The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 99-05-14

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Developments in the Yugoslav crisis

The Serb television interrupted its programme to report that graffiti bombs hit a number of electric power supply plants in Belgrade, as well as in the cities of Novi Sad and Nis.

The American wing-commander Charles Waldt stated that NATO planes effected about 800 flights last night and that the mission of the 650 flights was to throw bombs to fixed targets and 33 to mobile targets.

NATO's spokesman Jamie Shea yesterday said that the air strikes on Yugoslavia will continue until winter unless Serb president Slobodan Milosevic agreed with the Alliance's demands, while the American President Bill Clinton's stand on the issue was identical to Mr. Shea's statements.

Serb security forces have started pulling out from Kosovo as Belgrade claimed yesterday, but NATO announced that there was no proof that the Serb forces were indeed withdrawing.

The White House has announced that the Chinese president Ziang Zemin has agreed to talk with his American counterpart Bill Clinton on the issue of the recent bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.

Meanwhile, media magnet and owner of the CNN tv network Ted Turner has urged NATO to put an end to the strikes against Yugoslavia, stressing that the continuation of the strikes could lead to world war with China and Russia.

Russia's special envoy for the Yugoslav crisis Victor Chernomyrdin met in Helsinki last night with the Finnish president Marti Achtisaarti, whose country will assume the EU's rotating presidency on July 1st, while the Russian president Boris Yeltsin met in Moscow yesterday with his French counterpart Jacques Chirac.

In Moscow, the Russian officials have repeated to the American assistant secretary of state Strobe Talbot, president Yeltsin's warning that Russia would be forced to go ahead with serious changes in its stand on the situation in the Balkans unless the bombings stopped in Yugoslavia.

The visit of the UN high commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson to the Balkans ended yesterday. Mrs. Robinson also expressed her concern over the "many mistakes" NATO had committed during the bombings.

Finally, The Albanian prime minister Panteli Maico had a meeting with the German foreign minister Otto Seiley.

The Albanian prime minister warned during the meeting that the situation of the Kosovar refugees in Albania was getting worse, while for his part, the German foreign minister promised more German aid to Tirana.

[02] The Greens approved Joshca Fischer's policy on Yugoslavia

However, Mr. Fischer had earlier been disapproved by the delegates, regarding his stands in favour of the NATO strikes against Yugoslavia.

[03] Greek foreign minister visits Sofia

[04] The Greek president's visit to Georgia and Armenia

In Armenia, president Stephanopoulos inaugurated the Greek library in the university of the Armenian capital, Erevan, while foreign undersecretary Grigoris Niotis who was accompanying the president visited the Greek school which is being financed by the Greek state.

Upon his arrival in Athens, Mr. Stephanopoulos said that the two country's friendly intentions towards Greece has been confirmed, while he expressed the wish that the war in Yugoslavia ends soon.

[05] Euroelection campaigns in Greece

Issues concerning PASOK's election campaign were dealt with during the meeting, as only one month is left till the Euroelections, while according to information, the party is expected to announce its ballot paper in the next three or four days.

Speaking at yesterday's joint meeting of the New Democracy party Central Committee and the parliamentary group, the party's leader Kostas Karamanlis strongly criticised the government, stressing that his party would come first in the Euroelections.

The secretary general of the Greek Communist party Aleka Paparigha will go on a tour of Hania, Crete, today.

The Political Spring party has issued the party's ballot papers for the Euroelections. The party's leader Antonis Samaras is first on the ballot paper, followed by Nikitas Kaklamanis.

[06] Democratic Social Movement leader visits Belgrade

[07] Coalition of the Left leader visits Berlin

[08] Greek journalists' visit to Belgrade

[09] Greek alternate foreign minister in Cyprus

Mr. Kranidiotis will also meet with the Cypriot president Glafkos Cleridis and the speaker of the House Spyros Kyprianou, as well as with Cyprus' mediator in the EU George Vassiliou.

[10] Developments in the Cyprus issue

Speaking at the opening session of the International State Exhibition of Cyprus yesterday, Mr. Cleridis referred to Cyprus' positive prospects after the end of the crisis in Yugoslavia, while he said he was certain that the development that would follow would prove Greece as a stabilizing factor in the Balkans and the broader region par excellence. This will affect positively the course of the Cyprus issue as well, Mr. Cleridis said.

[11] Kurdish refugee sets herself on fire

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article