Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-05-04
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 4, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PREMIER OF FYROM TO SPEAK AT THESSALONIKI CONFERENCE
[02] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER TOURS PREFECTURE OF THESSALONIKI
[03] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION TO MEET WITH N. GREECE BUSINESSMEN
[04] PREMIER: GREECE EMERGED STRONGER FROM NATO SUMMIT
[05] FOREIGN UNDERSECRETARY: A SOLUTION WILL BE FOUND TO KOSOVO
[06] MORE REINFORCEMENTS TRANSPORTED TO FYROM VIA THESSALONIKI
[07] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: THE ELEMENTS OF A FUTURE POLITICAL SOLUTION
IN KOSOVO WILL BE VISIBLE NEXT WEEK
[08] REPPAS' STATEMENTS ON THE AIRSPACE VIOLATIONS BY TURKISH
AIRCRAFT IN SOUTH-EASTERN AEGEAN
[09] CONFERENCE ON THE BALKANS
[10] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE CRISIS IN YUGOSLAVIA
[11] PAPANDREOU BRIEFED PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS ON THE YUGOSLAV
CRISIS
[12] TAX EXEMPTIONS ARE PREPARED BY THE GOVERNMENT
[13] MEDICAL HELP FOR THE CHILDREN IN YUGOSLAVIA
[14] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: A POLITICAL-DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION IN KOSSOVO
IS NECESSARY TO BE REACHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] GREECE IS AMONG EU'S LOWEST IN SOCIAL WELFARE EXPENDITURES
[16] CHERNOMYRDIN: WE'VE COME CLOSER TO A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION
[17] TELEVISION STATION IN NOVI SAD BOMBARDED BY NATO RAIDS
[18] GREEK EUROMEP CALLS ON EP TO DENOUNCE KOSOVO CASUALTIES
[19] GREEK TRANSPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER IN FYROM
[20] ALBANIAN DOCTORS FEAR CHOLERA EPIDEMIC BREAK OUT IN KUKES
[21] CHERNOMYRDIN CONTINUES HIS CONTACTS IN THE UNITED STATES
[22] RUSSIA AGREES WITH THE PRESENCE OF A MILITARY AND POLITICAL
FORCE IN KOSOVO
[23] WEAPONS FOR KLA WERE CONFISCATED IN ITALY
[24] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT PREPARES THE GROUND FOR A SOLUTION TO
THE ISSUE OF FYROM'S NAME
[25] TWO NATO MISSILES DROPPED NEAR A VILLAGE IN FYROM
[26] THE ARMED CLASHES OF THE TURKISH FORCES WITH PKK CONTINUE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PREMIER OF FYROM TO SPEAK AT THESSALONIKI CONFERENCE
The Prime Minister of FYROM Ljubco Georgievski will join
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis as guest speaker at a major
Balkan economics conference to be held in Thessaloniki on May 10-
11.
The conference, an annual event held by the Federation of
Northern Greek Industries (SBBE) will focus on the situation in
the Balkans a decade after the deregulation of markets.
Mr. Georgievski will be accompanied by FYROM's
Ministers of Economy, Development, Defense and Foreign Affairs.
[02] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER TOURS PREFECTURE OF THESSALONIKI
The leader of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's
Costas Karamanlis is to conduct a series of visits to local
hospitals and municipalities, during his two-day tour of the
Prefecture of Thessaloniki which starts today.
A recently-conducted nationwide poll finds Mr. Karamanlis'
popularity on the rise as 46.1 percent of the respondents opted
for the N.D. leader, thus giving him an edge over the Premier
Costas Simitis, who amassed 33.9 percent in the popularity poll.
[03] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION TO MEET WITH N. GREECE BUSINESSMEN
A delegation from the Economic Chamber of Yugoslavia is to be
in Thessaloniki
tomorrow, May 5, for a meeting with businessmen from northern
Greece, in order to review the damages suffered by the sector from
the conflict in Kosovo.
Among the subjects to be discussed will be the difficulties
faced by Greek
manufacturers and businessmen who are active in Yugoslavia.
The participants will brief one another on the consequences
of the war, not only borne on the Greek businesses active in the
neighboring country, but in Northern Greece's tourism industry
and exporting - transporting ventures.
