Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-06-25
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 25, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] INVESTIGATION IN ORIGIN OF FRUIT JUICES PRESENTLY UNDERWAY
[02] N. GREECE FIRMS SENT THOUSANDS OF RELIEF PACKAGES TO KOSOVO
[03] EARTHQUAKE ROCKS CORINTHIAN BAY, FELT THROUGHOUT ATHENS
[04] MR. PAPANDREOU WILL SEND A REPLY LETTER TO MR. CEM TODAY
[05] KARAMANLIS: THE PRIME MINISTER HAS NOT RECEIVED THE ELECTION
MESSAGE
[06] THE ARRIVALS OF NATO FORCES IN THESSALONIKI CONTINUE
[07] PROPOSAL TO CUT THE OVERSEAS FLIGHTS IN ORDER TO SAVE OLYMPIC
AIRWAYS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] GREEK PM MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OF ARGENTINA IN BUENOS AIRES
[09] GREEK PM IN BUENOS AIRES FOR SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL
[10] TIRANA ARCHBISHOP: RELIGION SHOULD NOT INCITE, IT SHOULD HEAL
[11] GREEK OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER TRAVELS TO LONDON TODAY
[12] KLA TORN BY INTERNAL CONFLICT, "EVERYONE WANTED TO BE CHIEF"
[13] U.S. OFFERS $5 MILLION FOR REPORTS LEADING TO MILOSEVIC
ARREST
[14] SERB TV REPORTS ATTEMPT ON ITALIAN FM'S LIFE IN KOSOVO
[15] EU ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS TO TIGHTEN CONTROLS ON G-M FOODS
[16] BTC SOON SOLD TO GREEK-DUTCH TELECOMMUNICATION GROUP
[17] GREEK AMBASSADOR TO F.R.Y. VLASSOPOULOS VISITS KOSOVO
[18] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF ARGENTINA
[19] THE RUSSIAN UPPER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT APPROVED A PEACEKEEPING
MISSION TO KOSOVO
[20] ISRAELI JETS BOMBED TARGETS IN LEBANON
[21] PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS ARE PREPARED BY THE KURDS IN RUSSIA
[22] A CIA AGENT HAD WARNED NATO OF A "WRONG TARGET" BEFORE THE
BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] INVESTIGATION IN ORIGIN OF FRUIT JUICES PRESENTLY UNDERWAY
The preliminary investigation ordered by the Athens
prosecutor in the country's fruit juice market, is presently
underway in order to ascertain whether or not the juices labeled
as Greece-made are in reality imported from abroad.
Specifically, the prosecutor will look into reports which
claim that these juices are imported frozen and in turn are
liquefied and sold as fresh.
[02] N. GREECE FIRMS SENT THOUSANDS OF RELIEF PACKAGES TO KOSOVO
Northern Greece's firms have actively proven their
sensitivity to the plight of Kosovo's refugees by forwarding
10,000 humanitarian relief packages not only to Yugoslavia, but
to FYROM and Albania as well.
Each of the packages, whose overall cost amounted to GRD70
million and has a total weight of 160 tons, contained enough food
to feed a four-member family for a week.
Half of the aid was given for distribution to the Greek, non-
government organization "European Perspective" in FYROM, while
3,300 packages were sent to the Metropolitan Church of Nis, in
Yugoslavia and the remaining 1,700 were given to the Metropolitan
Church of Koritsa, in Albania.
The initiative for this humanitarian aid mission belongs to
Thessaloniki Chamber of Trade and Industry, with 43 firms
participating in the effort, among them the: Egnatia Bank, S.A.,
Salko S.A., Ath. Hatzopoulos S.A., Masoutis S.A., Odysseas Fokas
S.A., E. Malamatinas, Tsantalis S.A., Aget Heracles, Haitoglou
Bros.
[03] EARTHQUAKE ROCKS CORINTHIAN BAY, FELT THROUGHOUT ATHENS
A strong tremor measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale occurred
at 10:42 a.m. today in the Corinthian Bay and was felt in Athens
and Lamia.
According to the National Observatory of Athens, the quake's
epicenter was located 95 kilometers northwest of the capital.
[04] MR. PAPANDREOU WILL SEND A REPLY LETTER TO MR. CEM TODAY
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will send today his
reply letter to his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem. Acting Greek
government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou stated that Mr. Papandreou
in his letter describes a number of issues on which proposals for
cooperation between Greece and Turkey could be made such as,
tourism, economy, security, public order and the countering of
terrorism and drug trafficking.
On the major issues and the claims made by Turkey, the Greek
foreign minister reiterates the already known Greek positions.
