Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-04-15
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, April 15, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER TOURS NORTHERN GREECE
[02] GREEK PRESIDENT MEETS WITH LEADERS OF AHEPA IN ATHENS
[03] GREEK AID TO KOSOVO REFUGEES AMOUNTS TO 10.5 MILLION DOLLARS
[04] FOUR SUITORS VIE FOR OLYMPIC AIRWAYS MANAGEMENT, BIDS ARE IN
[05] GREEK CHURCH SENDS HUMANITARIAN AID TO YUGOSLAVIA
Thessaloniki, April 15 (MPA)
[06] REPPAS: THERE WILL BE NO BARGAIN FOR THE NAME OF FYROM
[07] REPPAS: WE SHOULD SEEK A PEACEFUL SOLUTION IN KOSOVO THROUGH
THE DIPLOMATIC ROUTE
[08] REPPAS: NO DECISION FOR A TRIP TO BELGRADE BY MR. SIMITIS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[09] IT'S STILL RAINING BOMBS IN YUGOSLAVIA, BRIDGES KEY TARGETS
[10] GREEK PM IN SOFIA TODAY TO MEET WITH BULGARIAN COUNTERPART
[11] COALITION OF LEFT AND PROGRESS LEADER IN SKOPJE TODAY
[12] ����'S PLAN: SERBS OUT, INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN, REFUGEES
BACK
[13] GREEK PREMIER PRESENTS INITIATIVE FOR STABILITY IN BALKANS
[14] ALMOST A MILLION YUGOSLAVS NOW NEED HUMANITARIAN AID
[15] YUGOSLAV NAVY BANS NAVIGATION IN COUNTRY'S WATERS
[16] SERBIA'S PRESIDENT CONDEMNS ATTACK OF REFUGEES CONVOY
[17] NEW EXPLOSIONS IN PRISTINA
[18] SIMITIS-KOSTOV MEETING IN SOFIA
[19] KONSTANTOPOULOS IS IN SKOPJE
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER TOURS NORTHERN GREECE
The leader of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's
Kostas Karamanlis, is embarking on a four-day tour of
Thessaloniki, Kilkis and Serres today.
During his visits, Mr. Karamanlis will meet with local producers
and community leaders, while he will also give a series of
addresses to his party's supporters.
This evening, Mr. Karamanlis will speak in the municipality
of Kalamaria, while on Saturday he will be in Kilkis and on Sunday
he will visit Serres, his hometown.
[02] GREEK PRESIDENT MEETS WITH LEADERS OF AHEPA IN ATHENS
The newly-appointed members of the American Hellenic
Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) presiding board met
with the President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
in Athens yesterday.
The AHEPA delegates briefed the President on issues
concerning the Greek community abroad, as well as the
achievements accomplished by expatriated Greeks in the sectors of
economy and culture.
[03] GREEK AID TO KOSOVO REFUGEES AMOUNTS TO 10.5 MILLION DOLLARS
Greek humanitarian aid to help refugees in Albania and FYROM
amounts to a sum of 10.5 million US dollars so far, not including
contributions from Greek non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greece's aid is
the second largest overall contribution among all NATO member
countries, after that of Germany ($14 million). The United States
has contributed approximately 8.5 million dollars.
Greek humanitarian aid to Albania and FYROM is being
delivered and distributed as follows:
1. To Albania, under the supervision of the Greek Embassy in
Tirana, in cooperation with the Orthodox Church of Albania and the
detachment of Greek Armed Forces posted to Albania.
2. To FYROM, by the Greek NGO "Evropaiki Prooptiki" ("European
Perspective") in cooperation with a network of five Greek NGOs
which are distributing relief supplies to seven Reception Centers
for the Support, Shelter and Protection of Refugees (a list of
these Centers is attached).
Greek humanitarian aid, including that provided by NGOs, is
as follows:
- 32 tons of food have been sent and distributed through the main
Greek network of NGOs to refugees in temporary shelters on the
border and in families (according to available data up to April 7,
1999).
- 2000 jackets have been distributed by one of the NGOs involved
in the relief project. A further 3000 are actually being
distributed by the main NGO operating in FYROM.
- A number of individuals and other NGOs have also sent
substantial assistance. Exact figures are not available yet.
As of April 7, the Greek government's humanitarian aid to
refugees in Albania has been distributed as follows:
- 4.120 blankets are being distributed in Koritsa by the Greek NGO
"�����" (IDIKI - Institute of International and Social Affairs)
under the supervision of the Greek Consulate in Koritsa which was
already involved in an aid distribution network in Albania in
collaboration with the European Community Humanitarian Office
(ECHO). IDIKI has been supplying food and medical supplies to
hospitals and health centers in southern Albania since June 1997.
- A further 3.000 blankets were provided by the "National
Foundation for the Reception and Rehabilitation of Greeks Abroad".
- Fifteen tons of food had been distributed through the IDIKI
network: 5 tons of flour, 5 tons of beans, and 5 tons of rice.
-Two ambulances and substantial medical supplies were delivered by
the Greek Armed Forces at the Yzberish army base in Albania on
April 2, 1999, according to the provisions of a Protocol signed by
the Greek Embassy and the Deputy Health Minister of Albania, Mr.
