Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-04-13
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, April 13, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] HIGH DEATH TOLL FOR EASTER EXODUS, THE WORST IN RECENT YEARS
[02] GREEK PREMIER IN BRUSSELS TOMORROW FOR EU SUMMIT
[03] GREEK FM: THE ROLE OF GREECE HAS BEEN UPGRADED
[04] PASOK EXECUTIVE BUREAU TO DISCUSS EUROELECTIONS, KOSOVO
[05] PREMIER AND DEFENSE MINISTER DISCUSS ARMS PROGRAM
[06] SIMITIS-GLIGOROV MEETING IN THE UNITED STATES
[07] REPPAS: NO DOUBLE ELECTIONS IN JUNE
[08] REPPAS: A SIMITIS-DEMIREL MEETING IS NOT SCHEDULED TO TAKE
PLACE IN THE US
[09] FOOD AID WORTH 130 MILLION DRACHMAS WILL BE SENT TO FYROM BY
THESSALONIKI'S TRADE AND INDUSTRY CHAMBER
[10] 50 TONS OF HUMANITARIAN AID TO BELGRADE FROM THE MUNICIPALITY
OF KALAMARIA
[11] SIMITIS-TSOCHATZOPOULOS MEETING ON THE ARMAMENTS PROGRAM
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] NATO STRIKES YUGOSLAV TRAIN WITH ROCKET, NINE KILLED
[13] US SECRETARY OF STATE MEETS WITH RUSSIA'S IVANOV IN OSLO
[14] GREEK FM MEETS WITH SECRETARY ALBRIGHT IN BRUSSELS
[15] NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS DECIDE TO CONTINUE BOMBING SERBIA
[16] EUROPARLIAMENT CHIEF SPEAKS TO MPA ON YUGOSLAVIA
[17] TRUCKS CARRYING ARMS FOR UCK CONFISCATED IN ANCONA
[18] KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY ASKS FOR ARMS FROM UNITED STATES
[19] ANOTHER ROUND OF EXPLOSIONS ROCKS PRISHTINA
[20] ALBANIA'S ARCHBISHOPRY OFFERS ENORMOUS RELIEF TO REFUGEES
[21] NEW NATO BOMBINGS IN PRISTINA
[22] THE ARCHBISHOPRIC OF ALBANIA OFFERS RELIEF TO THE REFUGEES
[23] A FORMER US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CONDEMNS CLINTON'S MOVES
[24] ALBRIGHT-IVANOV AGREED ON THE BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR PEACE IN
KOSSOVO
[25] MILOSEVIC MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF GREEK POLITICAL
PARTIES' YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS IN BELGRADE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] HIGH DEATH TOLL FOR EASTER EXODUS, THE WORST IN RECENT YEARS
Forty-four persons were killed and another 484 were injured
in 341 traffic accidents since Thursday, when Greeks fled the
cities en masse for the country sites in order to celebrate
Easter.
The highway patrol has drawn extensive preventive measures in
order to safeguard the return of travelers which was expected to
peak yesterday evening.
[02] GREEK PREMIER IN BRUSSELS TOMORROW FOR EU SUMMIT
Greece's Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is to travel to
Brussels tomorrow in order to take part in the European Union's
Summit Council.
The Council will meet with the European Commission's new
president Romano Prodi.
According to Mr. Simitis' itinerary, he will travel to Sofia
on Thursday.
[03] GREEK FM: THE ROLE OF GREECE HAS BEEN UPGRADED
The Kosovo crisis has upgraded Greece's role in the region,
Foreign Minister George Papandreou told the Athens daily "Ta Nea",
adding that the government's policy has borne fruits.
"In spite of the Greek public's differing views regarding
NATO's operations, Greece's role is finally recognized. To begin
with, the humanitarian aspect, the country's contribution to the
refugee issue, the setting up of camps, and the successive
visits to Albania and Skopje," Mr. Papandreou stated.
He added that "secondly, with our potential to contribute in
resolving the crisis, through our channels with the Serbs and,
finally, the restoration of Yugoslavia and the Balkans, following
the crisis, with Greece being the cornerstone."