[04] PREMIER: GREECE EMERGED STRONGER FROM NATO SUMMIT
Addressing last night's parliamentary debate on the Kosovo
crisis, Prime Minister Costas Simitis supported that Greece
emerged stronger from the recently-held NATO Summit, since its
contribution to peacemaking in the region has been recognized.
Mr. Simitis referred to Greece's stance on the crisis and
stressed that "our country's position lives up to our values, the
collective reactions of the Greek people, as well as to the need
for credibility towards other peoples with whom we cooperate."
The Premier emphasized that any solution to be found to the
Kosovo crisis
has to be within the framework of a unified Yugoslavia in order
to be viable.
He further questioned the correctness of the NATO bombings,
saying they produced no results and, more specifically, failed to
prevent ethnic cleansing, resulting in hundreds of thousands of
refugees and economic destabilization in Albania and FYROM.
Concerning the Alliance's new role, Mr. Simitis briefed the
deputies on the discussions held during the three-day Summit and
stressed that Greece is participating in NATO on an equal footing
for the first time.
Mr. Simitis also underlined the Greek government's opposition
to NATO becoming an "international gendarme."
"We recognize the importance of organizations for collective
regional security and we do not consider it correct for NATO to
turn into a world security organization," he said.
He added that NATO cannot act on the basis of its own
principles, independent from those established by the UN and
cannot intervene when it alone desires intervention, stressing
that the Alliance's actions must have legal standing beyond any
doubt and that international law is the prerequisite for
credibility in all actions.
[05] FOREIGN UNDERSECRETARY: A SOLUTION WILL BE FOUND TO KOSOVO
Greece's Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Grigoris Niotis
has expressed his optimism that a solution will be found to the
Kosovo crisis, stating that such opportunities have opened up and
proposals that could lead to a resolution have been have tabled.
Nevertheless, he pointed out that there is a number
of hurdles, such a shift in positions, which could delay a
potential solution.
Mr. Niotis stressed that Greece was convinced from the
beginning that the solution would not be reached through bombings
but, rather, through the course of diplomatic negotiations.
Concerning the great number of civilian casualties from
NATO's bombings, Mr. Niotis stated that it constitutes another
reason to expedite a political solution to the crisis.
He further added that the Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) will
soon issue an announcement by which it will be accepting the Greek
Foreign Minister George Papandreou's proposals for humanitarian
aid and Yugoslavia's reconstruction.
[06] MORE REINFORCEMENTS TRANSPORTED TO FYROM VIA THESSALONIKI
Additional military reinforcements to NATO forces in FYROM
departed from Thessaloniki's port early this morning, transporting
75 trucks, light artillery tanks, containers and other supplies to
the neighboring country.
Sixty-three of the trucks, which left the port at 3 a.m., are
British and the remaining 12 are German. Approximately an hour
later, another convoy left the port's gate, loaded with eight
German military trucks.
[07] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: THE ELEMENTS OF A FUTURE POLITICAL SOLUTION
IN KOSOVO WILL BE VISIBLE NEXT WEEK
Minister of national defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated
after his meeting in Thessaloniki with the presiding board of the
Council of Hellenes living abroad (SAE) that the elements of a
future political solution in Kosovo will be visible next week.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that the only feasible target is
the political solution and this was made clear by Greece from the
beginning, pointing out that the bombings will not lead to the
solution of the problem in Kosovo.
The minister of defense referred to the priorities set by
Greece in the Balkans, namely the agreement of all the Balkan
states, Yugoslavia included, to a joint system of security, the
association agreement of all the Balkan states with the European
Union and the deployment of a multi-national force in Kosovo based
on the UN principles, the respect of human rights and territorial
integrity without changes in the existing borders.
[08] REPPAS' STATEMENTS ON THE AIRSPACE VIOLATIONS BY TURKISH
AIRCRAFT IN SOUTH-EASTERN AEGEAN
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas referring to
yesterday's violations of the Greek airspace over the Dodecanese
in south-eastern Aegean, stated that Ankara continues to follow
the tactic of provocation which leads to a dead end.
