Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-05-07
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 7, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES MEET IN THESSALONIKI OVER CRISIS
[02] MPA'S GENERAL DIRECTOR SPEAKS ON MEDIA'S ROLE AND KOSOVO
[03] GREEK PM: PEACE IS POSSIBLE, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT JUST WORDS
[04] AUSTRIA'S KLIMA IN THESSALONIKI: KOSOVO CRISIS IS TO END SOON
[05] GREECE HAS YET TO RECEIVE EXPLANATIONS OVER CONVOY ATTACK
[06] GREEK SOLDIERS TO SET UP REFUGEE CAMP IN FYROM
[07] GREEK PM TO MEET WITH PORTUGUESE, FYROM, ALBANIAN PREMIERS
[08] BULGARIAN DELEGATION VISITS THRACE THROUGH PHARE PROGRAM
[09] ABNA WILL CREATE A HOME PAGE ON THE INTERNET FOR THE KOSOVO
REFUGEES
[10] PAPOUTSIS: THE ISOLATION OF SERBIA WILL BE A "BLACK HOLE" FOR
PEACE
[11] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE EXPRESSED INDIGNATION OVER THE
NATO BOMBING OF THE TOWN OF NIS
[12] SIMITIS DENIED THE RUMOR THAT GREECE WILL JOIN THE EMU TODAY
[13] MR. REPPAS DENIED THE RUMORS OF GREECE'S EARLY PARTICIPATION
IN THE EMU
[14] THE BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES DISCUSS THE YUGOSLAV CRISIS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] G8 FOREIGN MINISTERS ARRIVE AT COMMON PROPOSAL ON KOSOVO
[16] NATO PLANES DESTROY BRIDGE, POUND MILOSEVIC'S HOMETOWN
[17] BELGRADE REMAINS RESERVED OVER G8 AGREEMENT
[18] GREEK PRESIDENT TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO GEORGIA ON MAY 10
[19] GREEK PRESIDENT TO PAY VISIT TO ARMENIA ON MAY 11-13
[20] MPA PARTICIPATES IN HERMES TRADE EXPO IN NEW YORK TODAY
[21] HELLENIC PETROLEUM DEAL ENDORSED BY FYROM'S GOVERNMENT
[22] US PRESIDENT CLINTON APPEARED OPTIMISTIC OVER A SOLUTION IN
YUGOSLAVIA
[23] THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED 13.1 BILLION DOLLARS
FOR THE NATO OPERATIONS
[24] 58% OF THE SERBS SUPPORT THE DEPLOYMENT OF A UN PEACE-KEEPING
FORCE IN KOSOVO
[25] NATO AIRCRAFT BOMBED THE TOWN OF NIS AT NOON TODAY
[26] A FIFTH MISSILE ENDED UP IN BULGARIA
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES MEET IN THESSALONIKI OVER CRISIS
The news agencies from all the countries comprised in the
Balkan region are meeting in Thessaloniki today, in order to
examine the problems that have arisen in the operation of the mass
media organizations as a result of the dramatic events taking
place in Yugoslavia.
The event is being organized by the Association of Balkan
News Agencies (ABNA) on the initiative of the Macedonian Press
Agency, the headquarters of ABNA's permanent secretariat.
The meeting will also examine ways to improve the activity of
the news agencies and all of the Balkan mass media, always in
line with the principles of journalistic ethics, objectivity and
truth, which principles have been espoused by ABNA since its
founding in 1994.
In addition to the news agencies of Albania, Bulgaria, FYROM,
Greece, Romania, Yugoslavia and Turkey, the meeting will feature
the participation of United Nations and UNESCO representatives,
European Union officials, Council of Europe representatives, and
International Journalists Federation members. Moreover, the
meeting features the participation of news agencies of those
countries neighboring with the Balkan states, and which are
subject to the consequences of the Kosovo crisis, such as the
Italian news agency ANSA, the Hungarian MTI and the Greek ANA and
MPA.