Concerning the possibility of NATO deploying ground troops in
Yugoslavia, Mr. Papandreou stated that it cannot be ruled out,
although he stressed that no such decision is imminent.
[04] PASOK EXECUTIVE BUREAU TO DISCUSS EUROELECTIONS, KOSOVO
The Executive Bureau of the country's ruling PASOK party is
to convene today under the chairing of Prime Minster Kostas
Simitis in order to discuss the upcoming European parliament
elections and the latest developments in Yugoslavia.
The party's Central Committee is to convene on Saturday in
order to review preparations for the Euroelections.
[05] PREMIER AND DEFENSE MINISTER DISCUSS ARMS PROGRAM
Defense Minster Akis Tsochatzopoulos has expressed his
contained optimism over the discovery of a political solution to
the crisis in Yugoslavia, following his meeting with the Prime
Minister Kostas Simitis.
The two men discussed the country's armed forces outfitting
program, as well as the developments in Kosovo.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that there are certain approaches
that aim at finding a political solution and expressed the hope
that the conditions are set forth to actually allow these plans to
materialize.
[06] SIMITIS-GLIGOROV MEETING IN THE UNITED STATES
Prime minister Kostas Simitis will meet in the United States
with FYROM president Kiro Gligorov but they have no specific
agenda and there is not an issue of an agreement on the name of
FYROM, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
The request for the meeting was made by Mr. Gligorov and the
prime minister responded positively, said Mr. Reppas, adding that
the talks will be held on the sidelines of the NATO summit meeting
on the occasion of the alliance's 50th anniversary.
Mr. Reppas stated that the issue of the name is in the United
Nations and the conditions for an agreement regarding FYROM's name
are not ripe yet. However, he said that the fact that there are
pending issues regarding the name has not stopped the two
countries from improving their relations. He said that the
existing situation in the Balkans has brought the two countries
closer, adding that this is evident from the statements made
recently by FYROM officials who recognize the important role
played by Greece.
[07] REPPAS: NO DOUBLE ELECTIONS IN JUNE
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas categorically
rejected the likelihood of double elections in June.
Mr. Reppas said that there is no such issue and added that
the government is not concerned by such a likelihood.
[08] REPPAS: A SIMITIS-DEMIREL MEETING IS NOT SCHEDULED TO TAKE
PLACE IN THE US
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas stated that a
Simitis-Demirel meeting is not scheduled to take place in the
United States, while there is no tripartite meeting planned to be
held with the participation of the American leadership.
However, Mr. Reppas did not rule out the likelihood for the
Greek prime minister to shake hands with the Turkish president on
the margins of the NATO summit meeting.
[09] FOOD AID WORTH 130 MILLION DRACHMAS WILL BE SENT TO FYROM BY
THESSALONIKI'S TRADE AND INDUSTRY CHAMBER
Three trucks with food worth 130 million drachmas are
scheduled to leave for FYROM. The aid was collected by
Thessaloniki's Trade and Industry Chamber and it is regarded as a
tangible proof that Greece does not forget the Kossovo refugees.
According to the chamber's president, the humanitarian aid
collected by the businessmen of northern Greece is enough to
sustain 10.000 four-member families for seven days.
[10] 50 TONS OF HUMANITARIAN AID TO BELGRADE FROM THE MUNICIPALITY
OF KALAMARIA
The municipality of Kalamaria collects humanitarian aid for
Serbia and it is expected to arrive in Belgrade in ten days.
The humanitarian mission will be headed by mayor of Kalamaria
Christodoulos Economidis and will be made up of 50 tons of food
and medicines that will be carried to Serbia with Serb trucks.
The ministry of health is expected to issue a special permit
to include in the humanitarian aid the blood that was donated by
volunteers in the municipalities of Kalamaria, Pentalofos near
Thessaloniki, Florina, as well as by the monks in monastery of
Hilandariou in Mount Athos.
