Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-04-06
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, April 6, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PREMIER BRIEFS STATE LEADERS ON YUGOSLAVIA CRISIS
[02] CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY
[03] GREEK PREMIER ADDRESSES THE NATION ON KOSOVO CRISIS
[04] FYROM'S PREMIER FORWARDS LETTER TO HIS GREEK COUNTERPART
[05] TALBOTT: U.S. DO NOT SUPPORT BORDER CHANGES IN THE BALKANS
[06] KOSOVO REFUGEES TO BEGIN ARRIVING IN GREECE ON THURSDAY
[07] GREECE'S POLITICAL YOUTH GROUPS TO HOLD TORCHLIGHT MARCHES
[08] THE US AMBASSADOR MET WITH THE GREEK UNDERSECRETARY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
[09] TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE
AND FYROM
[10] REPPAS: MR. KONSTANTOPOULOS DID NOT HAVE A CONSULTATION WITH
THE FOREIGN MINISTRY ON THE MEETING WITH MILOSEVIC
[11] MR. KRANIDIOTIS WILL MEET TOMORROW WITH RUSSIA'S FIRST
UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
[12] MR. PAPANDREOU WILL BE IN SKOPJE TOMORROW
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] NATO's LATEST RAID UPS THE ANTE WITH FIVE DEAD, MANY INJURED
[14] REFUGEE SITUATION HAS TAKEN DRAMATIC DIMENSIONS
[15] SYNASPISMOS PRESIDENT MEETS WITH BULGARIA'S PARVANOV
[16] RUSSIA: BORIS YELTSIN CALLS NATO RAIDS "BARBARIC"
[17] CLARK LEFT OPEN THE LIKELIHOOD OF GROUND OPERATIONS IN
YUGOSLAVIA
[18] MILOSEVIC-KONSTANTOPOULOS MEETING
[19] YELTSIN: THE WORLD SHOULD HAVE MANY CENTERS OF POWER
[20] THE PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN DUMA IS ON A VISIT TO BELGRADE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] PREMIER BRIEFS STATE LEADERS ON YUGOSLAVIA CRISIS
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis continues to stress that Greece
will not participate in NATO's military operations in Yugoslavia.
He further stated that Greece is linearly opposed to any act
that could lead to a change of borders in the Balkan region.
The Premier is to hold a briefing session today with the
country's political leaders, among them main opposition party
leader, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis, the secretary-general
of the Communist party of Greece Aleka Papariga, minor opposition
party leader, Political Spring's Antonis Samaras, and N.D.'s
honorary President Constantine Mitsotakis.
[02] CYPRIOT FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY
Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kassoulides is to arrive
in Athens today where he will discuss Nicosia's contribution to
the efforts of providing humanitarian aid to Kosovo, Montenegro
and Serbia.
According to Greek government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas,
Greece will under no circumstances agree to refugees being
sheltered in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus.
Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has proposed the
settlement of 5,000 Kosovo refugees in Turkish-occupied Famagusta.
[03] GREEK PREMIER ADDRESSES THE NATION ON KOSOVO CRISIS
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis gave a televised address to the
nation last night, where he spoke on the present situation in
Yugoslavia.
Mr. Simitis reiterated that will not get involved in military
operations, as it had stated from the very beginning of NATO's
raids against Yugoslavia, "because we are neighbors with
Yugoslavia. Because we want a political solution."
The Greek Premier also stressed that "from the very first
day, we have declared that Yugoslavia must provide a wide ranging
autonomy to Kosovo's residents. Yugoslavia must respect their
human rights and promote a peaceful settlement of differences. We
condemn the policy of ethnic cleansing followed by Serbia."
Mr. Simitis added that any fear by Greece is unjustified.
"We will not get involved in military confrontations. Greece
belongs in a zone of stability and in Europe's power structure. It
remains in this zone," he said, adding, "We are against any act
that could lead to a change of borders in the Balkans."
Concerning the refugees problem, Mr. Simitis said that decisions
taken over the past few days are the result of Greece's
initiatives.
"As far as we are concerned the basic aim should be for the
refugees to remain near their country of origin. All European
Union member-states are obliged to contribute according to their
strength and ability.
"We pay special attention to the issue of the Greek minority
in Albania, to the protection of the property of the Greek ethnic
minority in that country. Albania's leadership has reassured us
that its (Greek ethnic minority) rights would not be infringed
upon," he added.
[04] FYROM'S PREMIER FORWARDS LETTER TO HIS GREEK COUNTERPART
Outlining the severe problems his country is faced with due
to the surging in-flow of Kosovo refugees, FYROM's Prime Minister
Ljupcko Georgievski has forwarded a letter to his Greek
counterpart Kostas Simitis where he laments that his country will
soon be faced with a political tragedy.
According to the Athens daily To Vima, Mr. Georgievski writes
that FYROM is faced with humanitarian and economic catastrophes,
while he lashes out against the United States and the European
Union, accusing them of having embarked on military operations in
Yugoslavia without displaying a sense of responsibility and
without any planning for FYROM's fate.
