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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-05-05
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 5, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER TOURS PREFECTURE OF THESSALONIKI
[02] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION TO MEET WITH N. GREECE BUSINESSMEN
[03] GREEK PREMIER TO MEET WITH PORTUGUESE, FYROM COUNTERPARTS
[04] PROTESTERS OBSTRUCT ENTRANCE OF NATO VEHICLES AT PORT
[05] LOCAL MUNICIPALITY SENDS 18 TONS OF RELIEF AID TO YUGOSLAVIA
[06] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE RESERVATIONS OF FRANCE REGARDING
CYPRUS' ACCESSION INTO THE EU
[07] REPPAS: PAPOULIAS WILL CONVEY GREECE'S THOUGHTS TO BELGRADE
[08] REPPAS: THE PRESS REPORTS ON THE POLLUTION CAUSED BY THE NATO
BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA ARE EXAGGERATED
[09] THE BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES DISCUSS THE EFFECTS OF THE WAR
[10] A YUGOSLAV DELEGATION WILL MEET WITH BUSINESSMEN FROM
NORTHERN GREECE
[11] INFLATION DROPPED TO 2.8% IN APRIL
[12] THE PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE, ALBANIA AND FYROM WILL ATTEND
THE 6TH THESSALONIKI FORUM
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] DARKNESS FALLS ON BELGRADE AFTER BOMBS CAUSE POWER OUTAGE
[14] US PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH NATO CHIEF IN BRUSSELS
[15] UN, RUSSIA COOPERATE ON KOSOVO, SAYS KOFI ANNAN
[16] U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS ENVOY: NATO DID MORAL DAMAGE TO ITSELF
[17] CROATIA REFUSES BELGRADE'S URGENT REQUEST FOR ELECTRICITY
[18] CHERNOMYRDIN: MY OPTIMISM HAS GROWN AFTER TALKS IN U.S.
[19] U.S. SERVICEMAN THANKS SERB GUARD FOR DIGNIFIED TREATMENT
[20] GREECE'S FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET WITH MILOSEVIC
[21] DOWNED APACHE HELICOPTER'S PILOTS ARE DEAD, U.S. CONFIRMS
[22] GREEK TOBACCO FACTORY INAUGURATED TODAY IN BULGARIA
[23] A US NEWSPAPER SEES LINKS BETWEEN KLA AND BIN LADEN
[24] CLINTON-SOLANA MEETING
[25] PAPOULIAS WILL MEET WITH MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER TOURS PREFECTURE OF THESSALONIKI
The leader of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's
Costas Karamanlis is presently on the second leg of his two-day
tour of the Prefecture of Thessaloniki, where he is conducting a
series of visits to hospitals, local authorities and
municipalities.
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.
[02] YUGOSLAV DELEGATION TO MEET WITH N. GREECE BUSINESSMEN
A delegation from the Economic Chamber of Yugoslavia is to
arrive in Thessaloniki today 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.
[03] GREEK PREMIER TO MEET WITH PORTUGUESE, FYROM COUNTERPARTS
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis will receive his
counterpart from Portugal in Thessaloniki on Saturday, with whom
he will travel to the monastic community of Mt. Athos.
Mr. Simitis will also meet with the Premier of FYROM, Ljubco
Georgievski, both of whom will be guest speakers 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.
[04] PROTESTERS OBSTRUCT ENTRANCE OF NATO VEHICLES AT PORT
Episodes erupted early this morning at Thessaloniki's port,
when a group of protesters obstructed the entrance of a NATO
military vehicles convoy.
The military trailers had arrived from Skopje in order to
load and transport vehicles and supplies back to FYROM.
Over 100 individuals gathered at the port at 1 a..m. and
cordoned off the port's Gate 11, the military trucks' destination.
After breaking the railings of Gate 14, some of the protesters
managed to enter the port's facilities and attempted to approach
the warehouses where NATO military supplies are stored.
Police intervened at that point, preventing the crowd from
entering the warehouses and episodes erupted although no one was
arrested.
As a result of the melee, the trailers departed for the
Sindos military camp of Thessaloniki.
[05] LOCAL MUNICIPALITY SENDS 18 TONS OF RELIEF AID TO YUGOSLAVIA
Eighteen tons of humanitarian aid are to depart tomorrow for
Yugoslavia's war victims, gathered by the Solidarity Committee of
Neapolis, a municipality in western Thessaloniki.