On March 26, 1999, ABNA issued an appeal to its members, the
mass media and various journalists, wherein it called on them to
show restrain in these difficult times and to strictly adhere to
the principles of journalistic ethics and truth, avoiding
sensationalism, in order to allow peace, stability and security to
return to the region of Southeastern Europe.
[02] MPA'S GENERAL DIRECTOR SPEAKS ON MEDIA'S ROLE AND KOSOVO
The Macedonian Press Agency's general director Spyros
Kouzinopoulos addressed an extraordinary meeting held today in
Thessaloniki among the news agencies from all the countries
comprised in the Balkan region, as well as Italy's ANSA and
Hungary's MTI, and spoke extensively on the media's stance and
role over the Kosovo crisis.
"The Kosovo crisis and NATO's bombardments against
Yugoslavia, coupled with the tragic events that have taken place,
have brought on a state of emergency and caused immense concern
throughout Southeastern Europe," Mr. Kouzinopoulos stated, adding
that the matter has been compounded by the activities of armed
and riotous extremist groups -which stem from both sides of the
conflict-, as they have brought on a climate of instability in
certain Balkan countries, as well as fears of involvement by the
region's remaining countries in the case of ground operations.
Referring to the role carried out by the Association of
Balkan News Agency (ABNA), which co-organized the meeting along
with MPA, Mr. Kouzinopoulos stated that, during its five-year
course, through conferences, meetings and other events, "the ABNA
has cast its own stone in the matter of Inter-Balkan cooperation
in the sensitive sector of the mass media.
"For this reason alone, a mere few hours following the
opening salvo of NATO's bombings against Yugoslavia, ABNA issued
an appeal to its members, the media and all the journalists of the
Balkan Peninsula, calling on them to exercise restrain during
these difficult times for the Balkans," he said.
The MPA's general director further added that "the present
period is marked by noble initiatives for overcoming the crisis
and rays of hope have began to sparkle along with Spring.
"We shall not search for the perpetrators of the crisis. It
is not our task to discover if the Serbs are right, or if the
Kosovars are right, or the Albanians, or NATO, or whoever else
became involved in this conflict. Nevertheless, we cannot but
express our concern and strong protestation when we learn of our
colleagues being killed in this senseless war, when we see media
buildings being pounded by bombs, when we know that journalists
are being prevented from performing their job without encumbrance
and their free access to regions that are of immense interest to
the general public is being hindered," he said.
Mr. Kouzinopoulos announced that the Macedonian Press Agency
proposes a joint appearance of all the Balkan news agencies in
cyberspace, allowing the Internet users, by accessing the MPA's
specially-designed server at www.abna.org, to discover news and
information pertaining to all Balkan countries, thus forming
diversified opinions and not have a biased view of the events.
Moreover, the Macedonian Press Agency proposed the creation
of a joint home page on the Internet, comprising all the Balkan
news agencies, in order to assist in the discovery and relocation
of Kosovar families whose members have been scattered as a result
of the crisis. Once the homepage is set up, the MPA will install
computers at the refugee camps, while its technical staff are
already working on the creation of a program that will
automatically file search requests and photographs of the missing
persons.
Mr. Kouzinopoulos urged that the national news agencies, more
so than the remaining news media, contribute to the improvement of
quality, by broadcasting and printing more news and reports on
their neighboring countries, especially on matters of common
cultural heritage, in order to achieve proximity among the
region's peoples, develop friendship, cooperation and, once and
for all, eliminate the danger of conflagrations.
"In the course towards the 21st century, the national news
agencies, by providing correct and sound information and promoting
cultural values, can grant the media with the opportunity to
become the messengers, a light in the midst of darkness. By
striking ignorance and populism, they can become the strength of
hope for the weak, the voice and refuge of the persecuted, the
threat to the mighty.
"They can become a suit of armor, a tireless lighthouse, an
infallible eye, an impartial voice. If we grant this to the
public, if we assist in the fight against chauvinism, nationalism,
intransigence and all those components that result in war, then it
is certain that our region will never again live through the
atrocities of recent times. The Balkans will then no longer be
‘Europe's powder-keg'," Mr. Kouzinopoulos said.