[05] KARAMANLIS: THE PRIME MINISTER HAS NOT RECEIVED THE ELECTION
MESSAGE
The prime minister is more weakened than ever before and the
government is at the verge of collapse, maintained today right-
wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas
Karamanlis, speaking in the first post-election meeting of his
party's central committee and parliamentary group.
Mr. Karamanlis accused the prime minister that he has not
understood what was the message of the elections and that he
selected the EU Commissioner responsible for social issues based
on political party criteria refusing to reach a decision in
consultation with the rest political parties, while he also
accused the prime minister of offering extra benefits that put at
risk the country's course toward the EMU.
[06] THE ARRIVALS OF NATO FORCES IN THESSALONIKI CONTINUE
Increased mobility is being observed in the port and the
airport of Thessaloniki today where the arrivals of NATO troops as
well as, the transportation of supplies for the peacekeeping force
that is being deployed in Kosovo continue.
Four C-17 US military aircraft carrying 50-60 US soldiers and
a small number of military vehicles are expected at the city
airport today. Three US aircraft arrived yesterday with 50 US
soldiers, who will undertake the construction of roads, public
buildings, bridges and other infrastructure that have been
destroyed by the bombings and hostilities in the Serb province.
Meanwhile, an Italian ship sailed into the port of
Thessaloniki at noon today carrying 80 containers with supplies,
50 military vehicles, 20 personnel carriers and 10 armored tanks.
[07] PROPOSAL TO CUT THE OVERSEAS FLIGHTS IN ORDER TO SAVE OLYMPIC
AIRWAYS
A firm of consultants has suggested, according to a front
page article of the Athens newspaper "Kathimerini", the abolition
of the overseas flights of Olympic Airways to Australia, South
Africa, Thailand, the United States and Canada after agreements
are reached with other airlines that will undertake to transport
the passengers from Greece to those destinations.
According to the firm of consultants, the economic damage
that will be caused by those flights will be unbearable for the
Greek national airline, estimated to reach 10 billion drachmas.
The consultants' firm proposes that the number of the profitable
domestic flights should increase in spite of the fact that the
competition with tens of private airlines in this area is tough.
Minister of transportation, Tasos Mandelis, speaking in the
Athens radio station "Flash", reiterated that the Speedwing
solution was the last chance for Olympic Airways and underlined
that the new management of the Greek airline will be monitored
every month and the contract signed will be given to publicity
within the next few days.
Meanwhile, the Olympic Airways Employees Federation has
announced a 24-hour strike that will be held next Thursday.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] GREEK PM MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OF ARGENTINA IN BUENOS AIRES
Greece's Prime Minister Costas Simitis, presently in Buenos
Aires for the Socialist International Conference, met with the
President of Argentina Dr. Carlos Saul Menem with whom he
discussed issued related to a common agricultural policy.
This evening, Mr. Simitis will address the S.I., of which he
is vice-president, where he is expected to stress the need for
capital flow controls within the framework of the economy's
globalization, in order to avert repercussions on the weaker
nations.
[09] GREEK PM IN BUENOS AIRES FOR SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL
Greek Premier Costas Simitis is presently in Argentina in
order to attend the Socialist International Conference which got
underway in Buenos Aires last night.
The Conference will deal with issues concerning the
globalization of the economy, the repercussions of free capital
movement, common efforts for development and cooperation in the
sectors of social justice, poverty and solidarity.
The Minister of Press and Media Dimitris Reppas and alternate
foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis, who are accompanying the
Premier, have already had a series of contacts with other
delegates attending the conference.
After the end of Socialist Int/nl, Mr. Simitis will depart
for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which will host the European Union-
Latin America summit conference on June 28-29.
[10] TIRANA ARCHBISHOP: RELIGION SHOULD NOT INCITE, IT SHOULD HEAL
The Archbishop of Tirana and All of Albania Anastasios has
called on all religions to work together for peace.
"With sincerity and with pain, by word and by action, the
Autocephalus Orthodox Church of Albania has repeatedly expressed
its full support to the brothers forced out of Kosovo, " the
Archbishop stated in a press release yesterday.
"At the same time it has persistently proclaimed that the oil
of religion should not be used by any side to incite conflict, but
to heal wounds and quiet
the hearts", the release said.
"Now, after the end of the hostilities, all religions are
called to cooperate for peace and conciliation. Particular respect
is required toward all religious symbols and monuments ... A basic
precondition for peace and justice, that we all desire in our
region, is (to have) above all respect toward everything dedicated
to the God of peace and justice."
[11] GREEK OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER TRAVELS TO LONDON TODAY
The President of Greece's minor opposition party Democratic
and Social Movement (DIKKI) Dimitris Tsovolas, is to travel to
London this evening in order to attend tomorrow's conference on
peace in the Balkans.