Furthermore, Mr. Georgievski holds Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic accountable for the humanitarian tragedy in
Kosovo, and questions the degree to which the US and the EU can
guarantee FYROM's integrity and sovereignty, and if they will fund
at least a section of the humanitarian aid provided to the
refugees who have flooded his country.
Concerning the presence of 12,000 NATO troops in FYROM, Mr.
Georgievski commented that while it is viewed by Yugoslavia as an
act of aggression, "we did not want to finance this war, which,
either way, is not ours."
[05] TALBOTT: U.S. DO NOT SUPPORT BORDER CHANGES IN THE BALKANS
United States Assistant Secretary of State Strobe Talbott,
has stressed that the Clinton Administration does not condone a
change of borders in the Balkan region, and saluted the positions
adopted by Greek government officials, especially Greece's Defense
Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos who denounced the national cleansing
imposed by President Slobodan Milosevic in Yugoslavia.
When asked to comment on the oppression of the Kurds in
southeast Turkey, Mr.Talbott stated that the US. do not have a
specific formula for all the problems that arise in every corner
of the world, but, instead, each issue is dealt with separately
depending on the given situation.
"Turkey is an allied country for the United States and
Greece, it is a country that is faced with a series of problems,
one of which concern democracy," the US official stated.
In regards to the at-times tempestuous Greek-Turkish
relations, Mr. Talbott stated that the best way to resolve these
issues is the involved countries' efforts.
[06] KOSOVO REFUGEES TO BEGIN ARRIVING IN GREECE ON THURSDAY
According to reports leaked by Skopje railway staff, a train
with approximately 2,000 Kosovo refugees on board is ready to
depart from Gevgelija for Thessaloniki, prompting Greek Railway
organization staff and customs officials into immediate
mobilization.
The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has so far refused to
issue clearance to the train, until details are drawn on the
refugees' status and their registration process is completed.
As such, the train, which remains in Gevgelija, is expected
to arrive in Greece either tomorrow evening or on Thursday.
[07] GREECE'S POLITICAL YOUTH GROUPS TO HOLD TORCHLIGHT MARCHES
Greece's political youth organizations, in cooperation with
the Yugoslav Youth of Greece, are to hold torchlight marches
throughout the country tomorrow, in protest to NATO's raids on
Yugoslavia.
The marches will be held in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra,
Ioannina, Irakleio, Komotini, Alexandroupoli, Larisa, Kalamata,
Rhodes and outside the NATO base of Aktio in Preveza.
The youth organizations have stated their solidarity
to the Yugoslav people who are fighting for survival, defending
their country's integrity.
[08] THE US AMBASSADOR MET WITH THE GREEK UNDERSECRETARY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns met at noon today with
undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris Niotis.
The meeting was held in a positive atmosphere and both men
agreed that there is mutual understanding concerning the positions
of the two sides even if they are different.
The US ambassador stated that his country understands
Greece's special role as a NATO and a Balkan country and when
asked about the air raids he said that they depend on Slobodan
Milosevic's stance.
In the meeting were also discussed the preparations for Mr.
Simitis' trip to the United States and the meeting of Greek
foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou with US Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright.
[09] TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTERS OF GREECE
AND FYROM
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that
FYROM's prime minister Liuptco Georgievski has sent a letter to
Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis and to all the prime ministers
of the EU member-states presenting the problems faced by his
country because of the war in Yugoslavia.
Mr. Simitis had a telephone communication with the prime
minister of FYROM and expressed Greece's will to offer its help
for the solution of the refugee problem.
Responding to the question if there will be a settlement on
the issue of the name of FYROM within the present conjuncture of
circumstances, Mr. Reppas stated that the issue is being discussed
within the framework of the UN and there is no reason to change
that framework.
[10] REPPAS: MR. KONSTANTOPOULOS DID NOT HAVE A CONSULTATION WITH
THE FOREIGN MINISTRY ON THE MEETING WITH MILOSEVIC
There was no consultation between Coalition of the Left
leader Nikos Konstantopoulos and the Greek foreign ministry in
advance of his meeting with Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic
in Belgrade, stressed government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
He said that the Greek government has prepared a proposal on
the number of refugees Greece can take that will be presented to
the EU foreign ministers council meeting but he did not reveal any
details.
Responding to the question if the government has asked
president Kostis Stephanopoulos to lower the tones concerning the
NATO air raids, Mr. Reppas stated that the government does not
give advice to the president and does not have any reason to do
that.
[11] MR. KRANIDIOTIS WILL MEET TOMORROW WITH RUSSIA'S FIRST
UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Russia's first undersecretary of foreign affairs Alexander
Avdeyev will be in Athens tomorrow and he will meet with deputy
foreign minister Yiannos Kranidiotis.
Among the issues for discussion will be the developments in
Yugoslavia, the bilateral relations between Greece and Russia and
the Cyprus issue.
