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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-03-28Macedonian 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] EUROPE[D] WORLDNEWS IN DETAIL[A] GREECE[01] CLOCKS SET AN HOUR AHEAD TODAY, MARCH 28Web Posted: 21:57 GMT+2Thessaloniki, 28/03/1999 (MPA) All European Union member-states have set their clocks one hour ahead today, a mandatory adjustment enforced by the EU.Specifically, the clocks were set one hour ahead on Sunday, March 28, at 3 a.m. thus placing the daylight savings time into effect until October 31. A.F. [02] GREECE SETS UP REFUGEE HOSTING CENTERS IN MACEDONIAWeb Posted: 21:57 GMT+2Thessaloniki, 28/03/1999 (MPA) Greece has set up a number receiving centers in three prefectures of central Macedonia to house an eventual influx of refugees through FYROM and Albania.According to official reports, the Greek government will also grant humanitarian aid to Skopje and Tirana to harbor the refugees. The centers, established in the northern Greek prefectures of Pella, Kilkis and Serres are already in the process of getting organized and equipped. The officials said that an estimated 1,200 refugees will be housed in an orphanage in Serres while another 900 will be hosted at a closed gymnasium in Pella. "The refugees will be sheltered for a few days, or even weeks, before being transferred to Larissa, Fthiotida and near Mt Olympus in central Greece", the officials said. A.F. [03] GREECE TO PROVIDE FYROM WITH GRD 200 MILLION IN AIDWeb Posted: 21:57 GMT+2Athens, 28/03/1999 (MPA) FYROM's representative in Athens Ljupco Arsovski was received by Greece's alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis in Athens on Friday, to whom he relayed his government's concerns over the expected waves of refugees from Kosovo to FYROM.Unable to deal with more than 20,000 refugees, FYROM is already hosting more than an estimated 15,000 displaced persons. Mr. Kranidiotis informed Mr. Arsovski of the Greek government's decision to allocate aid worth 200 million drachmas and was bringing the issue to the European Union. The Council of Ministers has established a working group to look at the issue, he said. A.F. [04] GREEK ALTERNATE FM MEETS WITH ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTERWeb Posted: 21:57 GMT+2Athens, 28/03/1999 (MPA) Greece's alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis held a brief meeting with Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo, in Athens on Friday, with whom he discussed developments in Yugoslavia.Mr. Milo made a stopover in the Greek capital following his meeting with NATO Secretary General Javier Solana, in Brussels earlier that day. A.F. [05] GREECE TO NATO: GIVE DIPLOMACY ANOTEHR CHANCEWeb Posted: 21:57 GMT+2aTHENS, 28/03/1999 (MPA) Greece's alternate Foreign Minister met yesterday with United States Ambassador Burns to whom he relayed the Greek government's wish to see an end to NATO strikes against Yugoslavia and give diplomacy a new chance.Mr. Burns, who initiated the meeting with Mr. Kranidiotis, reiterated the U.S. position that NATO's objective was to convince Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic to concede. Meanwhile, government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou, said that Greece's stance on the latest developments in the Balkans have not affected or been affected by its relationship with NATO or the United States. Greece has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a resumption of diplomatic efforts for a political solution. A.F. [06] N.D. HONORARY PRESIDENT: CONDUCT DIALOGUE HERE AND NOWWeb Posted: 21:57 GMT+2Athens, 28/03/1999 (MPA) The honorary president of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's Kostantinos Mitsotakis stressed today that the Alliance should immediately cease the bombardment of Yugoslavia and return to the negotiations table, this time on the terms originally set forth in January.Yugoslavia had accepted the terms set forth by the Contact Group on January 25 1999, but they were rejected by the Albanians. The West, acting on the guidance of the Albanians, modified the agreement, and revised it with two additional terms, which were rejected by the Yugoslavs. A.F. [07] GREECE'S GOVERNMENT COUNCIL FOR DEFENSE CONVENES TONIGHTWeb Posted: 21:57 GMT+2Athens, 28/03/1999 (MPA) Greece's Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will chair the Government Council for Defense (KYSEA) tonight, which will review the crisis situation in the neighboring Yugoslavia.KYSEA will also attempt to coordinate