The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-04-29

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <ert.ntua.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] NATO strikes Yugoslav targets for 34th night

The Tanyug news agency reported that four rockets fell in the region of Novi Sad. Belgrade radio said the town's oil refinery had again been hit.

Shortly after midnight, powerful explosions shook the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica. The Studio B radio station spoke of explosions at the port of Bar but it is has not yet been clarified what targets were hit.

Meanwhile a missile struck the Gorna Banja district of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, earlier this morning, destroying the top floor of a 3- storey building. After visiting the area, the country's president, Petar Stoyanov, said there were no casualties. A NATO representative said the Alliance had been informed of the explosion but that he did not know the cause.

According to the Tanyug news agency, an explosion occurred in the town of Surdulica but there are no reports so far of any casualties. Explosions were also heard in the region of Fruska Gora, near the Vojvodina capital Novi Sad.

At least 15 missiles have struck the Golubovci district of Podgorica, where the city's military and civil airport is located.

[02] Government crisis in Yugoslavia

Meanwhile three ministers belonging to the same party as Mr Draskovic have announced their withdrawal from the government in protest at the move. According to the Tanyug news agency, Mr Draskovic was dismissed for making statements that did not conform to the official party line concerning the deployment of a multinational peace-keeping force in Kosovo. Mr Draskovic has denied the charges, claiming his sole aim was to restore peace in Yugoslavia and safeguard the country's territorial integrity with a regime of broadly-based autonomy for Kosovo.

Almost simultaneously with Mr Draskovic's dismissal, the Serbian president, Milan Milutinovic, and the leader of Kosovo's ethnic Albanians, Ibrahim Rugova, agreed yesterday to open talks aimed at finding a political solution that would grant Kosovo a considerable degree of self-government.

[03] Diplomatic efforts in Moscow to resolve Kosovo crisis

The Greek foreign minister, Giorgos Papandreou, and the Russian president's special mediator in the Yugoslav crisis, Viktor Chernomyrdin, met in Moscow yesterday and said afterwards that diplomatic efforts to find a political solution to the problem should be intensified.

Mr Chernomyrdin is to visit Bonn, Rome and Belgrade today, within the framework of diplomatic initiatives.

Referring to the intense diplomatic activities that have been taking place in the last few days, the NATO secretary general, Javier Solana, stated yesterday that some progress had been made.

Meanwhile, the Greek national defence minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, and alternate foreign minister, Iannos Kranidiotis, who took part in the European Socialist party meeting in Brussels, both expressed their optimism that the recent diplomatic activity would lead to a solution.

[04] US House of Representatives votes on NATO operations

The House failed by just one vote to pass a motion put forward by the Democrats calling for the House to support the continuation of the bombing against Yugoslavia.

Earlier deputies adopted a resolution calling for ground operations in Kosovo not to be financed unless Congress gave the green light.

Referring to the debate on the military operations in Yugoslavia, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Denis Hustert, said yesterday that President Clinton should provide a better explanation for the strategy he is following in Yugoslavia. He claimed the debate showed there was a diversity of views in the House concerning the deployment of troops.

[05] Labour Day celebrations get under way in Athens

[06] Prime minister warns against alarmism over Kosovo

[07] Minister says Greek economy not affected by Yugoslav war

The governor of the Bank of Greece, Loukas Papadimas, will today present his annual report on the course of the Greek economy and its prospects.

[08] Globalisation conference gets under way in Athens

The vice-president of the European Commission, Sir Leon Brittan, who opened the conference, said Greece was very close to joining economic and monetary union and estimated that it would achieve its target in 2001 if the Greek government continued firmly with its efforts.

Approximately 40 personalities from Greece and abroad, including government ministers, political party leaders and businessmen, are participating in the conference.

[09] Political parties condemn terrorist attack on hotel

[10] Transport memorandum signed for S.E. Europe

The transport ministers of Albania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Hungary, Moldavia, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey signed a memorandum concerning road facilities for commercial transport.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Greek and Hungarian ministers agreed that more licenses should be granted for Greek trucks to pass through Hungary, while Hungarian airlines will increase the number of flights to Thessaloniki.

[11] Agricultural agreements signed by Greece and Cyprus

Accompanied by his Cypriot counterpart, Kostas Themistokleous, Mr Anomeritis had a meeting with the Cypriot president, Glafkos Kliridis, yesterday morning. The two ministers briefed the Cypriot president about the agreements reached during their contacts in Nicosia.

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