Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-05-27
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 27, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] REPPAS: THE DECISION TO BRING MILOSEVIC BEFORE THE
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IN THE HAGUE IS POLITICALLY WRONG
[02] REPPAS ON THE AGREEMENT FOR JUDICIAL COOPERATION BETWEEN
GREECE AND THE UNITED STATES
[03] THE BRITISH PREFER GREECE FOR THEIR VACATIONS
[04] PROTESTERS PREVENTED A NATO CONVOY FROM LEAVING THE PORT OF
THESSALONIKI
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[05] REASON IS NECESSARY, STATED MR. MITSOTAKIS, AFTER HIS MEETING
WITH MILOSEVIC
[06] ARMED CLASHES AT THE BORDERS OF ALBANIA WITH YUGOSLAVIA
[07] PAPANDREOU: NATO MUST STOP THE BOMBING
[08] JOVANOVIC: THE DECISION TO TRY MILOSEVIC IN THE HAGUE HAS
POLITICAL MOTIVES
[09] CHERNOMYRDIN-AHTISAARI-TALBOTT REACHED AN AGREEMENT
[10] CLARK: THE NATO ATTACKS WILL INTENSIFY
[11] STEPHANOPOULOS-KOSTOV MEETING
[12] THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF ABNA VISITED BELGRADE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] REPPAS: THE DECISION TO BRING MILOSEVIC BEFORE THE
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IN THE HAGUE IS POLITICALLY WRONG
The move to bring Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic
before the International Court of Justice in The Hague is
politically wrong, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris
Reppas. He clarified that there should be no misconception
regarding the Court of Justice in The Hague and the Court of
Justice for War Crimes, as on the one hand Milosevic is called to
contribute to a political solution and on the other there is a
warrant issued for his arrest.
Responding to the question if the Greek government has been
asked to offer ports and airports for the passage of NATO military
forces, he said that no such issue has been raised. He said that
Greece has not given its approval for the passage of military
forces that will take part in war operations but there was a
request for the free passage of peacekeeping forces.
To the question if Greece has consented to the increase of
the peacekeeping force in Kossovo, Mr. Reppas responded that the
deployment of peacekeeping forces in the region is not being
discussed at the moment.
[02] REPPAS ON THE AGREEMENT FOR JUDICIAL COOPERATION BETWEEN
GREECE AND THE UNITED STATES
The treaty for the cooperation of the judicial authorities of
the United States and Greece that was signed by Greek foreign
minister Giorgos Papandreou and US secretary of state Madeleine
Albright does not concern only terrorism but penal offenses as
well such as, copyright cases stressed Greek government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas.
At the same time, he underlined that the government does not
discuss the drawing up of a bill to counter terrorism.
[03] THE BRITISH PREFER GREECE FOR THEIR VACATIONS
The British continue to prefer Greece for their vacations in
spite of the two recent tourist warnings issued by the British
foreign office.
Based on statistics so far, the number of British tourists
visiting Greece will increase between 8% to 10% which means that
Greece will be visited by about 2.400.000 British tourists.
[04] PROTESTERS PREVENTED A NATO CONVOY FROM LEAVING THE PORT OF
THESSALONIKI
The port of Thessaloniki remains blocked by protesters, while
in the early morning hours today clashes erupted between
protesters and police forces. The violent incidents started when
the protesters blocked a NATO military convoy that was ready to
leave the port facilities.
Just before midnight, tens of people most of them members and
followers of the Greek Communist Party gathered outside Gate 14
and the incidents erupted two hours later when police forces
attempted to break them up. The protesters reacted and entered the
facilities of the port where they wrote slogans on building walls,
armoured personnel carriers and NATO containers.
In the clashes two people were injured. The incidents ended
in the early morning hours but the NATO convoy remains inside the
port facilities. The military supplies that were destined for
FYROM had arrived at the port of Thesaloniki on board an Italian
ship.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[05] REASON IS NECESSARY, STATED MR. MITSOTAKIS, AFTER HIS MEETING
WITH MILOSEVIC
Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy honorary
president Konstantinos Mitsotakis had talks in Belgrade with
Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic and Serb president Milan
Miludinovic.
