Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-05-25
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 25, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS TO VISIT THESSALONIKI
[02] THESSALONIKI MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL PROTEST NATO RAIDS IN SERBIA
[03] MAIN OPPOSITION IS LEADING IN POLL CONDUCTED FOR RULING PARTY
[04] GREEK MEN LIVING ABROAD CAN VOTE IN EUROELECTIONS
[05] THE PRESIDENT OF ESTONIA MET WITH THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER
[06] REPPAS: GREECE WILL RAISE TO NATO THE OPTION OF THE 48HOUR
TRUCE IN YUGOSLAVIA
[07] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS WILL VISIT SOFIA TOMORROW
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TO CONDUCT OFFICIAL VISIT TO BULGARIA
[09] GREEK FM TO MEET WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE TOMORROW
[10] BALKAN DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTERS TO MEET IN SOFIA TODAY
[11] GREEK ECONOMY REVIEWED BY ECOFIN MINISTERS, OECD
[12] NATO INTENSIFIES RAIDS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA
[13] DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS CONTINUE IN YUGOSLAVIA
[14] CHERNOMYRDIN:TOMORROW'S TALKS SHOULD LEAD TO END OF RAIDS
[15] UNHCR REPORTS: KOSOVO EXODUS HAS RESUMED WITH FULL FORCE
[16] 1.200 PEOPLE WERE KILLED SINCE THE START OF THE BOMBING OF
YUGOSLAVIA
[17] THE SERB PEOPLE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MILOSEVIC
[18] THE ALLIED FORCES COMMANDER IN EUROPE IS AGAINST THE
TEMPORARY STOP OF THE BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA
[19] PAPANDREOU-ALBRIGHT MEETING IN WASHINGTON TOMORROW
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH VARTHOLOMEOS TO VISIT THESSALONIKI
The Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will visit the
Thessaloniki suburb of Kalamaria on May 31, the feast of the Holy
Spirit, accompanied by Archbishop
Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece.
The Ecumenical Patriarch, the spiritual leader of all of
the world's Orthodox
Christians, arrived in Greece on May 20 for a two-week visit as
the official guest of the Orthodox Church of Greece.
[02] THESSALONIKI MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL PROTEST NATO RAIDS IN SERBIA
The Mayor of Thessaloniki Vasilis Papageorgopoulos and the
members of the City Council presented a message of peace yesterday
afternoon to the NATO forces presently stationed at the city's
port.
Mr. Papageorgopoulos called the move a "peace offensive",
stressing that the city's should not be used for the transit of
NATO troops for deployment in FYROM.
The Mayor led a delegation of the city council members tot he
port's facilities and council chairman Sotiris Kapetanopoulos
handed a resolution to the director general of the port authority
Nikos Papadopoulos.
With the said resolution, the City Council expresses its
opposition to any whatsoever involvement of Greek forces to
military operations in Yugoslavia, and the passage of NATO forces
from Thessaloniki for ground operations in the neighboring
country.
[03] MAIN OPPOSITION IS LEADING IN POLL CONDUCTED FOR RULING PARTY
Greece's main opposition party New Democracy is ahead of the
ruling PASOK party by 2.4 percentage points, according to a poll
published in an Athens daily and conducted by "̀etron Analysis" on
behalf of PASOK.
According to the poll, New Democracy garnered the advocacy of
31.9% of those polled, while PASOK fell slightly behind with
29,4%.
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) emerges as third party
with a percentage surmounting seven percent, while the Coalition
of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos), as well as the Democratic
and Social Movement (DIKKI)both show increased percentage rates.
In spite of the party percentages, Prime Minister (and PASOK
leader) Costas Simitis is far ahead of N.D. leader Costas
Karamanlis, being the leading choice of those polled as to who
would make a more able premier.
[04] GREEK MEN LIVING ABROAD CAN VOTE IN EUROELECTIONS
According to a parliamentary resolution, Greek males who live
abroad and plan to arrive in Greece in order to vote in the
Euroelections are exempt from the control of their conscription
status between May 24 and June 20.
The decision excludes deserters, while prosecution against
those falling under the relevant resolution will also be suspended
over the same period.
[05] THE PRESIDENT OF ESTONIA MET WITH THE GREEK PRIME MINISTER
The president of Estonia, who is on a formal visit to Greece,
met in Athens today with prime minister Kostas Simitis. They
discussed issues concerning bilateral relations, Estonia's
European prospects and the situation in Yugoslavia. Also,
agreements were signed for the cooperation in the sectors of
transportation, tourism and cultural exchanges.
In statements he made after the meeting, prime minister
Simitis stressed that Estonia belongs to the countries that
negotiate their accession into the European Union and reiterated
the Greek position according to which, in order for the EU to play
a role in Europe must accept the membership of as many members as
possible provided that certain criteria are satisfied.
