Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-02-23
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, February 23, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GOVERNMENT COUNCIL FOR DEFENSE CONVENES TODAY
[02] PREMIER: PARTY CONGRESS TO BE HELD AS PLANNED IN MARCH
[03] NATO FORCES WILL REPORTEDLY TRAVEL THROUGH GREECE
[04] ALTERNATE FM MEETS WITH ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
[05] THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED THAT A FACT-FINDING COMMISSION
WILL HOLD AN INQUIRY ON THE OCALAN AFFAIR
[06] LEADING GOVERNMENT MINISTERS DENY INFORMATION ON THE
RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS
[07] THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE
MEETING IS UNDERWAY
[08] STEPHANOPOULOS-KARAMANLIS MEETING
[09] OPERATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF NATO FORCES TO KOSOVO VIA
THESSALONIKI
[10] THE GREEK-AMERICAN NATIONAL COUNCIL ADDRESSED A LETTER TO THE
US PRESIDENT ON OCALAN
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[11] THOUSANDS OF EUROPEAN FARMERS PROTEST MEASURES
[12] GREEK FM ON WHY GREECE DIDN'T INFORM EU ON OCALAN'S ASYLUM
REQUEST
[13] FM PAPANDREOU SATISFIED WITH EU'S STATEMENT ON TURKEY
[14] WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON ON OCALAN CASE
[15] KOSOVO TALKS DEADLINE LOOMING AHEAD
[16] GREEK INVESTMENTS IN BULGARIA ON THE RISE
[17] GERMANY READY TO DISPATCH 5,500 PEACEKEEPERS IN KOSOVO
[18] OCALAN FACES HIGH TREASON CHARGES, TO BE TRIED IN GLASS CAGE
[19] GREEK FM OFFICIAL IN NAIROBI TO FACILITATE PKK MEMBERS
[20] ARMED CONFLICT ERUPTS BETWEEN SERBS AND UCK REBELS
[21] EUROPEAN COURT REVIEWS REQUEST OF TEMPORARY MEASURES AGAINST
TURKEY
[22] THE DEADLINE FOR A PEACE AGREEMENT IN RAMBOUILLET HAS ENDED
[23] A MILITARY OPERATION IN KOSOVO WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR NATO
[24] THE HOSPITALS IN SERBIA ARE IN A STATE OF ALERT
[25] THE GREEK AMBASSADOR MET WITH THE YUGOSLAV DEPUTY VICE-
PRESIDENT
[26] RUSSIA WILL FREEZE ITS COOPERATION WITH NATO IN CASE OF AIR
STRIKES AGAINST SERBIA
[27] THE INTERROGATION OF OCALAN WAS COMPLETED TODAY
[28] EARTHQUAKE OF 4.3 ON THE RICHTER SCALE SHOOK LIMASSOL IN
CYPRUS
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GOVERNMENT COUNCIL FOR DEFENSE CONVENES TODAY
The Government Council for Defense (KYSEA) is to hold an
extraordinary meeting this afternoon, chaired by the Prime
Minister Kostas Simitis, in order to discuss the Ocalan case and
its aftermath.
Meanwhile, Turkey has embarked on an organized campaign to
smear Greece and its foreign policy tactics. Turkish President
Suleiman Demirel claimed that Greece should rank among those
countries which support terrorism, while Turkish daily "Hurriyet"
has reported that Mr. Ocalan has supposedly confessed to his
interrogators that Greece supports the PKK rebels by providing
them with arms and military training.
Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas said that this
propaganda was expected and added that it falls on dead water.
[02] PREMIER: PARTY CONGRESS TO BE HELD AS PLANNED IN MARCH
While the Ocalan Affair continues to reverberate throughout
Greece's ruling PASOK party, Prime Minister and party president
Kostas Simitis has rejected recommendations that the PASOK
congress, scheduled for March, be postponed.
Mr. Simitis has made it clear that the congress will take
place as planned and has stated that the latest developments
surrounding the Ocalan case provide an opportunity to secure the
party's unity.
Meanwhile, National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos,
who had asked that the congress be held after the European
Parliament elections, to be held in June, has not yet stated what
his stance will be.
[03] NATO FORCES WILL REPORTEDLY TRAVEL THROUGH GREECE
The ports of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, and Litochoro,
central Greece, have reportedly been selected by NATO for the
transport of its troops to Kosovo, with part of the dispatch
taking place as early as this afternoon, when the deadline for
agreement at the Rambouillet-held talks expires.
According to local press reports, three NATO ships carrying
4,000 Kosovo-bound troops are expected to moor at the port of
Litochoro today.