In statements he made after the meetings, he said that he got
the impression that the Yugoslav side is ready to deal
constructively with proposals that will come from NATO through the
Russian envoy Victor Chernomyrdin. The only problem is, according
to Mr. Mitsotakis, whether the proposals will be such that will be
acceptable, adding that there will be good intention from the
Yugoslav side and this should be regarded as a positive step. He
said that there could be a political solution eventually imposing
the views of the West without leading Yugoslavia to humiliation or
the Serb and Yugoslav people to a virtual destruction.
Mr. Mitsotakis stated that actions like bringing Milosevic
before the International Court of Justice in The Hague accused of
war crimes only strengthen his stance more inside the country
having the same effect with the NATO bombing.
In conclusion, he stated that reason is necessary expressing
the belief that a political solution is feasible, stressing that
the Yugoslavs are ready to contribute toward this end and the West
should do the same.
[06] ARMED CLASHES AT THE BORDERS OF ALBANIA WITH YUGOSLAVIA
The most violent armed clashes since the start of the NATO
bombing of Yugoslavia were recorded at the Albanian-Yugoslav
borders last night between Serb forces and Kosovo Liberation Army,
KLA, separatist rebels, while the Albanian armed forces were also
involved.
According to ministry of defense sources, over 100 Serb
soldiers crossed the borders with Albania and attacked KLA bases
while the Serb artillery bombed villages along the borders.
The Albanian armed forces responded to the Serb attacks and
according to eye witnesses, 4 Yugoslav soldiers were killed.
[07] PAPANDREOU: NATO MUST STOP THE BOMBING
Greece continues to promote the diplomatic initiatives for
stability in the Balkans. Greek foreign minister Giorgos
Papandreou stated in Washington that NATO must stop the bombing of
Yugoslavia in order to give a boost to the diplomatic solution of
the crisis.
This proposal, however, was rejected by US secretary of state
Madeleine Albright who said that the bombing will stop only after
the NATO terms are accepted by Belgrade.
Meanwhile, Ms. Albright stated that the Cyprus issue is
expected to be one of the topics of discussion in the G-8 meeting
that will be held in Germany next month. Ms. Albright stated that
the United States remain committed to assist the two allies,
Greece and Turkey, to bridge their differences and safeguard
stability in the Aegean. She also said that the United States
support the efforts for the easing of the tension in Cyprus and
will continue to work in order to find a solution that will be
acceptable by both communities on the island.
[08] JOVANOVIC: THE DECISION TO TRY MILOSEVIC IN THE HAGUE HAS
POLITICAL MOTIVES
Yugoslav ambassador to the United Nations Vladislav Jovanovic
in an interview with the BBC underlined that the decision to try
Milosevic for war crimes has political motives and makes the
International Court of Justice in The Hague an accomplice of NATO.
At the same time, Russian ambassador to the UN Sergei Slavrov
stressed that the accusations made against Milosevic is a blow to
the diplomatic efforts and has caused the strong concern of
Moscow. This move is counter-productive, stated the Russian
ambassador to CNN.
US government officials stated to the US television channel
CNN that the international mediators have no other choice than to
continue the consultations with Milosevic even if he is accused of
war crimes.
They pointed out that the same was done in the negotiations
for peace in Bosnia when the then US envoy Richard Halbrooke had
talks with Radovan Karadjic and Ratko Mladic, also accused of war
crimes, adding that the talks resulted in the signing of the
Dayton peace agreement.
[09] CHERNOMYRDIN-AHTISAARI-TALBOTT REACHED AN AGREEMENT
Russian mediator Victor Chernomyrdin, Finnish president
Maarti Ahtisaari and US assistant secretary of state Strobe
Talbott reached an agreement in principle for the settlement of
the crisis in Kosovo, according to an adviser of the Russian
mediator.
