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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 99-03-29Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY THE MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, March 29, 1999TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] NATO CONTINUES TO RAID YUGOSLAVIA, ATTACKS INTENSIFYBelgrade, March 29 (MPA)Yugoslavia resembled an inferno last night, as NATO intensified its attacks -16 in all- against the capital city of the Kosovo province, Prishtina.Adding insult to injury, Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) rebels, who represent the area's ethnic Albanians, pounced on Serb forces in Prishtina. Meanwhile, NATO officials categorically refuted rumors that five NATO fighters and one helicopter were downed. United States President Bill Clinton announced the State Department's intent to intensify the raids, although American public opinion appears to be divided over the war in Kosovo. At the same time, Paris and Vienna have ruled out their participation in land forces missions to Yugoslavia. Also, Russian President Boris Yeltsin may met with his Yugoslav counterpart Slobodan Milosevic in an effort to halt the violence. A.F. [02] PRESIDENT OF GREECE AT THE DEFENSE MINISTRY FOR BRIEFINGAthens, March 29 (MPA)The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos is presently at the Ministry of National Defense where he is being briefed by the country's political and military leaders on the latest developments in Kosovo and the present situation at the country's northern borders.Foreign Minister George Papandreou met with his counterpart from FYROM last night in Athens whom he assured that Greece will provide every possible assistance to Skopje in regards to the incoming wave of Kosovo refugees. A.F. [03] PASOK'S NEW EXECUTIVE BUREAU TO BE ELECTED TODAYAthens, March 29 (MPA)The central committee of the country's ruling PASOK party is to convene today in order to elect the new members of the Executive Bureau and the party's Secretary.In light of today's session, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis held successive meetings yesterday with the Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, Environment, City Planning and Public Works Kostas Laliotis and Interior Vaso Papandreou. The CC members can vote for up to seven candidates, while, as foreseen by the quota principles, at least two women will be elected as members. A.F. [04] GREECE'S GOVERNMENT COUNCIL FOR DEFENSE CONVENES TONIGHTAthens, March 28 (MPA)Greece's Prime Minister Kostas Simitis will chair the Government Council for Defense (KYSEA) tonight, which will review the crisis situation in the neighboring Yugoslavia.KYSEA will also attempt to coordinate the Greek government's stance in regards to achieving a solution to the drama, stressing the need to resolve the case through political, not military, means. The Greek government continues its contact with other European countries. A.F. [05] GREEK ALTERNATE FM MEETS WITH US AMBASSADOR BURNSAthens, March 29 (MPA)Greece's alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis is to receive the United States Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns today who is expected to relay the State Department's appeal for a unified front in regards to NATO's raids against Yugoslavia.In a letter forwarded to Greek Prime Minster Kostas Simitis, United States President Bill Clinton requests unqualified support to NATO's raids. President Clinton asks that "all members of the Alliance support NATO's decisions" and stressed the necessity of Greece "remaining united with its allies in NATO". A.F. [06] ANTI-WAR RALLY TO BE HELD IN THESSALONIKI THIS EVENINGThessaloniki, March 29 (MPA)An anti-war rally will be held in downtown Thessaloniki this evening, featuring the participation of the city's prefecture, local government, Aristotle University teaching staff, the local chapter of the civil servants union (ADEDY), chambers and other professional organizations, political parties, and others.In a joint announcement, the rally organizers have condemned NATO's raids over Yugoslavia and states that it will forward pharmaceutical supplies to the Serbs through a humanitarian aid mission. The said supplies are being collected at the "St. Dimitrius" hospital, while a bank account is also to be opened in order to provide the Yugoslav victims with financial aid. A.F. [07] REPPAS : NO TURKISH TROOPS WILL PASS THROUGH GREECEAthens, March 29 (MPA)The Government Council for Defense (KYSEA) convened last night and reviewed the crisis in the neighboring Yugoslavia.Specifically, the participants discussed the oncoming wave of Kosovo refugees to Greece, as well as NATO' s possible ground operation to Yugoslavia. Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas reiterated that there was no question of Turkish troops passing through Greece to conduct military operations against Yugoslavia, adding that Greece will not facilitate the passage of land forces into Yugoslavia. He also said NATO troops that were already transported to FYROM via Greece were not related to ground operations in Kosovo. A.F. [08] ALBANIAN TELEGRAPH AGENCY'S DIRECTOR: WHEN WILL RAIDS END?Tirana, March 29 (MPA)As a voice of calm in the midst of cacophonous war cries, the director of the Albanian Telegraph Agency Frrok Cupi has adopted a different stance from the majority of his country's journalists in regards to NATO's bombardment of Yugoslavia.In an article published in the Tirana daily Koha Jone, Mr. Cupi, who is also the president of the Association of Balkan News Agencies, asks "When will they end? "That is the question set forth by a world frightened by the raids in the Balkans. However, the act has a beginning without which one cannot see the end. It is an ominous fact that the beginning and the end have a common place. The circle has been completed," Mr. Cupi writes. "The known disintegration process of the Yugoslav state began precisely in Kosovo during 1981-1989, (a region ) which afterall remained a part of the present- day Yugoslavia. "Therefore, the end came in the beginning. But what is the future of this act? There are some who say 'now that Yugoslavia has disintegrated it will let go of Kosovo.' However, there is the other view that claims 'now that Yugoslavia let go of the most, it will not let go of the last part.' "As such, what will be left after NATO's raids will be an unresolved conflict between the Serbs and the Albanians," Mr. Cupi warns, adding that "it was never understood that if you burn your neighbor's land, you will beg for bread tomorrow. The land continues to burn." Lastly, the Albanian journalist eloquently points out that "apparently, democracy decided to violate democracy, in order to reformulate the theory of the future order." A.F. [09] FM PAPANDREOU: GREECE TO UNDERTAKE INITIATIVE ON SERBIALondon, March 29 (MPA)Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou has told the British daily The Guardian that there is diplomatic communication between Athens and Belgrade, while h also reiterated the country's stance that diplomatic efforts need to be promoted in order to resolve the Kosovo crisis.In the interview. Mr. Papandreou said that Athens will attempt to convince Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to sign an agreement, while pointing out that Greece, as the only Balkan member of NATO and the European Union, holds a position that differs from the other Western countries. A.F. [10] PRESIDENT OF PANAMA TO VISIT GREECE ON WEDNESDAYAthens, March 29 (MPA)The President of Panama Ernesto Perez Balladares will conduct an official visit to Greece between Wednesday, March 31 and Friday, April 2.During his stay in Athens, President Balladares will meet with the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and the President of the Hellenic Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis. The Mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos will bestow upon the Panamanian President the city's Gold Medal. A.F. [11] PRESIDENT OF CHINA'S PEOPLE'S NATIONAL CONGRESS IN ATHENSAthens, March 29 (MPA)The President of China's People's National Congress Li Peng is to arrive in Athens tomorrow afternoon on an official visit.The Chinese official is visiting Greece at the invitation of the Greek Parliament's President Apostolos Kaklamanis. A.F. Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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