While NATO ships are already anchored at the port of
Thessaloniki, whose troops have moved on to Skopje, the force's
main body, estimated at 50,000 troops, has yet to arrive.
[04] ALTERNATE FM MEETS WITH ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
Albania's Foreign Minister Paskal Milo was received by
Greece's alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis on Sunday
with whom he discussed the latest developments in the Kosovo
crisis in light of the Rambouillet negotiations, as well Greek-
Albanian bilateral relations.
Both men confirmed the excellent level of those relations,
which they said was
proved by the close contact and cooperation between the two
governments.
Mr. Milo said Tirana was examining the renewal of the Greek
military force's (ELDAL-2) term in Albania, which expires next
month.
Mr. Milo reiterated Albania's positions on the situation in
Kosovo, stressing that the Kosovo Albanians were now more prepared
to accept the agreement than the Serb side, since they desired the
presence of an international peacekeeping force in Kosovo.
Mr. Kranidiotis stressed the critical nature of the
situation, warning that time was running out.
[05] THE PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED THAT A FACT-FINDING COMMISSION
WILL HOLD AN INQUIRY ON THE OCALAN AFFAIR
Prime minister Kostas Simitis announced after the end of the
meetings of the government committee and the governmental council
on foreign affairs and defense that a fact-finding commission will
hold an inquiry on the Ocalan affair, while he added that the
government will continue its work.
Referring to the joint decision of the European Union foreign
ministers council on the occasion of the Ocalan issue, he
characterized it as positive, adding that it calls on Turkey to
offer a fair and open trial to Ocalan based on international law,
while it also calls on Turkey to solve the Kurdish problem through
political means and with full respect to human rights.
On the provocative statements made by Ankara which accuses
Greece of harbouring Kurdish terrorists, Mr. Simitis said that
the Turkish officials are engaging in mud-slinging attacks after
Turkey's failure to make the Kurdish issue part of the Greek-
Turkish relations. However, said Mr. Simitis, Turkey will always
be accountable before the international community for the human
rights violations committed in its territory.
On the fact-finding commission that will hold an inquiry on
the Ocalan affair, Mr. Simitis stated that he came to this
decision in order to have complete transparency and information on
how the issue develops.
He said that the course of Greece can not be stopped and that
his government will implement its policy that was approved by the
Greek people in the 1996 elections. He said that Greece will
become an equal partner in the European procedures and will
participate in the economic and monetary union in accordance with
the timetable and the procedures set.
Mr. Simitis said that he will be in Bonn on Thursday for the
EU summit meeting and on Sunday he will be in Milan to attend the
European Socialist Party congress. He said that both in Bonn and
in Milan he will have bilateral talks with the leaders of the
European Union to present to them the problems that arise from
Turkey's stance and the need for the EU to follow the policy line
already set with yesterday's EU foreign ministers joint decision.
[06] LEADING GOVERNMENT MINISTERS DENY INFORMATION ON THE
RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS
Minister of press Dimitris Reppas, minister of development
Evangelos Venizelos and national economy and finance minister
Yiannos Papantoniou categorically denied the information reported
by international news agencies on the allegedly imminent
resignation of prime minister Kostas Simitis as a result of the
Ocalan affair.
The minister of press stressed that the course of the
government continues based on its political plan and added that at
this crucial moment political stability must be safeguarded and
what was achieved with a huge effort and sacrifices in the past
years should not be put at risk. Mr. Reppas stated that an
unfortunate event should not be turned into a national disaster.
From his part, minister of national economy and finance
Yiannos Papantoniou condemned the "irresponsible circles" that
have put into motion a series of unreal rumours. He underlined
that the stability of the government and the prime minister is
given and added that the next national elections will be held in
the year 2000 as scheduled.
Minister of development Evangelos Venizelos made an appeal
for unity having as a goal a new beginning.
[07] THE GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE
MEETING IS UNDERWAY
The governmental council of foreign affairs and defence
meeting is underway under the chairmanship of prime minister
Kostas Simitis.
Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan appeared before a judge in the
Imrali island and was accused of high treason according to Reuters
news agency. Earlier, the newspaper "Hurriyet" published another
part of the alleged testimony given by Ocalan according to which,
Italy had armed the Kurdish rebels with land mines and South
Africa with missiles.
The EU interior ministers will meet today to discuss the
issue of the arrest of the Kurdish leader.
[08] STEPHANOPOULOS-KARAMANLIS MEETING
The country's prestige can not be restored by the present
government and prime minister Kostas Simitis can not remain in
power for much longer, stated right-wing main opposition party of
New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis immediately after his
meeting with president Kostis Stephanopoulos.