[03] GREEK PM: PEACE IS POSSIBLE, AS LONG AS IT'S NOT JUST WORDS
Greece's Prime Minister Costas Simitis welcomed the agreement
reached by the world's seven most industrialized nations and
Russia (G8) yesterday, stating that it constitutes a step towards
establishing peace in the region.
"We hope that it (the agreement) will soon be adopted as a
United Nations Security Council resolution and that all sides
involved will implement it," Mr. Simitis stated yesterday.
"Greece had from the very beginning outlined that the
solution to the crisis could not be imposed only by force of arms,
that political initiatives and diplomatic actions were necessary.
Today's agreement confirms this point of view. At the same time
the agreement prescribes that there should not be a change of
borders...We have worked in this direction, " the Greek Premier
added.
Stressing that Greece, along with other countries, prepared
the ground for yesterday's agreement, Mr. Simitis stated that
"this proves that peace is possible as long as it's not just
words."
[04] AUSTRIA'S KLIMA IN THESSALONIKI: KOSOVO CRISIS IS TO END SOON
Austrian Chancellor Viktor Klima met with Greece's Defense
Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos in Thessaloniki yesterday, with whom
he discussed the Kosovo crisis and expressed the belief that a
political solution on the issue is very near.
Mr. Klima said that he believes "we are moving toward a
political and peaceful solution." He called for an end to the
bombings and for support of the initiatives taken by the United
Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
In turn, Mr. Tsochatzopoulos said "we are at the final
political-diplomatic solution, which Greece believed in and for
which we fought for from the beginning."
The Chancellor made a stopover in Thessaloniki as part of a visit
to the Halkidiki region, this year's site of an annual festival
organized by Vienna for many of its citizens to celebrate the
coming of spring.
[05] GREECE HAS YET TO RECEIVE EXPLANATIONS OVER CONVOY ATTACK
While it remains to be seen just who is responsible for
Wednesday's attack against a Greek non-governmental aid convoy in
Kosovo, NATO's Secretary-General Javier Solana has given the Greek
government repeated assurances that the Alliance had nothing to do
with the bombs that fell just yards away from the convoy's leading
vehicle.
The "Doctors of the World" mission was attacked by aircraft
on Wednesday afternoon, as the four jeeps of the aid convoy were
emerging from a tunnel. No one was injured and none of the
vehicles were struck in the attack, which took place outside the
town of Urosevac in southeastern Kosovo.
A Greek member of the mission delivering aid to Prishtina,
contacted Greek consular officials in Belgrade as soon as the
convoy arrived in Kosovo's capital and said that bomb had fallen
about 100 meters from the start of the convoy.
According to the mission's officials, NATO had been given
four days advance notice that they would be traveling to
Prishtina, but NATO said there was no indication the alliance was
connected to the attack.
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said Greece wanted "the
truth to shine", adding that the issue of responsibility remained
open and stressed that investigations into the incident should
continue.
The spokesman said Mr. Solana had twice given assurances to
Foreign Minister George Papandreou that NATO had nothing to do
with the attack.
[06] GREEK SOLDIERS TO SET UP REFUGEE CAMP IN FYROM
Fifty Greek soldiers will be dispatched to FYROM in order to
assist in the setting up of a refugee camp in the area of Kotovo.
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that the decision
to send the troops had been taken after consultations between
representatives of the Greek defense ministry and FYROM
authorities.
[07] GREEK PM TO MEET WITH PORTUGUESE, FYROM, ALBANIAN PREMIERS
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis will receive his
counterpart from Portugal in Thessaloniki tomorrow, May 8, with
whom he will travel to the monastic community of Mt. Athos.
Mr. Simitis will also meet with the Premier of FYROM, Ljubco
Georgievski, and both of whom will be guest speakers at a major
Balkan economics conference to be held in Thessaloniki on May 10-
11. The Premier of Albanian Pandeli Majko will also attend the
event.