The aid consists of pharmaceutical supplies and foodstuffs
which will be distributed to Belgrade and Pancevo, within the
framework of the mission organized by the Thessaloniki Prefecture
Authorities' Committee.
A delegation of the Solidarity Committee will accompany the
aid.
[06] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE RESERVATIONS OF FRANCE REGARDING
CYPRUS' ACCESSION INTO THE EU
France indeed has expressed reservations over the accession
of Cyprus into the European Union just as Greece has expressed
reservations over the EU membership bid of other countries, stated
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
He also pointed out that the stance of Greece will be the
same with that of France, adding that Greece will not allow an
injustice to be done to Cyprus.
[07] REPPAS: PAPOULIAS WILL CONVEY GREECE'S THOUGHTS TO BELGRADE
Greek former foreign minister Karolos Papoulias will convey
to Belgrade, Greece's thoughts for a political solution in
Kossovo, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
On the presence of Greek foreign minister associate Mr.
Rondos, who is accompanying Mr. Papoulias, the government
spokesman pointed out that he will have contacts for the promotion
of the humanitarian aid programme in Serbia after the successful
promotion of the humanitarian aid in Kossovo.
[08] REPPAS: THE PRESS REPORTS ON THE POLLUTION CAUSED BY THE NATO
BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA ARE EXAGGERATED
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas characterized as
exaggerations the comments and press reports on the pollution of
Greece as a result of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and added
that excessive concern is not justified. The Greek people are
always informed on the issue and the government is in cooperation
with the scientists who do the research.
On the issue of the Greek asparagus, he pointed out that
there was no embargo imposed but there was an announcement by a
professional organization in France which belongs to the same
sector adding that it was withdrawn after protests made by the
Greek side.
Meanwhile, the Greek scientists, who were called to present
their views before the parliament and the Technology Assessment
Committee, appeared reassuring regarding the effects the war in
Yugoslavia could have on the environment in Greece. However, they
stressed that Serbia itself has suffered an unprecedented and non
reversible ecological disaster. Also, they did not rule out the
possibility that a few years later there could be indications of
increased toxic substances in the neighbouring countries of
Yugoslavia especially in river waters.
[09] THE BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES DISCUSS THE EFFECTS OF THE WAR
The general directors of Balkan News Agencies as well as the
news agencies of neighbouring countries will meet in Thessaloniki
on Friday, May 7 at the invitation of Macedonian Press Agency to
discuss the problems in the operation of the news agencies and the
mass media in general as a result of the dramatic events taking
place in south-eastern Europe namely, the NATO air attacks, the
waves of refugees and the destabilisation risk for the whole
region.
In the meeting that will take place in the Journalists'
Association of Macedonia-Thrace offices will be discussed ways in
which the mass media could contribute to the efforts for the
return of calm and peaceful co-existence in the Balkans and the
end of phenomena such as nationalism, violence, hate and
chauvinism which are on the rise again after the crisis in Kosovo.
In the meeting will take part the news agencies of Albania,
Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, FYROM, Romania and Turkey as well as the
Italian news agency ANSA, the Hungarian MTI and the Greek ANA and
MPA.
It should be noted that from the first day of the NATO
bombings of Yugoslavia, the Association of Balkan News Agencies
(ABNA) had issued an appeal to its members, the rest mass media
and all the journalists calling them to show self-restraint in
those difficult hours for the Balkans and contribute to the
efforts for the return of peace, stability and security to south-
eastern Europe by operating strictly on the principles of ethics
and truth by avoiding excesses.
[10] A YUGOSLAV DELEGATION WILL MEET WITH BUSINESSMEN FROM
NORTHERN GREECE
Greek businessmen, who have suffered damages as result of the
war in Kossovo, will have a meeting in Thessaloniki this afternoon
with a Yugoslav Economic Chamber delegation.
In the meeting that will be held at the initiative of the
Arts and Crafts Chamber of Thessaloniki will be examined the
problems and the difficulties faced by the Greek businessmen in
Yugoslavia as well as ways to limit the damages on the Greek
investments in Yugoslavia in case the war continues.
[11] INFLATION DROPPED TO 2.8% IN APRIL
Inflation dropped to 2.8% in April compared to 3.4% in the
month of March. It is the first time in 28 years that inflation in
Greece has dropped below 3%.
National Statistics Agency general secretary Mr. Karavitis
commented that the drop would have been greater if the
international oil prices had not increased.
