should be found to the crisis, while at the
same time Mr. Kranidiotis conveyed to Mr. Burns Athens' concern
over the repercussions of the continuing crisis in the region.
Also, the deputy foreign minister underlined the strong discontent
of the Greek government over the statements made by US president
Bill Clinton on the likelihood of a conflict between Greece and
Turkey in relation with the Kossovo crisis.
The US ambassador attributed those interpretations to a
misunderstanding and gave the assurance that the statements of the
US president did not refer to a military involvement but to the
fact that the two countries would have had a problem with the
refugee wave that will be formed at the borders.
Meanwhile, the Greek foreign ministry is in a diplomatic
fever as foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou is in constant
communication with his Balkan counterparts, while he continues his
efforts for an international conference to defuse the crisis in
Kossovo.
At the same time, the deputy foreign minister had meetings
with European ambassadors, while earlier this afternoon he had a
meeting with Albanian foreign minister Paskal Milo.
[09] ALL THE GREEK NATIONALS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED FROM YUGOSLAVIA
The procedure for the evacuation of the Greek nationals from
Pristina and other cities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
was completed today with great safety and total success.
The whole operation was organized by the foreign ministry and
the Greek embassy in Belgrade in coordination with the Greek
embassies in Budapest, Sofia, the Greek Liaison Office in Skopje
and the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace.
According to a foreign ministry statement, with the
completion of the evacuation procedure the Information Center in
the foreign ministry has completed its mission and therefore the
hot-lines for the information of the public are not in operation
anymore.
[10] THE ASSOCIATION OF BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES ISSUED AN APPEAL FOR
PEACE IN THE BALKANS
The Association of Balkan News Agencies, ABNA, in which
participate the Balkan national news agencies, issued an appeal to
the mass media and the journalists in general to exercise self-
restraint in those difficult times for the Balkans and operate
based on the principles of ethics and truth avoiding excesses in
order to contribute to the efforts made for the return of peace,
stability and security in south-eastern Europe.
The statement is signed by Albanian news agency ATA director
Frrok Cupi, who is currently holding the ABNA six-moth rotating
presidency and ABNA's general secretary Spiros Kouzinopoulos
director of Macedonian Press Agency, MPA.
[11] GREECE IS NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM IN KOSSOVO
Minister of development Evangelos Venizelos expressed the
hope that the crisis in Kossovo will lay the foundations for the
strengthening of the EU's political entity.
The common policy on foreign affairs and security of the "15"
has proved that it can reach its limits very soon, stated Mr.
Venizelos and added that the EU is not emancipated politically. He
also expressed the hope that the events in Kossovo will accelerate
the necessary procedures toward this direction because the EMU by
itself is not enough.
Referring to Greece's stance, he said that given the fact
that it has a double identity as a Balkan state and as an EU
member-state, Greece has to be regarded as reliable by all if it
wants to function as a factor of peace and stability in the
Balkans. Mr. Venizelos added that a proof of the effectiveness of
the policy followed so far by Greece is Yugoslavia's request to
Greece to assume its diplomatic representation.
On the scenarios that compared Thrace with Kossovo and were
presented by the mass media, Mr. Venizelos said that this
comparison can not be made as the Muslim community in Thrace is a
group of Greek citizens with Greek nationality, who live under the
best conditions compared to other communities of the same religion
in different countries. Mr. Venizelos stated that it is a very
small population that enjoys a network of very strong guarantees.
[12] KRANIDIOTIS-BURNS MEETING
US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns met with deputy
foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis after the references made by
US president Bill Clinton on the likelihood of a Greek-Turkish
armed conflict because of the developments in Kossovo. No
statements were made after the meeting.
Earlier, Mr. Kranidiotis had a meeting with FYROM ambassador
Mr. Arsofski and their talks focused on the issue of refugees as
well as on yesterday's decision by the Crisis Management Committee
to offer economic aid of 200 million drachmas to Skopje.
[13] YIANNIS NIKOLAOU: THE AGENDA 2000 AGREEMENT IS VERY POSITIVE
FOR GREECE
Acting Greek government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou
characterized as very positive the agreement on the Agenda 2000
that was achieved in the EU summit meeting in Berlin yesterday.
Mr. Nikolaou added that this agreement must be greeted as a
very important event for the further course of Greece.
[14] YIANNIS NIKOLAOU: GREECE WILL FACE NO CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE OF
THE CRISIS IN KOSSOVO
Acting Greek government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou expressed
the view that Greece will face no consequences as a result of the
crisis in Kossovo and stated that the Greek government is not
alarmed adding that Greece is an oasis of stability in the region.
He also pointed out that Greece's relations with NATO and the
United States will not be affected because Greece had stated early
on that it was against the air raids and in favour of a political
solution in Kossovo.
[15] GREEK VOLUNTEERS IN YUGOSLAVIA
Greek volunteers are ready to leave for Belgrade in order to
offer any kind of help to the Serb people.