Brahimi.
The first 20 out of 200 prefabricated houses were transported
to Tirana on 1 April 1999. To date 70 prefabricated houses are
already in use and 70 more are being transported and assembled on
the same site in the Tirana suburbs.
This refugee camp was set up with the help of the Greek Armed
Forces in Albania as of April 3. These houses are being supplied
with electricity and running water with the assistance of a
representative of the Greek Ministry of Public Works dispatched to
Tirana for this purpose, in cooperation with the Greek Armed
Forces in Albania.
A refugee camp for 500 people in the city of Kukes was
completed on April 4 and it is actually being upgraded to a
capacity of 1.000 refugees.
There is also a Greek camp under construction 10 Km north of
Pogradec, as a national project, which is intended to provide
shelter for 10.000 to 12.000 refugees. A few thousand tents have
already erected.
[04] FOUR SUITORS VIE FOR OLYMPIC AIRWAYS MANAGEMENT, BIDS ARE IN
Four companies have submitted binding bids for taking over
the management of Greece's national air carrier, Olympic Airways,
reportedly the "cream of the crop" among international airlines.
According to initial reports, Lufthansa, British Airways,
Swissair and American Airlines have each submitted a bid through
their subsidiary companies, thus spiraling the process into the
round of assessing the offers, before personal interviews are
held.
Reliable sources report that Salomon Smith Barney and ETEVA,
the state's advisors, are expected to propose the selection of two
bidders out of the four so that, in case the primary choice does
not sign the contract within 15 days, the second would do so
within a ten-day period.
[05] GREEK CHURCH SENDS HUMANITARIAN AID TO YUGOSLAVIA
Thessaloniki, April 15 (MPA)
The Church of Greece has forwarded the second part of its
humanitarian aid to the Yugoslav people, in a seven-truck convoy
loaded with 170 tons of foodstuffs and pharmaceutical supplies.
The aid, which amounts to GRD 50.5 million, is to be
received by the Orthodox Church of Serbia.
The Archbishop of Athens and All of Greece Christodoulos was
present during the trucks departure and said that the humanitarian
aid to Serbia, Albania and FYROM, as well as to both Christian and
Muslims, will continue.
[06] REPPAS: THERE WILL BE NO BARGAIN FOR THE NAME OF FYROM
There will be no bargain between Athens and Skopje on the
issue of the name of FYROM in exchange for the Greek humanitarian
aid, stressed Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.
Mr. Reppas stated that Greece follows a policy of principles
and it will continue to do so.
[07] REPPAS: WE SHOULD SEEK A PEACEFUL SOLUTION IN KOSOVO THROUGH
THE DIPLOMATIC ROUTE
NATO has decided the military operations in Yugoslavia and
Greece participates within the framework of its obligations as a
member-state of the alliance, stated Greek government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas responding to the question if the military
intervention in Yugoslavia is legitimate.
Commenting on yesterday's bombing of civilians, he stated
that it was a tragic event and added that a political and peaceful
solution should be sought in Kosovo through the diplomatic route.
Mr. Reppas also reiterated Greece's position that it will not
participate in ground military operations and that it has received
no such request by the alliance. Responding to the question if
NATO has requested to use Greek airports as bases, he said that no
such issue has been raised.
[08] REPPAS: NO DECISION FOR A TRIP TO BELGRADE BY MR. SIMITIS
There has been no decision for prime minister Kostas Simitis
to visit Belgrade, underlined Greek government spokesman Dimitris
Reppas.
However, Mr. Reppas left open such a likelihood only if
conditions allow for it and if such a visit will help in the
solution of the problem in Kosovo.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[09] IT'S STILL RAINING BOMBS IN YUGOSLAVIA, BRIDGES KEY TARGETS
NATO warplanes continued to zero in on key targets in
Yugoslavia last night, annihilating bridges, electrical power
plants and military depots. Prishtina, the capital city of Kosovo,
was not spared the wrath of war as the allied aircraft targeted
two transmitters thus cutting off all television programming.
Meanwhile, a steady stream of refugees continues to flee
Kosovo, with some 3,000 arriving in FYROM yesterday, with another
2,000 entering Albania.
[10] GREEK PM IN SOFIA TODAY TO MEET WITH BULGARIAN COUNTERPART
Greece's Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is presently in Sofia
where he will be received by his Bulgarian counterpart Ivan
Kostov.
During yesterday's European Union informal Summit in
Brussels, Mr. Simitis stressed the need to arrive at a political
solution for the Kosovo crisis and draw a plan for stability in
the Balkans.
Furthermore, the Greek Premier stressed that, despite the
differing views held among the allies in regards to resolving the
Kosovo conflict, the United Nations' involvement is necessary,
along with EU initiatives.
[11] COALITION OF LEFT AND PROGRESS LEADER IN SKOPJE TODAY
The leader of Greece's Coalition of the Left and Progress
party, Nikos Konstantopoulos, is departing for Skopje today where
he will hold talks with government and political party officials.
Speaking at a news conference, he stated that "the point of
my trip is to ascertain, on the ground, the problems facing FYROM
and express my concerns about the repercussions this war is having
on the country."