Mr. Karamanlis stated that the prime minister has huge
responsibility in the Ocalan case and instead of assuming it he is
looking for scapegoats. He added that during his meeting with the
president he expressed his concern over further developments in
the Ocalan affair and he presented his party's position that the
worst can be avoided and future developments can be dealt with
only through national union of hearts.
[09] OPERATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF NATO FORCES TO KOSOVO VIA
THESSALONIKI
A huge operation is underway for the transfer of NATO forces
and armaments to FYROM and then to Kosovo via Thessaloniki in view
of the likelihood of a military intervention by the allied forces.
A French warship is expected to sail into the port of
Thessaloniki tomorrow morning carrying French soldiers who will
have Kosovo as their destination. According to a scenario, over
20.000 soldiers will pass through the ports of Thessaloniki,
Katerini and Volos in case of an intervention in Kosovo.
[10] THE GREEK-AMERICAN NATIONAL COUNCIL ADDRESSED A LETTER TO THE
US PRESIDENT ON OCALAN
The request letter sent by the Greek-American National
Council to US president Bill Clinton is an appeal for intervention
aimed at the fair trial of Abdullah Ocalan and an expression of
support to the Kurdish people. The letter is also addressed to the
US Congress, the European Union and other international community
institutions that could play a mediating role in the Kurdish
problem.
In the letter the Greek-American institution urges the US
president, the EU and every politically sensitive individual to
show interest in the protection of the human rights of the Kurdish
people and to exert pressure in order to secure a fair trial for
Ocalan based on the international provisions for the protection of
human rights.
The Greek-American National Council also appeals to the
United States and the European Union to help toward the fair
solution of the Kurdish problem.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[11] THOUSANDS OF EUROPEAN FARMERS PROTEST MEASURES
Thousands of farmers throughout the European Union's member-
states, Greece included, participated in the sector's biggest
demonstration in the past 25 years yesterday when they gathered in
Brussels to protest the EU's plans to reform agricultural subsidy
programs.
The protesters, defying extremely adverse weather conditions,
clashed with Belgian police who doused them with water cannons
when they tried to enter the EU's headquarters. There were no
victims.
The rally coincided with the start of an EU agriculture
ministers meeting on
how to cut guaranteed farm prices by as much as 30 percent.
According to organizers, about 40,000 farmers took part in
the three-mile march across Brussels, with the biggest delegations
coming from Germany and France, although police estimated the
crowd at just below 30,000.
[12] GREEK FM ON WHY GREECE DIDN'T INFORM EU ON OCALAN'S ASYLUM
REQUEST
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou, addressing the
European Union's Foreign Ministers Council yesterday referred to
the Ocalan case and Greece's role in the whole matter, by stating
that "Greece, like many other European Union countries, could not
accept extending political asylum to Abdullah Ocalan but attempted
for primarily humanitarian reasons, to assist him in finding
refuge."
The Foreign Minister further added that "this attempt failed,
but Prime Minister Kostas Simitis has ordered that any criminal
responsibilities in this affair be investigated."
Greece did not inform its EU partners about the fact that Mr.
Ocalan had requested refuge from Greece since the European Union
proved not to be in a position to take a joint stand on the issue,
Mr. Papandreou added.
Mr. Papandreou also told his counterparts that the Kurdish
issue is not a dispute between Greece and Turkey, but an issue
that involves the fundamental principles of international law,
especially the protection of human rights and the rights of
minorities.
[13] FM PAPANDREOU SATISFIED WITH EU'S STATEMENT ON TURKEY
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou has stated that
he is fully satisfied with the content of the statement issued by
the EU allies concerning the Kurdish issue and PKK leader Abdullah
Ocalan's imminent trial.
The statement calls on Turkey to take all the necessary
measures so as to ensure Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan's trial
is conducted on the basis of the rule of law, with Ocalan
receiving access to legal counsel of his choice and with
international observers admitted to the trial.
[14] WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON ON OCALAN CASE
A White House spokesperson stated that the Ocalan affair
grants Turkey with the opportunity to conduct an open and
transparent trial.
James Lockhart stated "we believe that the trial offers a
chance to Turkey to show to the European community and the rest of
the world that it can provide the legal
process in an open and transparent trial. We think that this is an
opportunity and our hope is that they (the Turks) will do it."
Dismissing reports on U.S. involvement in the capture of Mr.
Ocalan, Mr. Lockhart said he was unaware of attacks by the Turkish
press against Greece.
[15] KOSOVO TALKS DEADLINE LOOMING AHEAD
With an imminent deadline before them, Serbs and ethnic
Albanians from Kosovo are expected to reach a deal designed to end
the conflict, during the tail end of talks presently held in
Rambouillet, France.