The conference, organized by the British Committee, will deal
with issues concerning the consequences borne by NATO's raids over
Yugoslavia, the Alliance's new military dogma - a threat to world
peace - and the formation of international alliances for the
reconstruction of Yugoslavia and the Balkan region.
[12] KLA TORN BY INTERNAL CONFLICT, "EVERYONE WANTED TO BE CHIEF"
The Kosovo Liberation Army, a.k.a. UCK, is suffering from
internal conflict, marked by violence and driven by a thirst for
power, according to an article published in today's edition of
The New York Times.
According to the report which quotes current and former
commanders in the rebel army and some Western diplomats, UCK
senior commanders have carried out assassinations, arrests and
purges within their ranks to thwart potential rivals.
The report, bylined by Chris Hedges, also states that at
least six top UCK commanders were killed under the order of Hashim
Thaci and two of his lieutenants, Azem Syla and Xhavit Haliti.
While none of the KLA officials interviewed saw Thaci or his
aides execute
anyone, they recounted, and in some cases said they had witnessed,
incidents
in which Thaci's rivals had been killed shortly after he or one of
his aides had
threatened them with death.
"When the war started, everyone wanted to be the chief," said
Rifat Haxhijaj,
30, a former lieutenant in the Yugoslav army who left the rebel
movement last
September , adding that "for the leadership, this was never just a
war against Serbs -- it was also a struggle for power."
Thaci's representative in Switzerland, Jashae Salihu, denied
accounts of
assassinations.
"These kind of reports are untrue," he said.
The U.S. State Department has also challenged some aspects of
these accounts.
"We simply don't have information to substantiate allegations
that there was a KLA-leadership-directed program of assassinations
or executions," James Rubin, the State Department spokesman, said.
However, western diplomats stationed in the Balkans have also
reported the participation of Albanian secret service agents in
UCK's activities, which is being confirmed by former members of
the rebel group who said that the Albanian government had offered
the use of its secret agents to UCK.
[13] U.S. OFFERS $5 MILLION FOR REPORTS LEADING TO MILOSEVIC
ARREST
The U.S. State Department United States will pay a
remuneration of five million dollars for information leading to
the arrest of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and Serb
President Milan Milutinovic, both accused by the International
tribunal for former Yugoslavia of having committed war crimes.
Meanwhile, the Yugoslav Parliament has decided to lift the
country's state of war that had been declared when NATO began its
air raids in March.
[14] SERB TV REPORTS ATTEMPT ON ITALIAN FM'S LIFE IN KOSOVO
The state-run RTS Serb TV station reported yesterday that an
attempt on the life of Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini was
staged during his trip to Kosovo on Wednesday.
According to a wire report from the Russian news agency Itar-
Tass, the broadcast said that the Italian minister, who was in
Kosovo together with his counterparts from Great Britain, Germany
and France, was fired at by the militants of the Kosovo liberation
army. As proof, the TV showed CNN footage in which Mr. Dini was
shown completely surrounded by plain-clothed bodyguards and KFOR
soldiers. No other sources of the report were mentioned.
The anchorman said KLA decided to scare Mr. Dini, who planned
to visit Italian soldiers in the town of Pec, because the Italians
were actively protecting Serbs there.
The head of the Sava monastery, who met NATO Secretary
General Javier Solana yesterday, said some 20 Serbs had been
killed over the last days in Pec, 30 were taken hostage and
several women raped.
[15] EU ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS TO TIGHTEN CONTROLS ON G-M FOODS
The European Union's Environment Ministers agreed today on a
draft directive tightening regulations on genetically-modified
foods.
The EU Ministers, with only France, Ireland and Italy
abstaining, backed the amendments to the regulations in force
since 1992.
According to the French news agency AFP, there was no
agreement on a suspension of authorizations to grow genetically-
modified crops, which France had backed, and the ministers finally
issued two separate statements, supported by five and six
countries respectively.
[16] BTC SOON SOLD TO GREEK-DUTCH TELECOMMUNICATION GROUP
Bulgaria's state-owned telecommunications organization BTC
is to soon fall into the hands of the Greek-Dutch
telecommunications consortium OTE-KNP, which was the sole bidder
for the purchase of 51% of the company's shares.
According to the Bulgarian Foreign Investments Agency (BIFA),
Bulgarian vice-president Evgeni Bakargiev stated that BTC will
soon be sold to OTE-KNP and added that the agreement is expected
to be highly profitable.
The 51% controlling stake is estimated at between
$600 million and one billion dollars.
Bulgaria's telephone network is relatively
developed with 2.7 million telephone lines and its 1998 profits
rose to $300 million.