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.
The forum is expected to draw more than 500 Greek and foreign
business figures representing 120 foreign companies and 280 Greek.
[08] BULGARIAN DELEGATION VISITS THRACE THROUGH PHARE PROGRAM
A fifty-member delegation of Bulgarian local government
officials embarked yesterday on a two-day visit to the Eastern
Macedonia and Thrace District, in the framework of the PHARE
program.
The delegates, representatives from Bulgaria's central and
regional administration, are meeting with their Greek
counterparts and will be briefed on ways to expedite regional
development in their country.
Specifically, they will examine issues concerning regional
strategy, preparations for the establishment of a national plan
for regional development, the application and materialization of
a regional business plan and ways to fund it and the
establishment of committees which will review the results of the
regional development actions.
[09] ABNA WILL CREATE A HOME PAGE ON THE INTERNET FOR THE KOSOVO
REFUGEES
The Association of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA) decided to
create a home page on its Internet site to help in the effort to
locate Kosovo refugees who are missing.
The proposal was made by MPA general director Spiros
Kouzinopoulos in the meeting of ABNA's general directors held in
Thessaloniki today and was unanimously accepted by all the Balkan
news agencies (Anadolu, IHA-Turkey, BTA-Bulgaria, ROMPRESS-
Romania, ATA-Albania, Athens News Agency-Greece) as well as by
FYROM's news agency, ANSA-Italy and MTI-Hungary attending the
meeting as observers.
The general directors of the participating news agencies
agreed to offer every help in order to overcome any technical
difficulties in the materialization of the plan, while the BBC
Greek service director Babis Metaxas, who was also present in the
meeting stated that the BBC which has already started to broadcast
radio messages for the location of missing refugees will offer its
assistance to the effort.
MPA general director Spiros Kouzinopoulos stated that ABNA
with this initiative wants to urge the international organizations
(UN High Commission for Refugees) to intensify their efforts for
the reunion of refugee families divided because of the crisis in
Kosovo.
Within this framework, MPA is willing to install personal
computers in the large refugee camps in Albania and FYROM.
[10] PAPOUTSIS: THE ISOLATION OF SERBIA WILL BE A "BLACK HOLE" FOR
PEACE
The destruction and isolation of Serbia could be a "black
hole" for peace and stability in the Balkans, stated Greek EU
commissioner Christos Papoutsis speaking in the European
conference on labor relations taking place in Thessaloniki today
and tomorrow organized by the Greek General Confederation of Labor
and Thessaloniki's Trade Unions' Center.
Referring to the agreement reached by the West and Russia for
the easing of the crisis in Kosovo, Mr. Papoutsis stated that this
initiative is a first step toward peace, adding that there can be
no peace in the Balkans without Serbia. He also pointed out that a
viable political solution must secure the wide autonomy of Kosovo
within the Yugoslav borders, while at the same time it should
safeguard the return of the refugees to their homes and the rights
of the ethnic Albanians and the Serbs.
The Greek European Commissioner accused Europe of weakness in
voicing its own autonomous position on the issue of Kosovo and
stressed that in view of the 21st century the "15" can not accept
a new world order determined by the right of the mightiest.
The respect of human rights should be the basis for the
formation of the European Union foreign policy, stressed Mr.
Papoutsis, pointing out that Europe can not accept NATO in an
international police role neither give its consent to the
isolation of Russia and the creation of a new cold war type
division in the European continent.
Mr. Papoutsis said that Greece in this storm that sweeps the
region is a factor of peace, stability and cooperation and it is
called to play an important role in the day after the crisis,
adding that Thessaloniki and northern Greece in general can play a
decisive role as a starting point for a number of significant
economic initiatives and investments.
[11] THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE EXPRESSED INDIGNATION OVER THE
NATO BOMBING OF THE TOWN OF NIS
Minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos expressed
indignation over the new NATO bombing of the town of Nis in
Yugoslavia and at the same time, he voiced his support to the
victims of the air strikes.