Such a behaviour, stated the Greek government spokesman, does
not help Turkey which shows the face of a trouble-maker, adding
that this should be realized by Turkey and stop the provocation.
[09] CONFERENCE ON THE BALKANS
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas characterized as
positive the initiative of European Commission president Romano
Prodi for a Conference on the Balkans.
Mr. Reppas stated that prime minister Kostas Simitis had a
contact with Mr. Prodi on the issue.
[10] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ON THE CRISIS IN YUGOSLAVIA
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas characterized as
positive development the indications pointing to a political
solution and expressed the hope that the crisis in Kosovo will be
resolved.
Regarding the Kossovo refugees, the Greek government
spokesman stated that Thessaloniki will serve as an interim stop
before they are sent to their final destination, while he
clarified that no refugees will stay in Thessaloniki.
[11] PAPANDREOU BRIEFED PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS ON THE YUGOSLAV
CRISIS
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou briefed president
Kostis Stephanopoulos on the Yugoslav crisis. After the meeting,
the president of the Hellenic Republic agreed that the news on the
Yugoslav crisis appear to be good.
Minister of national defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos in
statements he made in Thessaloniki spoke of a solution that is
being prepared at a diplomatic level and stated that its elements
will be more clear early next week.
[12] TAX EXEMPTIONS ARE PREPARED BY THE GOVERNMENT
The government's intention to enact tax exemptions, ease
taxation on low and medium incomes and abolish the objective
criteria for the taxation of businessmen was announced by prime
minister Kostas Simitis. The prime minister added that the tax
exemptions will boost employment and will contribute in the
efforts to limit unemployment.
Minister of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou
stated that with the completion of the installation of the TAXIS
computer system in the revenue offices tax evasion will be
countered as the tax collecting mechanism of the ministry of
finance will become more effective.
[13] MEDICAL HELP FOR THE CHILDREN IN YUGOSLAVIA
A group of 40 doctors and paramedics will leave for Skopje
tomorrow to offer medical care and pharmaceutical assistance to
the children in the FYROM refugee camps.
The initiative belongs to the Athens Medical Center and
Thessaloniki's Inter-Balkan Medical Center. The mission will be
made up of five mobile units and will also visit Pristina in
Kosovo to care for the children in its hospital and offer much
needed medical equipment and medicines.
[14] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: A POLITICAL-DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION IN KOSSOVO
IS NECESSARY TO BE REACHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
The need for a political-diplomatic solution in Kossovo as
soon as possible was pointed out by minister of national defense
Akis Tsochatzopoulos, speaking in the advisory committee meeting
of the Center for the Study and Development of the Greek
Civilization in the Black Sea held in Thessaloniki. Stressing that
the only viable solution to the problem is a political-diplomatic
one, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that a final solution to the
problem is likely to be reached in the following days.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos underlined that the European Union must
assume its responsibilities in the difficult period that will come
when peace is achieved in order to make up for the fact that it
took it too long to discover that the Balkans are part of Europe.
He also said that if the European Union does not help the states
in the region to achieve economic growth, stability, peace and
development there will be no essential solution.
Also, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that the countries where
public opinion was highly in favor of the air strikes in Kossovo
now start to realize that the political-diplomatic solution is
necessary to be reached in the region as soon as possible.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] GREECE IS AMONG EU'S LOWEST IN SOCIAL WELFARE EXPENDITURES
Greece ranks among the European Union's lowest-spending
countries in terms of social welfare expenditures, according to
the EU's statistics service Eurostat.
The Eurostat report on social welfare expenditures among the
EU's 15 member-states finds that Greece ranks 12th with 23.3 per
cent of its GDP allocated to the sector in 1996.
The report noted that the EU average stood at 28.7 per cent
of GDP, with
Sweden leading the way with 34.8 percent of its GDP allocated to
social welfare spending, and Ireland spending the least, with
18.9%.
[16] CHERNOMYRDIN: WE'VE COME CLOSER TO A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION
Russian president's special envoy on Yugoslavia Viktor
Chernomyrdin is expected to meet with the UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan at the UN headquarters today.