[17] GREEK AMBASSADOR TO F.R.Y. VLASSOPOULOS VISITS KOSOVO
Greece's Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Panayotis Vlassopoulos visited Kosovo on Wednesday where he met
with the head of the United Nations mission in Prishtina Sergio de
Melo, the President of the Serb executive council Zoran
Angelkovic, the bishop of Prizren Artemios, the members of the
Greek humanitarian mission and visited the Greek peacekeeping
force in Urosevac.
In his meeting with Kosovo's Serb leadership, Mr.
Vlassopoulos noted their urgent requests for border controls and
for substantial security provided to the region's Serbs, which he
relayed to Mr. de Melo.
Mr. Vlassopoulos called on the Greek soldiers to facilitate
the safe departure of the few Serbs remaining in Urosevac who are
exposed to daily attacks by the Albanians. He said that the
mission of the Greek force is to
provide security for all ethnic groups in the area and expressed
hope that necessary conditions for the peaceful cohabitation of
all ethnic communities will be created soon.
Referring to potential reactions by the Albanians against the
Greek military presence in Kosovo, Mr. Vlassopoulos said limited
problems will exist at the beginning but the contribution of the
Greek force combined with Greek humanitarian aid will eliminate
every phenomenon of dispute.
Mr. Vlassopoulos also visited the town of Nis and inspected
work being carried out at the Greek consulate which was seriously
damaged by the bombings.
The mayor of Nis, Zoran Zivkovic, thanked the Greek
Ambassador for the aid and moral support provided by Greece to
his city.
[18] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF ARGENTINA
The need to control the globalization of the economy will be
underlined by Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis in the Socialist
International Council meeting that will be held in Buenos Aires
this afternoon.
There is a need to control the capital movement to avoid
unfavorable effects on the weaker countries, stated Mr. Simitis
and added that the balanced development in the world must be
reinforced.
Prime minister Kostas Simitis met with Argentine president
Carlos Menem. The two men discussed mainly issues of common
agriculture policy. The Greek prime minister backed the adoption
of measures that will help the small producers and assist in the
development of rural areas.
The day after tomorrow, Mr. Simitis will be in Rio de Janeiro
in Brazil to represent Greece in a joint summit meeting of the
European Union with the Latin American countries. The prime
minister is accompanied by minister of press and mass media
Dimitris Reppas, deputy foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis and
Euro-deputy Anna Karamanou.
[19] THE RUSSIAN UPPER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT APPROVED A PEACEKEEPING
MISSION TO KOSOVO
The Russian Upper House of Parliament approved with an
overwhelming majority a peacekeeping mission to Kosovo. The first
Russian troops are expected to leave for Kosovo on Monday. The
agreement with NATO provides for the deployment of a Russian force
that will number 3.600 men.
Meanwhile, the Serb province is facing a wave of vandalism
and revenge attacks launched by the ethnic Albanian refugees
against the Serbs.
[20] ISRAELI JETS BOMBED TARGETS IN LEBANON
Israeli fighter jets bombed electricity production plants and
bridges in Lebanon yesterday and today in retaliation to the
missile attacks launched by the Hezbollah in northern Israel.
Ten people lost their lives when Hezbollah rebels launched
missiles against northern Israel, near the borders with Lebanon,
while other 7 people were killed in the Israeli air strikes.
The Israeli army chief has stated that even though Israel
does not want the escalation of the crisis it will not remain
inactive for as long as the Hezbollah forces attack unarmed
civilians.
Based on the 1996 agreement signed by Israel and Lebanon the
rebel forces from both sides should avoid attacking populated
areas.
[21] PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS ARE PREPARED BY THE KURDS IN RUSSIA
A group of Kurds living in Moscow will start a hunger strike
in a show of protest against the trial of Kurdish PKK leader
Abdullah Ocalan which is underway in Turkey.
A protest demonstration had been scheduled to be held next
Tuesday in Moscow when the Turkish court decision will be issued
but according to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass, the
demonstration will be postponed for July 1 because the Russian
authorities had not been informed on time.
Representatives of the Kurdish community have stated that
protest demonstrations will be held in regions of Russia with
considerable Kurdish communities as well as, in Armenia and the
Ukraine.
[22] A CIA AGENT HAD WARNED NATO OF A "WRONG TARGET" BEFORE THE
BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY
Three days before the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy
building in Belgrade a secret agent and CIA analyst had warned his
colleagues and the European military officials that the alliance
had chosen the wrong target but his views did not reach his
superiors according to US officials, based on a Reuters report.
The US newspaper "Washington Post" was first to refer to the
CIA agent warning. NATO bombed the Chinese embassy building in
Belgrade on May 7 killing 3 people and injuring 20, while the
alliance characterized the bombing as a tragic mistake.
In spite of the fact that the United States have apologized
to China the relations of the two countries have entered a crisis
and the explanations given by US assistant secretary of state
Thomas Pickering to the Chinese leadership last week were not
found to be convincing by China.
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