[12] MR. PAPANDREOU WILL BE IN SKOPJE TOMORROW
Foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou will be in Skopje
tomorrow and together with his FYROM counterpart Mr. Dimitrov will
visit Tirana. From there they will go to Luxembourg with their
Albanian counterpart Paskal Milo, where the EU foreign ministers
meeting will take place.
Mr. Papandreou and deputy foreign minister Yiannos
Kranidiotis met at noon today with Cypriot foreign minister Mr.
Kasoulides. Also, undersecretary of foreign affairs Grigoris
Niotis met with US ambassador Nicholas Burns.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] NATO's LATEST RAID UPS THE ANTE WITH FIVE DEAD, MANY INJURED
At least five persons were killed and over twenty others
were wounded during NATO's latest raid, this time launched against
the city of Alexinac, south of Belgrade.
A score of homes were demolished, along with a health center
and a shopping mall. The allied aircraft also targeted bridges and
airports, having upped the ante in the war against Yugoslavia.
United States President Bill Clinton announced yesterday that
the raids will continue to increase in severity. Meanwhile, Moscow
appears to have another diplomatic initiative in the works as
Premier Yevgeni Primakov is traveling to Belgrade where he will
meet with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
[14] REFUGEE SITUATION HAS TAKEN DRAMATIC DIMENSIONS
As the number of Kosovo refugees continues to swell into
unprecedented dimensions, United States President Bill Clinton
stated that the US will increase the amount of aid to the
displaced Kosovars, albeit he admitted that it was impossible to
prepare NATO for such a wave of migration.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of persons are lined up at the
FYROM border while the UNHCR urged Skopje to ease up on the
bureaucratic procedures and grant entrance to the refugees.
[15] SYNASPISMOS PRESIDENT MEETS WITH BULGARIA'S PARVANOV
The president of Greece's Coalition of the Left and Progress
Nikos Konstantopoulos met with the Bulgarian Socialist Party
Georgi Parvanov in Sofia yesterday, prior to the former's visit to
Belgrade.
Messrgs. Konstantopoulos and Parvanov stressed their support
for an immediate end to the war in Yugoslavia and a resumption of
diplomatic efforts for a peaceful solution in Kosovo.
Furthermore, they both agreed that future negotiations must
target autonomy for Kosovo within the borders and sovereignty of
Yugoslavia.
Following his meeting with Mr. Parvanov, Mr. Konstantopoulos
departed for Belgrade where he will be received by Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic today.
[16] RUSSIA: BORIS YELTSIN CALLS NATO RAIDS "BARBARIC"
Russian President Boris Yeltsin called NATO raids on
Yugoslavia "barbaric" and said future developments in the Balkans
depend on the West, while Russia continues to work towards
stopping the bombings.
According to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass, President
Yeltsin said that "one cannot but express indignation at the
barbaric bombings", adding that the Alliance has bombed historical
monuments of culture which are registered by UNESCO.
[17] CLARK LEFT OPEN THE LIKELIHOOD OF GROUND OPERATIONS IN
YUGOSLAVIA
NATO's supreme commander stated that the air strikes can not
stop the ethnic cleansing operations committed by the Serbs.
General Clark also stated that the decision for the use of ground
forces will be made by the political leadership of the alliance.
According to NATO officials, the fiercest attack since the
start of the air raids took place last night when a total of 13
regions were hit in Yugoslavia. Five missiles hit the city of
Aleksinac killing five people, while over 20 people were injured.
[18] MILOSEVIC-KONSTANTOPOULOS MEETING
Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Konstantopoulos, who is on
a visit to Belgrade, met at noon today with Yugoslav president
Slobodan Milosevic. After the meeting Mr. Milosevic made no
comments but Mr. Konstantopoulos stressed that the Yugoslav
president seeks to safeguard the independence and sovereignty of
his country and contribute to the creation of pre-conditions for a
political solution in cooperation with ethnic Albanian leader
Ibrahim Rugova.
On the issue of Kosovo, the Coalition of the Left leader
backed the immediate end of the bombings and the political
solution of the problem that will provide for the return of the
refugees to their homes and the autonomy of Kosovo within
Yugoslavia.
[19] YELTSIN: THE WORLD SHOULD HAVE MANY CENTERS OF POWER
Russian president Boris Yeltsin stated today that the world
should have many centers of power and not only one basis of
authority, according to a report by the Russian news agency Itar-
Tass.
The Russian president stated that the world can not accept
one center of power that will determine the fates of so many
people, referring obviously to the United States and its stance
toward Yugoslavia.
Mr. Yeltsin met with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and
discussed among others the new Russian initiative for the end of
the crisis in Yugoslavia.
[20] THE PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN DUMA IS ON A VISIT TO BELGRADE
President of the Russian Upper House of parliament, known as
Duma, Genadi Selezniev is on a visit to Belgrade.
According to information, he will have meetings with the
Yugoslav leadership and with parliament deputies.
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