If the armed conflict continues there will be no political
solution and those who are responsible must give an answer, stated
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos as soon as he was informed of the new NATO
bombings.
Earlier, he had stated that the text of the G8 foreign
ministers could become the basis for a UN Security Council
decision on Monday which could be accepted by NATO and Yugoslavia.
He said that in case the deployment of an international peace-
keeping force is decided in Kosovo Greece will be present as it
was in the crisis in Albania and in Bosnia.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos underlined that no one can replace the
United Nations, neither NATO, nor the Western European Union or
the OSCE as it is the only international organization that can
offer international legality and judge if there are human rights
violations while at the same time safeguarding the right of
territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders.
On the paragraph of the new NATO doctrine which provides that
in special cases the alliance has the right to intervene he said
that it needs to be further discussed.
In the press conference he gave, the minister of defense
referred to the targets of the Pan-European Youth Conference that
is being held in Thessaloniki and stated that Greece insists in
the compulsory military service as it is dictated by history,
democracy and the need to secure the country's defense as it is
the only EU member that is being threatened by a neighboring
country, namely Turkey.
[12] SIMITIS DENIED THE RUMOR THAT GREECE WILL JOIN THE EMU TODAY
Prime minister Kostas Simitis characterized as irresponsible,
thoughtless and motivated by self-interest the rumors concerning
double elections and political negotiations for Greece's
participation in the EMU, adding that in order for Greece to join
the EMU it has to reach a specific economic level.
Mr. Simitis also stressed that the Greek economy has reached
a very satisfactory level of stability and added that the efforts
to meet the criteria for its accession into the EMU will continue.
On the Yugoslav issue, the prime minister welcomed the plan
adopted by the foreign ministers of the G8, while he reminded the
Greek diplomatic initiatives that were undertaken and the Greek
position according to which there can be no solution through
military means. Mr. Simitis, referring to the telephone
communication with his Italian counterpart Massimo D'Alema and the
Papoulias-Milosevic meeting, stressed that the goal is to speed-up
the peace process.
[13] MR. REPPAS DENIED THE RUMORS OF GREECE'S EARLY PARTICIPATION
IN THE EMU
The government denied the rumors circulating in the stock
market over Greece's early participation in the EMU based on
political criteria and with a simultaneous slip of the drachma.
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that there
is no such issue, adding that the rumors spread obviously aim at a
different target.
The information for an early accession of Greece into the
EMU, was also denied by Bank of Greece governor Loukas Papadimos,
undersecretary of finance Nikos Christodoulakis and close
associate of the minister of national economy and finance Yiannis
Stournaras.
[14] THE BALKAN NEWS AGENCIES DISCUSS THE YUGOSLAV CRISIS
The problems faced by journalists, while covering the tragic
events taking place in Yugoslavia, are the main topic of
discussion in the meeting of the general directors of the Balkan
news agencies as well as news agencies from Italy, Hungary and the
Czech Republic that is being held in Thessaloniki.
Specifically, are being discussed ways for the cooperation of
the Balkan mass media in order to have a common framework for the
objective and wide presentation of events. Within this framework,
Macedonian Press Agency, which organizes the meeting, suggested a
joint appearance of the news agencies in the cyberspace.
A similar proposal was made by the Skopje news agency MIA
suggesting the creation of an information source within the
framework of the Association of the Balkan News Agencies (ABNA) to
provide and process information over the events taking place in
Yugoslavia.
Albanian news agency, ATA, director Frrok Cupi issued an
appeal for the improvement of the situation in Kosovo and stressed
that the war serves the interests of large companies, while he
also referred to the issue of the journalists' access to the
truth. To the same issue referred Athens News Agency chief editor
Nicholas Voulelis, stressing that information comes from different
sides and the one-sided presentation of events hides the truth.
Bulgarian News Agency, BTA, general director Panayot Denev
stressed the importance of the meeting which is the first of its
kind, while he too referred to the difficulties faced by the mass
media in reporting the truth and stated that the journalists must
be able to distinguish the news from the propaganda, suggesting
that a resolution must be adopted for peace in the region.