In charge of this effort is 46yearold businessman Stavros
Vitalis from Thessaloniki, who has already secured the
participation of 250 people in the effort. He stated to MPA that
they want to help the Serbs as they did in Bosnia and among the
250 people are lawyers, doctors and other professionals, adding
that they are on the side of the Serbs because they regard them as
friends and brothers.
Mr. Vitalis did not give more details on the mission that
will be underway possibly next week.
[16] THE TSOCHATZOPOULOS-STEPHANOPOULOS MEETING HAS BEEN COMPLETED
Minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos gave the assurance
that there can be no problem between Greece and Turkey because of
the crisis in Kosovo after the meeting he had with Greek President
Kostis Stephanopoulos.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos briefed the president on the latest
developments in Kosovo and the measures taken by the Greek
government to safeguard a climate of stability and security in
spite of the waves of refugees that can arrive in Greece. The
minister of defense backed a political solution to the crisis in
Kosovo.
The defense minister briefed the president on the further
course of the NATO air strikes in Yugoslavia and stated that the
air raids will possibly continue today.
On the likelihood of a change in the Balkan borders, Mr.
Tsochatzopoulos said that the international community has
undertaken a commitment in all the international organizations
according to which, the safeguarding of the rights of the ethnic
Albanians in Kossovo under no circumstance can be equated with the
change of the borders in the region.
[17] GREECE HAS TAKEN MEASURES FOR THE RECEPTION OF REFUGEES
Greece has taken measures for the reception of refugees from
Kosovo but it does not have the capability to receive a big wave
of refugees and this has been made clear to the European Union,
stated minister of interior Vaso Papandreou.
Ms. Papandreou stressed that the Greek government has
requested from the European Union to offer economic support to
Yugoslavia, FYROM and other neighbouring countries in order to be
able to keep the refugees on their soil. At the same time, she
pointed out that army and police forces have taken all necessary
surveillance measures along the Greek borders.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[18] GREECE SECURES SIZEABLE FUNDS AT BERLIN SUMMIT
Greece's Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated that the monies
secured by Greece from the European Commission's restructural
funds is a great national success.
According to the agreement reached this morning by the EU's
"15", Greece has secured the overall amount of nine trillion
drachmas.
Following the Summit, Mr. Simitis stressed that the
Community's Third Support Framework "package" will enable Greece
to accelerate its development rate, to the level of its European
allies by the year 20006. Moreover, he stated that the per capita
income will rise to 4/5 of the other European countries' median
rate.
[19] BELGRADE READY TO SIGN RAMBOUILLET AGREEMENT, UNDER TERMS
Belgrade is ready to sign the Rambouillet agreement, but only
if the Contact Group retracts the articles which grant Kosovo the
status of a Third Republic or an independent state, according to
the Yugoslav government's vice-president Vuk Drascovic.
Meanwhile, Yugoslavia was raided by NATO forces last night
and -perhaps- this has led some countries to differentiate their
policy from that adopted by Washington and NATO. As US Secretary
of Defense William Cohen announced a new round of air strikes,
Italy's Premier Masimo D'Alema said that the time for taking
diplomatic initiatives is near.
According to news reports from Yugoslavia, military barracks,
airports and air defense centers were bombarded last night on the
outskirts of Belgrade, in Prishtina and Montenegro.
[20] RUSSIA DEMANDS IMMEDIATE END TO NATO AIR STRIKES
In the wake of NATO airstrikes against the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia, the Russian Federation yesterday introduced a draft
resolution in the United Nations Security Council demanding an
immediate end to the use of force.
The draft text released at UN headquarters calls the NATO
action a "unilateral use of force" in "flagrant violation of the
United Nations Charter".
Russian Ambassador Sergei Lavrov told reporters that he hoped
the Council would discuss the draft text today after other
delegations had received instructions from their capitals.
Reacting to Russia's moves, US representative Peter Burleigh
told the press that his Government would oppose the resolution,
which if adopted, would only prolong the crisis in Kosovo. For his
part, Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock of the United Kingdom said
introduction of the draft resolution was not a constructive move.
[21] US PRESIDENT RECEIVES GREEK DELEGATION IN WHITE HOUSE
A delegation of leading members of the Greek-American
community were received by United States President Bill Clinton
in the White House yesterday, during the annual ceremony for the
signing of the declaration on Greek Independence Day by the US
leader.
Archbishop of America Spyridon and Greece's Deputy Foreign
Minister on Greeks Abroad Issues Grigoris Niotis, led the
delegation which included Greece's Ambassador in Washington
Alexandros Philon, the President of the World Council of Hellenes
Abroad (SAE) Andrew A. Athens, Greek-American Congressman Paul
Sarbanis and the President of the National Coordinating Committee
Andy Manatos.
According to Mr. Niotis, developments in Kosovo were
discussed during the courtesy meeting, while President Clinton
expressed his personal interest in the Greek minority in southern
Albania as well as on the prevention of the war from spreading.