As of last night, NATO general Wesley Clark is also taking
part in the negotiations, attempting to convince the Albanian side
to accept the offered agreement, one that would shift the burden
on the Serb side which is being threatened with air strikes by the
Alliance.
[16] GREEK INVESTMENTS IN BULGARIA ON THE RISE
The chairman of the Trade and Industry Chamber of Serres, a
city in northern Greece, has told Bulgarian press that Greek
companies aspire to constitute Bulgaria's largest investor, during
a meeting held recently at Sofia's Chamber of Commerce.
Twenty-one Greek ventures were represented at the talks,
spanning the sectors of food, metal, insurance, etc. And the Greek
businessmen expressed their interest to participate in Bulgaria's
privatization process.
Presently, Greece ranks fourth among Bulgaria's investors.
Northern Greece's chambers are interested in opening branch
offices in Bulgaria in order to assist Greek investors active in
that country.
[17] GERMANY READY TO DISPATCH 5,500 PEACEKEEPERS IN KOSOVO
German Defense Minister Rudolph Scharping has stated that his
country is ready to send 5,500 troops to the international force
that will monitor the Kosovo accord, once it is signed in
Rambouillet, France.
Mr. Scharping also stated that if the talks fail, then German
military servicemen will take part in NATO's operation in the
region.
[18] OCALAN FACES HIGH TREASON CHARGES, TO BE TRIED IN GLASS CAGE
The Turkish government has brought charges of high treason
against PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is to be kept in a glass
cage during the course of his trial, according to Turkish
television reports.
Meanwhile, his Germany attorney has appealed to the European
Union that it assign observers during the "mock-trial", as she
dubbed the process.
According to Ankara daily "Hurriyet", the interrogation
process is to be completed in four-to-five days and his trial will
begin in April.
Turkish Premier Bulent Ecevit stated that Mr. Ocalan is
having health problems, while press reports have said that he is
suffering from heart ailments.
[19] GREEK FM OFFICIAL IN NAIROBI TO FACILITATE PKK MEMBERS
A high-ranking, non-political official from Greece's Foreign
Ministry is to travel to Nairobi today in order to facilitate in
the negotiations for the safe return of the officer of Greece's
National Information Agency (EYP) Savas Kalederidis and the three
PKK members who accompanied Abdullah Ocalan during his travel to
Kenya.
Three female aides of Mr. Ocalan remained in the Greek
embassy in Nairobi ever since his apprehension a week ago.
According to undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Grigoris
Niotis, Greek ambassador George Kostoulas is remaining in the
Kenyan capital in order to assist the three women and Mr.
Kalederidis.
[20] ARMED CONFLICT ERUPTS BETWEEN SERBS AND UCK REBELS
The situation in Kosovo is taking a turn for the worse, with
uncertainty over the results of the Rambouillet-held talks between
Serbs and Kosovo's Albanians.
According to Russian news agency Itar-Tass, members of the
Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) attacked the Serb village of Bukos
last night and killed one Serb, while wounding two others.
The Serb-controlled Media Center reported that the police
rushed to the village and forced the UCK fighters out, while the
incident was reported to the observers of the Organization for
Security an Cooperation in Europe.
[21] EUROPEAN COURT REVIEWS REQUEST OF TEMPORARY MEASURES AGAINST
TURKEY
The European Commission's committee on torture prevention has
published a report outlining nine specific steps that should be
taken in order to combat the "indisputable", as it characterized
it, reality of torture practices in Turkey, shortly before
attorneys representing PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is
presently imprisoned at an island in Turkey where he faces charges
of high treason, filed a complain to the European Court of Human
Rights that Ankara has violated his human rights, his right to
liberty and security, his right to a fair trial and his right to
protection from torture.
The report outlines the following emergency steps that would
ensure a fair trial: 1) to provide the defendant with free access
to counsel of his choice 2) to have a lawyer present during all
statements made by the accused 3) to allow the defendant to notify
family members or next of kin 4) to proceed to regular and
unscheduled reviews of interrogation tactics and conditions of
incarceration 5) to grant medical tests, by independent
physicians, that will aim at preventing acts of torture 6) to
denounce places of interrogation that are "terrorist" and
dispersed from one end of the country to another, 7) to forbid
long-term imprisonment in complete isolation, 8) to be aware
that Ankara has already drafted prison plans designed for
prisoners who are deemed "dangerous" for the state, with "special
holding conditions" 9) to tape and videotape all interrogations
conducted by the anti-terrorist team.
Such measures are typically requested when a party faces
great harm such as execution or deportation to a hostile country.