Mr. Simitis characterized bilateral relations as very good
and stressed the need for the further development of the economic
cooperation. On the situation in Yugoslavia, both leaders stated
that there is a need for a peaceful solution respecting human
rights and international law.
[06] REPPAS: GREECE WILL RAISE TO NATO THE OPTION OF THE 48HOUR
TRUCE IN YUGOSLAVIA
The Greek government will present in the meeting of the NATO
permanent representatives its proposal for a 48-hour stop to the
war operations in Yugoslavia aimed at facilitating the development
of diplomatic initiatives for a peaceful solution, stated Greek
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
Mr. Reppas stated that the government agrees with the G-8
peace plan, while there is a coincidence of views with China.
[07] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS WILL VISIT SOFIA TOMORROW
President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will
be on a two-day visit to Bulgaria tomorrow. He will have talks on
bilateral issues and the developments in the Balkans with his
Bulgarian counterpart Petar Stoyanov and prime minister Ivan
Kostov.
Mr. Stephanopoulos will have contacts with Bulgarian
political party leaders, representatives of the Greek-Bulgarian
friendship associations and Greek students who are studying in the
neighboring country. Also, he will meet with Patriarch Maximos and
the mayor of Sofia.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] PRESIDENT OF GREECE TO CONDUCT OFFICIAL VISIT TO BULGARIA
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis
Stephanopoulos is to embark on an official visit to Bulgaria
tomorrow, May 26, where he will meet with President Petar Stoyanov
and Prime Minister Ivan Kostov with whom he will discuss issues of
bilateral interest and the latest developments in the Balkans.
The President's visit to Bulgaria was preceded by an official
visit by Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, May 17,
who met with his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Ananiev, foreign
minister Nadezda Michailova, foreign policy parliamentary
committee chairman Asen Agov and parliament speaker Jordan
Sokolov.
Messrs. Tsochatzopoulos and Ananiev stated that they
ascertained an identity of views concerning the Kosovo crisis.
Specifically, the two ministers stated that they advocate an
expeditious and peaceful settlement of the crisis through
diplomatic means.
Moreover, they stated that they support the deployment of
multi-national peace-keeping forces comprising NATO member and non-
member states which would guarantee the implementation of a peace
agreement.
[09] GREEK FM TO MEET WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE TOMORROW
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou is presently on a
four-day visit to the United States, where he will meet with US
envoy Richard Holbrooke this evening in New York and the Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright in Washington tomorrow.
Mr. Papandreou will brief Ms. Albright on the Greek-Czech
initiative for a short suspension of NATO bombings in Yugoslavia
before any relevant resolution by the UN Security Council.
China has reportedly welcomed the Greek-Czech initiative.
[10] BALKAN DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTERS TO MEET IN SOFIA TODAY
The deputy defense ministers of seven Balkan countries and
their US and Italian counterparts will meet Bulgaria today in
order to discuss the Kosovo crisis and prospects for ensuring
stability in SE Europe following the Yugoslav conflict.
The participating countries are Albania, Bulgaria, Greece,
FYROM, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey.
The Greek delegation will be led by Deputy Defense Minister
Dimitris Apostolakis.
[11] GREEK ECONOMY REVIEWED BY ECOFIN MINISTERS, OECD
The state of Greece's economy is to be reviewed during the
OECD and ECOFIN conferences to be held this week, a stringent
examination concerning the country's efforts to joint the Economic
and Monetary Union.
ECOFIN is convening in Brussels today, while the annual
session of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) is to be held in Paris on the 26th and 27th of
May.
Greece will be represented by the Minister of National
Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou.
[12] NATO INTENSIFIES RAIDS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA
NATO aircraft continued to pound Yugoslavia last night,
targeting Belgrade, Nis, Novi Sad and other cities. Belgrade's
police headquarters, or what's left of it, was again subject to
the raids, while over 20 missiles fell near Prizren in Kosovo and
an oil refinery in Novi Sad.
According to the U.S. Pentagon, over 1,000 aircraft are
taking part in this operation, a triple amount since the start of
the war. According to NATO officials, the air raids will have
destroyed or removed all Serb forces from Kosovo within the next
two months.
[13] DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS CONTINUE IN YUGOSLAVIA
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott will fly to
Moscow tomorrow for further consultations over Kosovo. While in
Moscow, Mr. Talbott is expected to have talks with Russia's
Balkans envoy Viktor Chernomyrdin and Foreign Minister Igor
Ivanov.
"The only purpose of these contacts is to ensure a speedy end
to the military operation against Yugoslavia and put the Kosovo
settlement on a legal footing," Ivanov said.