[11] SIMITIS-TSOCHATZOPOULOS MEETING ON THE ARMAMENTS PROGRAM
Minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, immediately after
the meeting he had with the prime minister to discuss the armed
forces armaments program, expressed guarded optimism over the
likelihood of a political solution in the crisis in Yugoslavia.
The developments in Kossovo were also discussed in the meeting.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated that there are certain efforts
made for a political solution and expressed the hope that the pre-
conditions will be created for the materialization of such an
effort.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[12] NATO STRIKES YUGOSLAV TRAIN WITH ROCKET, NINE KILLED
NATO rockets struck a passenger train crossing a rail bridge
in southern Yugoslavia yesterday afternoon, killing nine people on
board and wounding at least 20 others.
According to NATO officials, the possibility of casualties
cannot be excluded, despite taking "extraordinary" measures to
avoid collateral damage.
The train was not bound for Thessaloniki and no Greek
journalists were on board, as was initially reported.
Yugoslav Foreign Ministry spokesman Nebojsa Vujovic called
the attack "a great tragedy, great crime against humanity in broad
daylight."
Meanwhile, the Alliance continues with its raids, focusing
its targets on industrial sites. At the same time, ethnic
Albanians continue to flee Kosovo. seeking refuge in Albania and
FYROM.
[13] US SECRETARY OF STATE MEETS WITH RUSSIA'S IVANOV IN OSLO
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is to meet with her
Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov in Oslo today, as part of an
effort to reach a political solution to the Yugoslav crisis.
US Secretary of Defense William Cohen has reiterated that the
Clinton Administration is satisfied with the results of the raids
in Yugoslavia. Furthermore, he added that Washington is, for the
time being, opposed to deploying land troops in Yugoslavia.
Yesterday, NATO Foreign Ministers agreed to continue the
bombardment of Yugoslavia.
[14] GREEK FM MEETS WITH SECRETARY ALBRIGHT IN BRUSSELS
Greece's Foreign Minster George Papandreou held a brief
meeting with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Brussels
yesterday, on the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministers informal
meeting.
Mr. Papandreou briefed his US counterpart on the present
state of events in the Balkans and underlined Greece's
cooperation with the region's countries.
In turn, Ms. Albright acknowledged Greece's constructive role
in the region.
"The Greeks have helped us and they will help more," she
said.
[15] NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS DECIDE TO CONTINUE BOMBING SERBIA
NATO's foreign ministers, who convened in Brussels yesterday,
have decided to continue the bombardment of Yugoslavia, until
Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic meets the international
community's demands.
According to the joint communique issued by the FMs of the 19
NATO members, the demands are as follows:
1) An end in a reliable way to all military activity and all
acts of violence and repression. 2) The withdrawal of all forces
(military, paramilitary and police) from Kosovo 3) Acceptance of
an international military presence in Kosovo 4) Acceptance of the
return of all refugees and the granting of permission for
humanitarian aid to reach its destination 5) And the rendering of
reliable proof of his intention to cooperate on the basis of the
Rambouillet agreements for the shaping of a draft political
agreement in harmony with international law and the UN Charter.
Moreover, the communique holds Mr. Milosevic solely
responsible for the crisis, by stating that his forces "created a
human disaster for Kosovar civilians on a wide scale, rendering
NATO's intervention necessary and justified".
The Alliance's Secretary-General Javier Solana warned that
NATO will respond forcefully if the Serbs attack Albania or
threaten Montenegro.
[16] EUROPARLIAMENT CHIEF SPEAKS TO MPA ON YUGOSLAVIA
The President of the European Parliament Jose Maria Jil
Robles has forwarded to all of the House's political party leaders
the Yugoslav leadership's letter which was relayed to him by Greek
euro-deputy Nikitas Kaklamanis.
The letter, whose content was not publicized, was written by
the presidents of the Serb and Federal Yugoslav Parliament,
Messrs. Minic and Vozovic, and is the result of lengthy talks held
between them and Mr. Kaklamanis during which they accepted his
proposal to request the mediation of the European Parliament for
the start of talks aiming at a "fair and viable" solution", as
well as the immediate cease of NATO's bombings.