Turkish news agency, Anadolu, director Mehmet Guler referred
to the situation in Yugoslavia and reminded that the journalists
participating in today's meeting spoke of massacres and genocide
before the NATO intervention.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] G8 FOREIGN MINISTERS ARRIVE AT COMMON PROPOSAL ON KOSOVO
The foreign ministers of the world's seven most
industrialized nations and Russia (G8) achieved a common
proposal for resolving the Kosovo crisis at their meeting in Bonn
yesterday.
The proposal calls for the withdrawal of Yugoslav troops from
Kosovo and an immediate end to violence, allowing the refugees to
return home.
The G8 ministers issued a statement calling for "effective
international civil and security presences" in Kosovo to protect
returning residents.
"A political process towards the establishment of an interim
political framework agreement providing for a substantial self-
government for Kosovo, taking full account of the Rambouillet
accords and the principles of sovereignty and territorial
integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the other
countries of the region as well as the disarming of the UCK," the
statement read.
[16] NATO PLANES DESTROY BRIDGE, POUND MILOSEVIC'S HOMETOWN
NATO aircraft delivered missile-and-bombing strikes against a
railway bridge in the area of Vatin township near the Yugoslav-
Romanian border last night, disrupting railway communication
between Belgrade and Bucharest.
According to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass, NATO bombs
also destroyed a local power substation, leaving Vatin inhabitants
without electricity.
Itar-Tass also reported NATO planes pounded Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic's hometown of Pozarevac, which boasts
Yugoslavia's largest discotheque belonging to the president's son.
[17] BELGRADE REMAINS RESERVED OVER G8 AGREEMENT
Belgrade continues to have a reserved stance over the
agreement reached in Bonn yesterday among the world's seven
wealthiest nations and Russia, awaiting further clarifications
over the issued proposal.
According to a poll published today by the pro-government
daily Politika, more than 40 percent of Yugoslavs would agree to
some form of Serbian military withdrawal from Kosovo.
Meanwhile, United States President Bill Clinton saluted the
G8's proposal, although he added that the raids against
beleaguered Yugoslavia will continue.
[18] GREEK PRESIDENT TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO GEORGIA ON MAY 10
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
is to conduct a two-day official visit to Georgia on May 10, the
first visit by a Greek president to Georgia after the Caucasian
republic became independent.
The President will meet with his Georgian counterpart Eduard
Shevardnadze, parliamentary speaker Zurab Zhvania, Foreign
Minister Irakly Menangarishvili and other officials.
Discussions will focus on issues of further development of
cooperation
between the two countries, as well as regional problems.
[19] GREEK PRESIDENT TO PAY VISIT TO ARMENIA ON MAY 11-13
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
will pay an official visit to Armenia on May 11-13 at the
invitation of the republic's leadership.
Before arriving in Armenia the President will make an
official visit to Georgia.
While in Tbilisi, he will meet Georgian President Eduard
Shevardnadze, the parliament speaker and the foreign minister to
discuss further development of
cooperation between the two countries and regional issues.
[20] MPA PARTICIPATES IN HERMES TRADE EXPO IN NEW YORK TODAY
The Macedonian Press Agency is participating at the 7th
Annual Business Development Trade Show and Exhibition in the
United States (Hermes Expo International 1999) , to be held today
and tomorrow, (May 7-8) at the New York Hilton.
The event is expected to give the opportunity to Greeks
living on both sides of the Atlantic to consolidate their
communication channels.
This marks the first the MPA has the opportunity to take part
in such an organized show, which will illustrate the agency's
multifaceted activities in the media sector, and especially its
singular commitment to the Greek community abroad.
This year's event will also feature the participation of
ventures from Albania, Romania and other Balkan countries.