[12] THE PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE, ALBANIA AND FYROM WILL ATTEND
THE 6TH THESSALONIKI FORUM
The 6th annual Thessaloniki Forum that will be held on May 10
and 11 will deal with the "day after the war" in Yugoslavia.
The prime ministers of Greece, Albania and FYROM, government
ministers and officials as well as businessmen from the wider
region of south-eastern Europe and representatives of banking
institutions from western Europe and the United States will also
be present. The meeting is expected to be attended by new EU
Commission president Romano Prodi, who will call for a special
meeting on the reconstruction of the Balkans.
The goal of the co-organizers of the event namely, the
Association of Industries in Northern Greece, the Bank of
Macedonia-Thrace and the Hellenic - American Chamber of Commerce
is to achieve a realistic recording of the situation in the
Balkans, mainly from an economic point of view, and draw up plans
for the reconstruction of the Balkan region.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] DARKNESS FALLS ON BELGRADE AFTER BOMBS CAUSE POWER OUTAGE
Belgrade has once again been left devoid of electricity and
water as of early this morning, when NATO aircraft bombarded a
power plant near this city of two million residents.
Meanwhile, Yugoslav forces are claiming that they've downed
an allied aircraft in the city of Bina-Basta, near the Bosnia
border. The Alliance's spokesperson said that he has no knowledge
of such incident having taken place.
Moreover, according to a western military spokesperson, a
U.S. Apache helicopter crashed during the course of a training
flight, northwest of Tirana.
[14] US PRESIDENT TO MEET WITH NATO CHIEF IN BRUSSELS
United States President Bill Clinton is presently in
Brussels, accompanied by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, in
order to conduct talks with the NATO Secretary-General Javier
Solana. The discussion is expected to center around the military
operations against Yugoslavia.
Following his meeting with Mr. Solana, President Clinton will
travel to Germany where he will meet with U.S. troops, the three
U.S. soldiers who were recently released from the Serb forces,
Kosovo refugees and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
The U.S. President has stated that he is willing to examine
every diplomatic venue for resolving the Kosovo crisis.
[15] UN, RUSSIA COOPERATE ON KOSOVO, SAYS KOFI ANNAN
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has stated that Russia and
the United Nations continue to cooperate in discovering a
political settlement to the Kosovo situation, the Russian news
agency Itar-Tass reported.
Mr. Annan told reporters that during his talks with Russian
President Boris Yeltsin and during his with Viktor Chernomyrdin,
President Yeltsin's special envoy for the settlement of the
Yugoslav crisis, it was agreed that his as-of-yet appointed
representatives would directly cooperate with the Russian
government on this issue.
According to Mr. Annan, now, after numerous consultations
with the parties involved in the settlement process, an agreement
had been reached on some issues.
Specifically, mutual understanding was reached on the need
for the withdrawal of the Yugoslav troops and police units from
Kosovo, on the return of refugees there, on respect for and
protection of their rights and on the deployment of an
international military contingent on the territory of the region.
This is only "general understanding," however, and now it is
necessary to decide in what way and on what terms those provisions
will be put into effect, on which intensive consultations are
going on, Mr. Annan clarified.
Speaking about the withdrawal of Yugoslav troops from Kosovo,
the U.N.
Secretary-General said that many aspects of this problem are being
presently discussed, including the problem of whether the Serb
security forces should be withdrawn from Kosovo totally or
partially.
[16] U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS ENVOY: NATO DID MORAL DAMAGE TO ITSELF
By bombing Yugoslavia, NATO did considerable moral damage to
itself. The airstrikes caused a mass exodus of the indigenous
population from Kosovo, which "was a fatal mistake," U.N. special
human rights envoy Jiri Dienstbier said in an interview with Czech
radio, as has been reported by the Russian news agency Itar-Tass.
"Concerning ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, it started after the
airstrikes began," Jiri Dienstbier said, adding that the NATO
airstrikes caused great damage to the Kosovo settlement process.
[17] CROATIA REFUSES BELGRADE'S URGENT REQUEST FOR ELECTRICITY
Croatia has refused Yugoslavia's urgent request for
electricity, the French news agency AFP reported, quoting state
television reports.
Zagreb told Belgrade that it supported NATO's military
operations against Yugoslavia and wanted to see a lasting solution
to the crisis in Kosovo.
Serbia was deprived of electricity for several hours earlier
this week and this morning after NATO planes attacked power
installations with special secret graphite bombs, causing massive
short circuits.