[14] CHERNOMYRDIN:TOMORROW'S TALKS SHOULD LEAD TO END OF RAIDS
Russian presidential envoy on Yugoslavia Viktor Chernomyrdin
has stated that tomorrow's trilateral talks in Moscow "should lead
to an end to air strikes in Yugoslavia."
According to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass, Mr.
Chernomyrdin said that he will travel to Belgrade on Thursday
irrespective of the outcome of talks in Moscow.
He noted that only two key questions have to be agreed
at the talks in Moscow: the withdrawal of Serbian troops from
Kosovo and the structure of international presence in that
province.
He stressed that "Belgrade and (Yugoslav President Slobodan)
Milosevic are ready to accept many things, including the
participation of NATO countries, which are not actively involved
in combat actions, such as Greece or Portugal, to take part in
the international presence."
The Russian envoy expressed the hope that the talks will be
successful and Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari will go to the
Yugoslav capital with him.
Mr. Chernomyrdin pointed out that the bombings must be
stopped or at least "there should be a temporary pause stipulated
by real steps by the sides. A pause is needed very much," he
added.
[15] UNHCR REPORTS: KOSOVO EXODUS HAS RESUMED WITH FULL FORCE
The exodus of refugees from Kosovo into Albania and FYROM has
resumed with full force, the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) announced yesterday.
According to UNHCR, more than 18,000 refugees crossed into
the two countries in the three-day period from Friday through
Sunday and thousands more streamed across the borders yesterday.
Approximately 7,700 refugees arrived on Saturday in FYROM and
another 7,500 on Sunday. UNHCR reported more than 15 bus loads of
refugees arrived early yesterday and a train with at least 15
carriages reached the border at Blace. According to UNHCR, "a
wall" of refugees was walking towards the border from the railhead
and one arrival said the line stretched back one kilometer into
Kosovo. Many of the refugees who were elderly and in "very poor
condition" required immediate medical attention, UNHCR said.
[16] 1.200 PEOPLE WERE KILLED SINCE THE START OF THE BOMBING OF
YUGOSLAVIA
At least 1.200 people have been killed and 500 were injured
since the start of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, according to
Russian special envoy to Yugoslavia Victor Chernomyrdin.
In a press conference he gave in Moscow, Mr. Chernomyrdin
stressed that the material damage caused in Yugoslavia by the
bombing is estimated to be over 100 billion US dollars, while
500.000 employees and workers have seen their industry plants and
businesses being destroyed completely. Also, an estimated 1.5
million Yugoslavs are left without a source of income.
The special envoy of Russia expressed his strong concern over
the activities of the members of the Kossovo Liberation Army, KLA,
who are responsible for drug-trafficking worth about 3 billion US
dollars.
Mr. Chernomyrdin stressed that the organization of the ethnic
Albanian separatists initially had caused fear but now is being
armed by NATO member-states and warned that disarming the KLA will
be harder than arming it.
[17] THE SERB PEOPLE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MILOSEVIC
The continuing bombing of Yugoslavia by NATO appears that it
has not produced so far the expected results namely, to turn the
Serb people against Yugoslav president Milosevic.
According to the CNN correspondent to Belgrade, the residents
of the Yugoslav capital are outraged with the NATO actions,
contrary to the allegations of the representatives of the alliance
based on which, the discontent of the people over the policy
followed by Milosevic is on the rise.
[18] THE ALLIED FORCES COMMANDER IN EUROPE IS AGAINST THE
TEMPORARY STOP OF THE BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA
The residents of Belgrade and other Serb cities are in a very
bad state as the NATO bombing intensifies destroying the water and
electricity supply networks.
Allied forces commander in Europe, US general Clark is
against the temporary stop of the bombing an option supported by
Greece, Italy, Holland and the Czech Republic. On the likelihood
of ground operations, general Clark stated that the time for a
decision is getting closer.
Meanwhile, the governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus stated
today that Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic and his family
members do not have bank accounts in Cyprus.
[19] PAPANDREOU-ALBRIGHT MEETING IN WASHINGTON TOMORROW
The Greek foreign minister is on a four day visit to the
United States starting today. Mr. Giorgos Papandreou will meet
with Richard Halbrooke in New York this evening and tomorrow will
have a meeting with US secretary of state Madeleine Albright in
Washington. Mr. Papandreou will present to Ms. Albright the Greek-
Czech proposal for a 48-hour stop to the NATO bombing before any
decision on Kosovo is reached by the UN Security Council.
China has already expressed support to the Greek-Czech
initiative. According to the Beijing newspapers, the Chinese
leadership is rejecting any discussion on a political settlement
of the crisis for as long as the NATO bombing continues.
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