Greece's Undersecretary of Sports Andreas Fouras will
inaugurate the event and has expressed the hope that the
participation of the General Secretariat of Sports and
representatives of the Greek business sector will contribute to
the further advancement of Greek products and services in the
U.S., as well as to the promotion of Greece's sports
infrastructure, especially in light of the Athens-held Olympic
Games of 2004.
The Archbishop of America Spyridon will also attend the
inauguration ceremony.
Greek businesses interested in serving the needs of the Greek
American community and establishing an initial strong foothold in
the massive American market, the exhibition is certainly worth
attending as a number of joint-venture seminars will be held,
which can provide fertile ground for such investments.
[21] HELLENIC PETROLEUM DEAL ENDORSED BY FYROM'S GOVERNMENT
Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) will be allowed to go ahead with
the construction of an oil pipeline linking Thessaloniki with
Skopje, after the government of FYROM approved the said agreement
during a Cabinet session held this week.
Specifically , the agreement calls for ELPE becoming the
strategic investor of FYROM's OKTA refinery, with the investment
being the largest ever in the neighboring country.
The 90-million-dollar pipeline, which will have an annual
capacity of 2.5 million tons and a length of 220 kilometers, is
due for completion in three years.
[22] US PRESIDENT CLINTON APPEARED OPTIMISTIC OVER A SOLUTION IN
YUGOSLAVIA
US president Bill Clinton appeared optimistic that a solution
will be found to the Yugoslav crisis, while German foreign
minister Joshka Fischer even though he spoke of a realistic
prospect he warned that there is still a long way before a final
solution is reached.
For the moment there was no official reaction from
Yugoslavia, while there was positive reaction from Russia, the
United Nations and NATO. Victor Chernomyrdin stated that he will
go to Belgrade for talks with Yugoslav president Slobodan
Milosevic.
[23] THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED 13.1 BILLION DOLLARS
FOR THE NATO OPERATIONS
The US House of Representatives approved the sum of 13.1
billion dollars for the NATO operations in Yugoslavia and the
humanitarian aid for the Kosovo refugees.
Meanwhile, 176 more US aircraft are expected to arrive in
NATO bases in Europe to participate in the air attacks on
Yugoslavia. US Pentagon press spokesman Kennett Bacon announced
that 80 of the 176 aircraft that are expected to arrive in Europe
are refueling aircraft.
With the arrival of the new aircraft the total number of
allied military planes participating in the operations on
Yugoslavia will be 1.100.
[24] 58% OF THE SERBS SUPPORT THE DEPLOYMENT OF A UN PEACE-KEEPING
FORCE IN KOSOVO
In favor of the presence of foreign forces in Kosovo, under
the pre-condition that they will be under the UN command and
without the participation of NATO soldiers, is 58% of the Serbs,
according to a public opinion poll conducted by Belgrade's
Political Studies Institute IPRESS polling company on April 26-30.
On the withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo, 44.2% responded that
they are opposed to the reduction of the number of military and
police forces in the region.
Based on the opinion poll, the Yugoslav army has won the
confidence of the Serb people followed by the police, the federal
and the Serb government.
The opinion poll results were published in the pro-government
Belgrade newspaper "Politika".
[25] NATO AIRCRAFT BOMBED THE TOWN OF NIS AT NOON TODAY
Nine people were killed and scores were injured when NATO
aircraft bombed the town of Nis in Yugoslavia at noon today.
According to the available information, NATO aircraft bombed
an open-air market and the building housing the town's university
clinic.
The Belgrade television station "Politika" reported that
there are fears that the number of victims will increase.
[26] A FIFTH MISSILE ENDED UP IN BULGARIA
A fifth missile since the start of the NATO air strikes on
Yugoslavia has ended up in Bulgaria, this time in the region of
the village Liulin near Sofia, according to the press office of
the Bulgarian ministry of interior. There were no reports of
victims or damages.
In the statement it is not mentioned neither the type of the
missile or the time of the incident.
According to eye witnesses, an explosion was heard during the
night, while residents of the Nadezda suburb in Sofia have stated
to Bulgarian news agency, BTA, that a loud explosion was heard
just before 5am today.
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