Mr. Robles stated that should the majority of the political
groups, which are convening today, decide on the letter, then it
will be placed on the agenda.
"The letter expresses the key positions of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and, from that point of view, it doesn't
contain any new elements, but the groups could include it in the
draft resolutions that are being drawn for the plenary session
regarding Kosovo," Mr. Robles added.
The session will be held following the Albright-Ivanov talks
held in Oslo today.
[17] TRUCKS CARRYING ARMS FOR UCK CONFISCATED IN ANCONA
Port authorities in Ancona, Italy, have confiscated three
trucks carrying arms and ammunition reportedly destined for the
Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK), according to the Yugoslav news
agency Tanjug.
The trucks, which arrived initially from Bosnia, had
accompanying documentation that their cargo was humanitarian aid
for Kosovo refugees.
Following the cargo confiscation, the leader of Italy's Green
Party Parliamentary Group Mauricio Pieroni told the Italian media
that "we must distance ourselves from the Kosovo Liberation Army",
adding that western governments have in the past often supported
the side that was proven later to be the enemy of peace.
[18] KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY ASKS FOR ARMS FROM UNITED STATES
The spokesman of the Kosovo Liberation Army Yakup
Krasnici has requested that the United States assist his
organization by providing them with arms, and that it proceed to
deploying ground troops in Kosovo.
According to the Yugoslav news agency Tanjug, Mr. Krasnici
met with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Brussels
yesterday evening and requested that the Clinton Administration
support the UCK's struggle.
Quoting Belgian media, Tanjug reported that Ms. Albright
rejected Mr. Krasnici's request, by stating that the US do not
want to violate the arms embargo imposed by the United Nations on
Yugoslavia.
[19] ANOTHER ROUND OF EXPLOSIONS ROCKS PRISHTINA
NATO warplanes bombarded the capital of Kosovo Prishtina this
morning, targeting military camps and oil refineries. Meanwhile,
representatives of Greek political youth organizations are
presently meeting with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in
Belgrade.
A Russian convoy of humanitarian aid entered Yugoslavia this
morning, after a two-day diplomatic row with Hungary over its
contents.
Gen. Wesley Clark, the supreme NATO commander in Europe, has
requested an additional 300 aircraft.
[20] ALBANIA'S ARCHBISHOPRY OFFERS ENORMOUS RELIEF TO REFUGEES
The Autocephalus Orthodox Church of Albania has undertaken
the responsibility of providing an enormous amount of relief to
Kosovo's refugees.
In an exclusive interview with the Macedonian Press Agency,
the Archbishop of Tirana and all of Albania Anastasios stated that
the Church has already forwarded more than 100 tons of foodstuffs
and other materials to the tent "cities" housing the refugees,
while it is also setting up additional tents that will house up to
12,000 persons.
"These refugees may not belong to our religious family, but
they are beleaguered individuals," His Reverence stated, adding
that "this automatically prompts us to do whatever we can with
love and respect in order to alleviate their suffering."
[21] NEW NATO BOMBINGS IN PRISTINA
The NATO bombings continue. Just before 11am this morning,
Greek time, new explosions were heard in Pristina. According to
eye witnesses, army camps and tank-trucks were hit.
Meanwhile, representatives of the Greek political parties'
youth organizations, who are visiting Belgrade since this morning,
are meeting with Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.
The Russian convoy of 70 trucks with humanitarian aid for
Yugoslavia has entered the Yugoslav territory. Information from
Washington mentions that NATO's supreme commander, general Clark,
has asked for 300 more warplanes.
[22] THE ARCHBISHOPRIC OF ALBANIA OFFERS RELIEF TO THE REFUGEES
The Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania has undertaken a
huge effort for the relief of the Kosovo refugees who have sought
shelter in Albania away from the war.
Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All of Albania in an
exclusive interview with MPA stated that over 100 tons of food and
supplies have been distributed to makeshift refugee camps, while
more tents are being set up that can house up to 12.000 people.
Archbishop Anastasios stated that those refugees belong to a
different religious family but still they are suffering people and
therefore, everything possible should be done for their relief.