Mr. Chernomyrdin handed President Boris Yeltsin's message on
Yugoslavia over to US President Bill Clinton, which expounded on
Russia's proposals to settle
the Kosovo crisis. Following his talks with President Clinton, the
Russian envoy stated that "we've come closer to a diplomatic
solution. The matter is complicated and we will continue to work
and maintain our hopes."
President Clinton said that a state of ceasefire could be
declared if it is made clear that the Serb forces have began
withdrawing from Kosovo.
[17] TELEVISION STATION IN NOVI SAD BOMBARDED BY NATO RAIDS
NATO aircraft targeted the building of a TV station in the
city of Novi Sad last night, when two bombs hit the building,
completely destroying it. According to the station's director,
there was no one in the building at the time of the attack.
A series of explosions resonated in Belgrade's suburbs and
other Serbian cities. Meanwhile, after yesterday's strike against
the city's largest power station, the local authorities have asked
the residents to conserve energy and water.
[18] GREEK EUROMEP CALLS ON EP TO DENOUNCE KOSOVO CASUALTIES
A Greek member of the European Parliament, Angela Kokkola,
has demanded that the Europarliament denounce the NATO air strikes
against Kosovo which have resulted in the death of about 60
civilians.
Ms. Kokkola called on the European Parliament to denounce
these actions and not merely express regret. During her address,
the Eurodeputy stressed that there were 15 children among the
victims of the strikes and demanded that the members of the
European Parliament express their indignation over the killings.
She further added that the killings should be condemned,
whether the victims are Kosovo Albanians, Serbs or people of other
nationalities.
[19] GREEK TRANSPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER IN FYROM
In spite the fact that a strategic alliance between Greece's
and FYROM's state-owned telecommunications organizations, (OTE and
MT, respectively) is eyed positively by both sides, FYROM has yet
to fully reveal its intentions concerning MT's prospect of
privatization.
The Transport and Communications Ministers of both countries
(Messrs. Tasos Mantelis and Bobi Spircovski, respectively), gave a
joint press interview in Skopje yesterday and confirmed that an
alliance is being considered, albeit not finalized.
During the course of a three-hour meeting with his FYROM
counterpart, Mr. Mantelis, accompanied by Communications
undersecretary Nikolaos Salayannis, confirmed the Greek side's
interest in purchasing over one-third of MT's shares.
"At the present phase, while the privatization process has
yet to be unveiled, both sides have expressed the will for a
strategic alliance," Mr. Mantelis stated, adding that the matter
is expected to further clear in the Fall, when an international
bid for MT's sale will be declared.
British Telecoms is also vying for MT's shares as, according
to Mr. Spirkovski, it has expressed an interest.
On other matters, the two ministers proceeded to specific
actions, such as a bilateral agreement for the establishment of a
regular airline route between Thessaloniki-Skopje-Athjens, which
is expected to be signed by the end of June.
Concurrently, Messrs. Mantelis anf Spirkovski discussed the
establishment of a railway route connecting Thessaloniki and
Skopje with an Intercity train.
Moreover, the time-consuming visa-issuance process between
FYROM and Greece is expected to be expedited soon, a result of
the recently-held SECI meeting in Athens.
The South-East European Cooperative Initiative (SECI), aims
at facilitating trade and transport in the region, thus laying
the groundwork for expanded economic cooperation among the S.E.
European states.
Lastly, Mr. Mantelis stated that both governments are to
promote the creation of the X Axis.
"As soon as the crisis is over, we will focus on the X Axis
and its link with VIII Axis, so that both (roads) can facilitate
transport to the benefit of both countries," Mr. Mantelis said.
[20] ALBANIAN DOCTORS FEAR CHOLERA EPIDEMIC BREAK OUT IN KUKES
At least 120,000 Kosovo deportees are being settled in the
Albanian town of Kukes, 218 kilometers north of Tirana, which used
to have only 18,000 citizens before
the influx of refugees.
According to the Croatian news agency HINA, Albanian doctors
are warning of the danger of a cholera epidemic breaking out if
urgent measures were not promptly taken to prevent the disease and
if several thousands refugees were not transferred from Kukes to
other Albanian towns.
In the past three days alone, at least 20,000 Kosovo
Albanians came in
Kukes via the Morina border crossing. Most of them are from the
Kosovo town of Prizren.