[12] ����'S PLAN: SERBS OUT, INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN, REFUGEES
BACK
Germany, presently holding the European Union's rotating
presidency, proposed a peace plan for Kosovo during yesterday's
informal summit in Brussels.
According to the plan, NATO air strikes would be suspended
for 24-hours if Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic withdraws
his forces from Kosovo The plan also calls for the assignment of
an international force in Kosovo, which would overview the return
of the refugees.
German Deputy Foreign Minister Ludger Volmer said there is
``fairly broad agreement on this idea'' within NATO. The idea is
to find a feasible way to achieve a cease-fire and a withdrawal of
the Serbs from Kosovo.''
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, in his parliamentary
address, also stated that Mr. Milosevic would first have to abide
by the international community's terms before the NATO strikes are
suspended..
[13] GREEK PREMIER PRESENTS INITIATIVE FOR STABILITY IN BALKANS
Greece's Prime Minister Kostas Simitis presented a Greek
initiative for long-term stability in the Balkans, during the
European Union's informal summit held in Brussels yesterday.
Mr. Simitis stressed the importance of involving the United
Nations in a political solution as a crucial first step towards
peace, calling for a UN Security Council resolution to "broaden
the legal foundation of efforts to solve the problem."
The Premier outlined Greece's three-point plan for
sustainable peace and security, this being the political
cooperation of Balkan countries based on the inviolability of
regional borders, economic development with international
investment and a strategy to handle the humanitarian crisis.
"We believe that if we pursue these three goals - a political
solution to the problem with the participation of the United
Nations and European Union, a new Balkan stability and development
plan and the coordination and broadening of humanitarian aid -
current problems can be transcended and we will gradually close
this great wound that has opened in the Balkans," he stated.
[14] ALMOST A MILLION YUGOSLAVS NOW NEED HUMANITARIAN AID
More than 900,000 Yugoslavs need urgent humanitarian aid as a
result of the NATO air strikes, according to deputy Labor and
Health Minister Maksim Korac.
As the Yugoslav news agency Tanjug reported, Mr. Korac called
on aid agencies representatives to inform their superiors of the
urgent need in humanitarian aid. He said that Yugoslavia could no
longer care for 700,000 refugees who arrived in 1992 and 1995 from
Bosnia and Croatia.
He warned that the additional burden created by the NATO air
strikes "threatens to provoke an ecological catastrophe which
would imperil 12 million inhabitants of Yugoslavia."
[15] YUGOSLAV NAVY BANS NAVIGATION IN COUNTRY'S WATERS
The Yugoslav naval forces have banned navigation in the
country's waters, as well as in the lake of Skodra.
According to a Naval Command announcement, the measure was
taken in light of the increased activity of NATO warships in the
Adriatic Sea, and is to be enforced until tomorrow.
The announcement added that the Yugoslav navy is to oversee
navigation in the region, in accordance with the terms enforced
during a state of war and in relation to the Alliance's activities
in the region.
[16] SERBIA'S PRESIDENT CONDEMNS ATTACK OF REFUGEES CONVOY
The President of Serbia Milan Milutinovic has condemned
NATO's attack on a convoy of refugees as an act of "premeditated
massacre".
Approximately 85 people were killed in the attack, which
occurred yesterday between the cities of Djakovica and Prizten.
Mr. Milutinovic stated that "this unprecedented criminal act
is the work of those who publicly embrace respect of human rights
and liberties and protect, as they claim, the Albanian minority in
Kosovo."
Adding that NATO has, once again, removed its facade, Mr.
Milutinovic vowed that "in spite of their bombings and crimes, we
shall secure the co-existence and equality of all of Kosovo's and
Serbia's citizens."
[17] NEW EXPLOSIONS IN PRISTINA
New explosions were heard in Pristina at 11am this morning.
Meanwhile, speaking today in the German parliament chancellor
Gerhard Schoeder called on Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic
to accept all the terms set by the West for a settlement of the
crisis in Kosovo that will lead to the end of the NATO air
strikes.
Russian mediator for Kosovo Victor Chernomirdin and the
foreign minister of Canada stated that they back the German
proposal. Russian minister of defense Igor Sergeyev pointed out in
an interview that NATO prepares for a ground operation in Kosovo.
[18] SIMITIS-KOSTOV MEETING IN SOFIA
Prime minister Kostas Simitis meets in Sofia with his
Bulgarian counterpart Ivan Kostov. Their talks will focus on the
crisis in Kosovo and the idea for an international conference on
peace and security in the Balkans.
Meanwhile, foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou is in
Stuttgart, Germany to attend a two-day Euro-Mediterranean meeting.
[19] KONSTANTOPOULOS IS IN SKOPJE
Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Konstantopoulos is in
Skopje and later this afternoon he will visit refugee camps.
Tomorrow, he will meet with FYROM president Kiro Gligorov,
the country's prime minister, the foreign minister and political
party leaders.
In statements he made at Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport,
Mr. Konstantopoulos stated that after the failure of the EU summit
meeting all indications show that the worst case scenario of
ground operations in Kosovo becomes more likely.
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