The Archbishop of Albania stated that Easter was celebrated
under tragic conditions this year and stressed that in the past
five months even before the big crisis had erupted the Orthodox
Church of Albania had already offered assistance to over 1/3 of
the 22.000 refugees in Albania and as soon as the tragic situation
started the Autocephalous Church of Albania issued an appeal for
help to all the Churches that belong to the World Council of
Churches and the response was immediate.
In 24 hours were collected 1.800.000 US dollars and aid
started pouring in, said Archbishop Anastasios. Six cargo planes
with aid from Denmark arrived during the Holy Week and almost
immediately 21 tons of food were distributed to Kukes, 34 tons to
Koritsa and Pogradec as well as to other towns.
Archbishop Anastasios stated that the Autocephalous Orthodox
Church of Albania was reorganized in the past 8 years and has
already showed its interest in helping people who do not belong to
the Christian Orthodox Church but are people who are suffering and
therefore, they are in need of relief. He added that certain radio
and television stations from Europe and the United States have
made interviews on the work of the Church and they have noticed
that Orthodoxy is an open Church that wants to relieve the pain of
every person without making any discrimination.
[23] A FORMER US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CONDEMNS CLINTON'S MOVES
Former US Secretary of defense Caspar Weinberger criticized
the moves of US president Bill Clinton on the Yugoslav issue. In
an article he signed and was published in The New York Times, he
underlined that the Clinton government drags the United States in
a war is not willing to win.
The former secretary of defense, under president George Bush,
maintains that the United States are not as strong as they should
be, while the Balkan crisis has weakened them in other areas of
vital importance.
He underlines that the United States have not defined what is
victory neither their strategic goals. He said that the resumption
of negotiations is not a victory, stressing that a victory for the
alliance would be only the withdrawal of the Serb forces from
Kossovo, the return of the refugees to their homes and the total
extermination of Milosevic.
[24] ALBRIGHT-IVANOV AGREED ON THE BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR PEACE IN
KOSSOVO
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and her Russian
counterpart Igor Ivanov agreed on the basic principles for the
peaceful solution of the Yugoslav crisis but not on the deployment
of an international force in Kossovo.
After long talks on their positions in the Balkan conflict,
Ms. Albright praised the agreement achieved in many of the basic
principles for peace but both ministers admitted that they have
not agreed yet on the international force that will oversee peace
in Kossovo and will allow the hundreds of thousands of ethnic
Albanian refugees to return to their homes.
Mr. Ivanov stated that an international presence of any form
presupposes Belgrade's approval adding that the Yugoslav
authorities are opposed to any military presence on their
territory.
Ms. Albright stated that the main points on which Moscow and
Washington have agreed for a peaceful settlement are the
withdrawal of the Serb army and police forces from Kossovo, the
unconditional return of the refugees to their homes and the access
of humanitarian organizations to the region.
[25] MILOSEVIC MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF GREEK POLITICAL
PARTIES' YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS IN BELGRADE
Representatives of Greek political parties' youth
organizations met in Belgrade today with Yugoslav president
Slobodan Milosevic.
The delegation expressed the solidarity of the Greek people
to the suffering Yugoslav people and pointed out that the NATO air
strikes on Yugoslavia are being condemned.
The representatives of the political youth organizations in
Greece stated to Mr. Milosevic that they condemn the exploitation
of ethnic minorities which are being used as an excuse for the
creation of military fait accompli and underlined that their firm
stance is that there should be no change in the existing Balkan
borders.
Mr. Milosevic thanked them for their presence in Belgrade and
underlined that their visit is a proof of the solidarity and the
brotherly relations existing between the two peoples. The Yugoslav
president also thanked the Greek people for their support. The
Yugoslav president characterized the actions of NATO against his
country as fascist and murderous and pointed out that Yugoslavia
will resist until the end and it will be the victor in the
conflict.
The Greek delegation will return tomorrow to Greece via
Sofia, Bulgaria. Tonight the members of the delegation will stay
in Belgrade to attend a music concert that will be held at the
Brankov Most bridge which unites the old with the new part of the
city.
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