Many refugees are living in the open, and the warm weather is
exacerbating the risk of epidemic.
According to the latest figures, about 400,000 Kosovo
deportees have arrived in Albania since March 25, while another
200,000 are expected.
International relief agencies are making additional efforts
to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Albania, Europe's poorest
country. About a hundred aircraft land at the Tirana airport on a
daily basis with shipments of relief aid. Several hundred
makeshift camps for refugees are to be built in Albania soon.
[21] CHERNOMYRDIN CONTINUES HIS CONTACTS IN THE UNITED STATES
Russian mediator Victor Chernomyrdin continues the contacts
he has in the United States and today he is scheduled to meet with
UN secretary-general Kofi Annan in New York.
British prime minister Tony Blair speaking in the Romanian
parliament recognized the economic cost that stems from the
military operations in Yugoslavia and stated that efforts will be
made to help the economies of the Balkan states.
[22] RUSSIA AGREES WITH THE PRESENCE OF A MILITARY AND POLITICAL
FORCE IN KOSOVO
Russia agreed with the G8 proposal for the presence of an
international political and military force in Kossovo, based on a
French news agency, AFP, report citing a reliable source with the
German government.
The proposal is included in a text drawn up by the political
directors of the G8 who met in Bonn today, while the same source
added that the OSCE will undertake the role of monitoring the
situation in the region.
[23] WEAPONS FOR KLA WERE CONFISCATED IN ITALY
Large quantities of modern weapons destined for the KLA
Kossovo ethnic Albanian rebels were discovered and confiscated by
police authorities in Italy, according to a report published by
the Italian-Albanian newspaper "Gazetta Skiptare".
According to the newspaper that cites reliable sources,
police in Ankona, Italy discovered 30 tons of modern weapons such
as guns, grenades, missiles etc, destined for Albania which were
characterized as "humanitarian aid".
The weapons, according to the newspaper, were about to be
transported from Italy to Skoder, Albania and from there to Kosovo
to arm the ethnic Albanian rebels.
The same newspaper revealed that arms destined for KLA were
also discovered in Bari, Italy when police authorities located 30
vehicles carrying weapons instead of humanitarian aid as it was
mentioned in the travel documents accompanying them.
The newspaper mentions that the most likely conclusion is
that the weapons came from NATO given the fact that they were
modern weapons and the north-Atlantic alliance aims at a
cooperation with KLA in the case of ground operations in
Yugoslavia.
[24] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT PREPARES THE GROUND FOR A SOLUTION TO
THE ISSUE OF FYROM'S NAME
The Greek government through the further development of the
economic and political relations with FYROM seeks to prepare the
ground for a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of FYROM's
name.
Greek minister of transport and communications Tasos
Mandelis, who is on a visit to Skopje, stated after the contacts
he had with FYROM prime minister Ljupco Georgiefski and president
Kiro Gligorov that Greece is interested in improving the economic
relations with FYROM to such a degree in order to create the
necessary conditions for a solution to the problem of FYROM's
name.
The Greek government minister reiterated to the FYROM
leadership the firm position of the Greek government for the
easing of the crisis in Kossovo through a political solution and
stressed the need for a continuous flow of humanitarian aid for
the suffering people of Kossovo. Mr. Mandelis also pointed out
that a plan for the reconstruction of the region is necessary
while the procedures for the EU enlargement must be accelerated to
include the Balkan states.
[25] TWO NATO MISSILES DROPPED NEAR A VILLAGE IN FYROM
Two NATO missiles dropped near the village of Demanci in
central FYROM causing alarm among the local population.
The missiles fortunately dropped in a remote region and the
news on the incident was reported last night by the private
television station "Sitel" which showed pictures of a 10 meters
wide crater that was created by the missiles when they hit the
ground.
[26] THE ARMED CLASHES OF THE TURKISH FORCES WITH PKK CONTINUE
The armed clashes in south-eastern Turkey continue between
the Turkish security forces and the PKK Kurdish rebels.
According to the Popular Liberation Army of Kurdistan (ARGK),
327 Turkish soldiers were killed in the period of March-April
while ARGK lost 75 rebels. In the same period, were conducted 24
military operations among them, attacks on towns, bomb attacks and
sabotages.
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