Valedin Sergeyev stated that the agreement is almost ready
and Victor Chernomyrdin will leave for Belgrade to convey it to
the Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.
[10] CLARK: THE NATO ATTACKS WILL INTENSIFY
The NATO aircraft, which according to the Serb mass media hit
two apartment buildings in the Ralia region killing 3 people, made
over 740 sorties in Yugoslavia during the night.
Supreme commander of the allied forces in Europe, US general
Wesley Clark stated that the NATO attacks will intensify in the
next two weeks. Meanwhile, the allied aircraft launched new
attacks against Kosovo and central Serbia today.
[11] STEPHANOPOULOS-KOSTOV MEETING
Hellenic Republic president Kostis Stephanopoulos, who is on
a formal visit to Sofia since yesterday, met at noon today with
Bulgarian prime minister Ivan Kostov.
In a joint press conference they stated that there was
coincidence of views in many issues.
Mr. Stephanopoulos stated that both countries want a solution
to be found in Kossovo as soon as possible because the continuing
crisis is hurting both Greece and Bulgaria. He also reiterated
that Greece is in favor of Bulgaria's accession into the European
Union and NATO.
Bulgarian prime minister Kostov stated that the crisis in
Yugoslavia should end in such a way that will avert the likelihood
of another conflict in the future. He also stated that he asked
for Greece's mediation in order to persuade Yugoslavia to accept
humanitarian aid from Bulgaria, an offer that Belgrade has turned
down so far. Responding to a question by a reporter, Mr. Kostov
stated that a peacekeeping force must be deployed in Kossovo after
an agreement is reached.
Meanwhile, minister of development Evangelos Venizelos, who
is accompanying Mr. Stephanopoulos, will have talks with Bulgarian
government vice-president and industry minister Mr. Boskov. Also,
a meeting of businessmen from Greece and Bulgaria is being held in
the Bulgarian capital at the initiative of the Association of
Industries in Northern Greece.
[12] THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF ABNA VISITED BELGRADE
Association of Balkan News Agencies, ABNA, general secretary
and general director of Macedonian Press Agency, MPA, Mr. Spiros
Kouzinopoulos visited Belgrade after an invitation by Yugoslav
news agency Tanjug to witness himself the problems faced by the
journalists and all those working in the national news agency of
Yugoslavia.
In the meeting he had with Tanjug's general director Dusan
Djordjevic, Mr. Kouzinopoulos stated that ABNA stands by its
members and offers its assistance, while he stressed that as the
general director of MPA he conveys the support of its employees,
adding that when this irrational war ends the cooperation between
the two news agencies will become closer.
Mr. Kouzinopoulos also stated that ABNA is a milestone in the
history of the Balkans and that the time to fulfill the goal of
bringing down any wall blocking information in the region is
getting closer. When information becomes direct, said Mr.
Kouzinopoulos, the Balkan people will know each other better and
there will be no more ethnic hatred, nationalism and chauvinism,
adding that the DIAVLOS project for the satellite link of all the
Balkan news agencies is being promoted toward this end.
Tanjug's general director Mr. Djordjevic stated that the
support of the Greek people will not be forgotten and asked Mr.
Kouzinopoulos to convey to the Greeks the deep gratitude of the
Yugoslav people.
Mr. Kouzinopoulos stated that the bombing must end for a
political solution to be reached and added that the phenomena that
cause unrest in the Balkans will stop existing when the Balkan
states become part of the European structures.
During the visit to Belgrade, Mr. Kouzinopoulos met with
journalists working for Yugoslav mass media and was received by
deputy minister and press spokesman of the Yugoslav foreign
ministry Nebojsa Vujovic as well as with undersecretary of
information Radmila Visic, while he visited the destroyed building
of the Serb radio and television, RTS, where 16 people lost their
lives by the NATO bombs.
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