[22] THE DEADLINE FOR A PEACE AGREEMENT IN RAMBOUILLET HAS ENDED
The deadline of the international community that was given to
the Serbs and the ethnic Albanians in order to reach a peace
agreement on Kosovo in the Rambouillet talks has ended without any
progress at 4 pm Greek time.
Diplomatic sources say that a new extension is possible in
order for the two sides to continue the talks. According to the
Reuters news agency, citing a diplomat participating in the
Rambouillet talks, the Serbs have accepted in principle the
political part of the peace proposal made by the international
community, but they reject the presence of NATO forces for its
implementation.
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia vice-president Vuk Draskovic
stated earlier today that at the last moment the international
mediators adopted and included in the draft agreement the ethnic
Albanian demand for a referendum in Kosovo after a three-year
interim period. Mr. Draskovic characterized this move as
unacceptable.
[23] A MILITARY OPERATION IN KOSOVO WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR NATO
Former General Army Staff chief of the united Yugoslavia
Stevan Markovic stated that NATO will face greater difficult in
case of an air strike against Serbia than the difficulty faced by
the United States in the recent bombing of Iraq.
In an interview with the newspaper "Dnevni Telegraf", the
army chief of former Yugoslavia stressed that the army of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has a strong air defense system and
that former Yugoslavia has developed its defense strategy to a
great degree.
One of the advantages of Yugoslavia, according to Markovic,
is the fact that its Air Force has MIG-29 aircraft which are less
in number than the NATO war planes but they can inflict human
losses among the allied forces. According to Markovic, in case
NATO land forces invade the Serb territory, they will be faced
with T-84 armoured tanks and in this case the Yugoslav forces will
have an advantage as they know well the Kosovo terrain.
[24] THE HOSPITALS IN SERBIA ARE IN A STATE OF ALERT
The hospitals in Serbia are ready to handle the victims of a
possible NATO air strike. Minister of health Leposav Milisevic
ordered the hospitals in Serbia to be ready for the likelihood of
NATO air strikes taking the necessary measures to deal with such a
situation.
According to the Belgrade newspaper "Dnevni Telegraf", the so-
called "army food coupons" are being printed to be distributed to
civilians in case of a war.
[25] THE GREEK AMBASSADOR MET WITH THE YUGOSLAV DEPUTY VICE-
PRESIDENT
Greek ambassador to Belgrade Panagiotis Vlassopoulos conveyed
to Federal Republic of Yugoslavia deputy vice-president Vuk
Draskovic Greece's expectations that the Serb delegation in the
Rambouillet peace talks will help in the effort to reach a peace
agreement on Kosovo.
The FRY deputy vice-president stressed that the basic issue
for Serbia and Yugoslavia is to reach a fair political agreement
on Kosovo, while he expressed the hope that a good political
agreement together with the lifting of the sanctions against
Yugoslavia will open the door for a better implementation of the
agreement.
[26] RUSSIA WILL FREEZE ITS COOPERATION WITH NATO IN CASE OF AIR
STRIKES AGAINST SERBIA
Russia will break every cooperation with NATO if the north
Atlantic alliance launches air strikes against Serbia, stated a
Russian ministry of defense official according to the French news
agency AFP.
General Leonid Ivasov, in charge of the international
cooperation department in the Russian ministry of defense, stated
that Russia does not want any cooperation with an organization
that violates the international regulations in the relations
between countries.
Mr. Ivasov stated that Russia will participate in an
international peace-keeping force in Kosovo only if a political
decision is reached and only under the auspices of the UN security
council and the OSCE.
[27] THE INTERROGATION OF OCALAN WAS COMPLETED TODAY
The interrogation of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan by the
three prosecutors that were appointed by the State Security Court
in Ankara has been completed and an order for his arrest has been
issued, while the charges against him have not been made yet.
Already, Ocalan has appeared before judge Mehmet Marasli.
Meanwhile, four of the 14 lawyers, who requested to undertake
the defense of Ocalan before the court that will try him, are in
the city of Mudania and one of them has secured a permit by the
State Security prosecutor in Ankara allowing him to go to Imrali
prison-island in the Sea of Marmara in order to get the
authorization of the Kurdish leader himself to represent him in
court.
[28] EARTHQUAKE OF 4.3 ON THE RICHTER SCALE SHOOK LIMASSOL IN
CYPRUS
An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale shook the
city of Limassol in Cyprus last night.
According to the Geological Review department, the
earthquake's epicenter was located in the region of Episkopi near
Limassol. The tremor was felt in the city of Limassol and in
Larnaca and according to the local authorities, no damages were
reported.
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