the Greek government's stance in regards to achieving a solution to the drama, stressing the need to resolve the case through political, not military, means. The Greek government continues its contact with other European countries. A.F. [B] BALKANS[08] SERBIA CELEBRATES STATEHOOD DAY, IN SPITE OF NATO STRIKESWeb Posted: 21:57 GMT+2Belgrade, 28/03/1999 (MPA) In exemplary defiance to the screaming sirens, as the circumstance calls for, Yugoslavs celebrated Statehood Day today, with a profound degree of bravery and unexpected sense of humor."Today, when we are exposed to the most brutal aggression, we are determined and unified in defending our territorial integrity and state sovereignty with all means at our disposal," Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Marjanovic said, a day before the official celebration. Parliamentary President Dragan Tomic said March 28 had been Statehood Day since 1989, when Serbia, then part of Socialist Federal Yugoslavia, passed constitutional amendments which abolished autonomy for Kosovo and the northern province of Vojvodina. Perhaps most poignant was the Serbs' placard-carried message which read: "sorry, didn't see you", referring to the downed Stealth fighter which crashed last night in Serbia. A.F. [09] SECOND PHASE UNDERWAY: NATO CONDUCTS STEADY RAIDSWeb Posted: 21:57 GMT+2Belgrade, 28/03/1999 (MPA) NATO has broadened its attacks against Yugoslavia, raiding both Belgrade and Prishtina as well as other cities, spreading worsening terror throughout the country.Screeching at regular intervals now, ominous sirens warn the locals who've sought refuge in underground shelters of oncoming attacks. Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic calls on the Serb people to resist NATO's despotism which, he said,. constitutes the highest threat to peace. A.F. [C] EUROPE[10] PROTESTS HELD AT US EMBASSIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLDWeb Posted: 21:57 GMT+2Mosvow, 28/03/1999 (MPA) Protests continued today at U.S. embassies in world capitals, including Moscow where a gunman shot at the building.According to local press reports, the man, wearing a ski mask and camouflage fatigues, stepped out of a jeep and tried to fire two grenade launchers at the embassy. When police opened fire, the man jumped back in the jeep. One of the attackers then opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle. The two rocket launchers were left on the road as the jeep sped away. No one was reported injured. A.F. [11] NATO REPORTS FIRST LOSS: A STEALTH WAS DOWNED IN AIRSTRIKESWeb Posted: 21:57 GMT+2Brussels, 28/03/1999 (MPA) Just as NATO stepped up its raids against Yugoslavia, having entered the second-phase of the attacks, the Alliance's announced that it has suffered its first loss, an F-117A stealth fighter which crashed last night inside Serbia, but whose pilot was reportedly rescued in good condition .According to NATO reports, the pilot, whose name was not released, was receiving medical treatment at a NATO air base in Aviano, Italy. Referring to the second phase, NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana said the air assault had been ordered stepped up and would target tanks, artillery and troops in Kosovo. He said the move was needed to halt violence in Kosovo and "prevent further humanitarian catastrophe." A.F. [D] WORLD[12] STATE DEPARTMENT ON CLARIFIES STATEMENT ON GREECEWeb Posted: 21:57 GMT+2Washington, 28/03/1999 (MPA) U.S. State Department spokesman James Rubin has clarified that the US statements on a possible involvement of Greece and Turkey in the Kosovo conflict did not imply a clash between the two countries."We do not mean that Greece and Turkey will attack each other," Mr. Rubin stated. "What we mean is that as the pressure expressed by this conflict spread, it could also influence Greece and Turkey if the war spread. And given the interest we have for Greece and Turkey and the close relationship we have with both countries, we are concerned over the situation," he added. A.F. [13] US PRESIDENT FORWARDS LETTER TO GREEK PM, ASKS FOR SUPPORTWeb Posted: 21:57 GMT+2wASHINGTON, 28/03/1999 (MPA) In a letter forwarded to Greek Prime Minster Kostas Simitis, United States President Bill Clinton appeals for unqualified support to NATO's raids against Yugoslavia..President Clinton asks that "all members of the Alliance support NATO's decisions" and stressed the necessity of Greece "remaining united with its allies in NATO". A.F. 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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