Mr. Niotis said that there is no reason for Greece and Turkey
to get involved in the Kosovo crisis, which in past days has been
raised as one of the main reasons leading NATO to go ahead with
bombings against Yugoslavia.
Due to his burdened schedule, in light of NATO's bombings
over Yugoslavia, the Greek delegation was the only group received
by President Clinton yesterday.
[22] US PRESIDENT'S DECLARATION ON GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY
United States President Bill Clinton issued his annual
declaration, commemorating the Greek Independence Day yesterday,
which read as follows:
"America has deep roots in Greece, and today we celebrate the
friendship values and aspirations our two countries have shared
for more than 2 centuries. Greek thought and the passion for truth
and justice deeply influenced many of our Nation's earliest and
greatest leaders. The documents our founders wrote to establish
our democracy and the political and legal institutions they
created to preserve our independence and protect our rights reveal
that influence.
"The bonds of family have further reinforced our ties of
friendship and shared ideals. All across our Nation, Americans of
Greek descent have brought their energy, grace, and determination
to every field of endeavor, and they have added immeasurably to
the richness and diversity of our national life. The sons and
daughters of Greece have flourished in America, and with their
help, America too has flourished," it added.
"Today, as we celebrate the 178th anniversary of the onset of
modern Greece's struggle for independence, let us celebrate as
well the great partnership between our nations and the precious
heritage of freedom and democracy we share," the declaration said.
[23] GREEK DIPLOMAT TO REPRESENT BELGRADE IN GERMANY
Greece's Ambassador in Germany Kostas Ailianos will
henceforth represent the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in
Germany, following Belgrade's decision to break diplomatic ties
with those NATO member-countries which participated (directly or
indirectly) in the raids against Yugoslavia.
Similar duties are to assigned to Greek diplomats in other
countries, such as United Kingdom, France and Italy.
[24] F.R.Y. BREAKS OFF DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH US, FRANCE, UK,
GERMANY
Belgrade has announced the breaking of diplomatic ties with
the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany.
According to the Yugoslav news agency Tanjug, the F.R.Y.
Information Ministry has declared that:
"The Yugoslav Government has decided to break off diplomatic
relations with the governments (of these countries) due to the
crime they have perpetrated against the people of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia.
"The government of Germany has with this aggression re-opened
unhealed wounds from World War II.
"The Federal Government has decided to reconsider its
diplomatic and other relations with the rest of countries which
have directly or indirectly taken part in the armed aggression on
Yugoslavia.
"The Federal Government expresses its appreciation to the
governments and peoples of all friendly countries which have been
demonstrating friendship, support and solidarity with Yugoslavia,
its government and its people in the defense of its vital
interests from the NATO aggression."
[25] BORISLAV MILOSEVIC: RUSSIA CAN VIOLATE THE ARMS EMBARGO ON
YUGOSLAVIA
Yugoslav ambassador to Moscow, Borislav Milosevic, who is
also the brother of the Yugoslav president stated today that like
NATO which ignored the UN regulations and went ahead with the air
strikes in Yugoslavia Russia too can ignore the UN embargo on
Yugoslavia, according to a report by the Russian news agency Itar-
Tass.
Mr. Milosevic, after the meeting he had with Russian deputy
prime minister Genadi Kulik, stated that those who attacked
Yugoslavia have violated all the UN Security Council decisions and
for this reason Russia is free to ignore the arms embargo on
Yugoslavia.
[26] THE SIRENS WERE HEARD AGAIN IN PRISTINA
The sirens were heard again in Pristina today according to
the Yugoslav news agency Tanjug. It should be reminded that NATO
officers had already announced that the attacks against Yugoslavia
will not be held only during the night.
Meanwhile, B-52 bombers took off from an air base in north-
western Britain at noon today with Yugoslavia as their
destination.
The US president tried to explain the NATO attacks to the
Yugoslav people. Mr. Clinton blamed Slobodan Milosevic for what
happened saying that Milosevic preferred the conflict even though
Kosovo could have remained a part of Serbia and peace could be
safeguarded. Mr. Clinton stated that the United States respect the
history and civilization of Serbia.
[27] THE "GREENS" CALL FOR THE END OF THE NATO AIR STRIKES IN
YUGOSLAVIA
The "Green" Group Euro-deputies issued an appeal calling on
NATO to stop the air strikes in Yugoslavia and at the same time,
they call on UN secretary-general Kofi Annan to undertake an
initiative for immediate negotiations on Kossovo. The "Greens"
also mention that the EU should open a European prospect for the
Balkans on the basis of a long term strategy and the comprehensive
solution of all the territorial and minority problems within the
framework of the Stability Pact.
The "Greens" in the Euro-parliament also stress that the NATO
air strikes are legally unfounded, adding that the stance of
certain UN Security Council members (Russia and China) ruled out
the only international law basis that could have legalized such a
military intervention.
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