[18] CHERNOMYRDIN: MY OPTIMISM HAS GROWN AFTER TALKS IN U.S.
Washington and Moscow have come to understand each other
better in regards to Kosovo, the Russian President's special envoy
for the settlement of the situation around Yugoslavia Viktor
Chernomyrdin has stated.
According to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass, Mr.
Chernomyrdin
commented on his talks with U.S. President Bill Clinton and Vice
President Albert Gore and noted that "We really understand what is
happening in Yugoslavia and what we need to do."
The Russian envoy said that the positions and understandings
which were discussed in Washington will also be discussed by the
ministers of foreign affairs of the Group of Eight industrialized
nations during their meeting tomorrow.
"My optimism has grown after this trip to the United States,"
he stated.
[19] U.S. SERVICEMAN THANKS SERB GUARD FOR DIGNIFIED TREATMENT
One of the three U.S. servicemen, released on Sunday after
being held captive by Serb forces, has left a note of thanks to
his guards at the Yugoslav Army General Staff.
According to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass, Sgt. Chris
Stone requested that they read the note after his departure from
Yugoslavia.
The note thanks the prison guards for treating him with
dignity and respect and for giving him cigarettes. The Sergeant
also said he was full of sympathy with the Serb people and that he
will pray to God for peace and the end of this war.
The US serviceman wrote the note in English, but signed in
Serbian "Sincerely, Chris Stone," adding "Slobodan" which means
free.
[20] GREECE'S FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET WITH MILOSEVIC
Greece's former foreign minister Karolos Papoulias is
presently in Belgrade where he will be received by Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic.
Mr. Papoulias will reportedly convey a message from the Greek
government to the Yugoslav leader.
[21] DOWNED APACHE HELICOPTER'S PILOTS ARE DEAD, U.S. CONFIRMS
The U.S. military forces have confirmed the death of the two
crew members of the Apache helicopter that crashed during the
course of a training flight this morning near Tirana.
This was the second Apache to have crashed on Albanian soil.
The first incident occurred on April 26, although those pilots
were rescued.
[22] GREEK TOBACCO FACTORY INAUGURATED TODAY IN BULGARIA
A tobacco processing factory, owned by Greece's "Leaf
Tobacco", is to be inaugurated today in the Bulgarian city of
Santaski, near the Greek border, by the vice-president of the
Bulgarian government Alexander Bozkov, who is also the country's
Minister of Industry.
"Leaf Tobacco" purchased the plant in August 1998 from the
shareholder "Struma", and has so far invested three million
dollars, mostly in technical facilities.
[23] A US NEWSPAPER SEES LINKS BETWEEN KLA AND BIN LADEN
The US newspaper "Washington Times" revealed that the ethnic
Albanian Kossovo Liberation Army, KLA, maintains an Islamist
terrorist camp in Albania together with the wanted Saudi Arabian
terrorist Osama Bin Laden, confirming this way that there are
links between Bin Laden and KLA.
In an article signed by Jerry Seper it is mentioned among
others, that the KLA, which already has 30.000 fighters and
enjoys an increased political and military power in Kossovo, was
joined by 50member groups of Islamist terrorists, mudjahedin and
Jihad fighters from Bosnia, Chechnya and Afghanistan, who have
crossed the borders from Albania using passports of Albanians from
FYROM.
[24] CLINTON-SOLANA MEETING
US president Bill Clinton met in Brussels today with NATO
secretary-general Javier Solana and NATO general Wesley Clark. In
the meeting was underlined the need for the intensification of the
diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis.
However, it was pointed out that the NATO bombing of
Yugoslavia will become more intense as a means of pressure for
Serbia to accept the terms of NATO for the cease fire. Mr. Clinton
will visit Germany to meet with chancellor Gerhard Schroeder while
he will also visit US military camps, the three US marines
released by the Serbs and refugee camps.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of the eight richest
countries in the world will meet in Bonn tomorrow. US secretary of
defense William Cohen announced at noon today that the two
Yugoslav soldiers held by the NATO forces will be released.
[25] PAPOULIAS WILL MEET WITH MILOSEVIC IN BELGRADE
Former foreign minister Karolos Papoulias will meet with
Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade. According to
information, Mr. Papoulias will deliver to Mr. Milosevic a letter
by prime minister Kostas Simitis.
Meanwhile, UN secretary-general Kofi Annan stated that Russia
and the United Nations will cooperate for the solution of the
Yugoslav crisis through the diplomatic route.
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