Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-05-10
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 10, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK PREMIER IN THESSALONIKI, INAUGURATES BORDER OPERATION
[02] THESSALONIKI, THE EPICENTER OF POLITICAL, ECONOMIC INTERESTS
[03] SIXTH FORUM GETS UNDERWAY IN THESSALONIKI
[04] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER TO MEET WITH ALBANIAN, FYROM PMs
[05] SERB NEWS AGENCY TANJUG IS SAID TO BE EYED BY NATO AS TARGET
[06] S.E. EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES APPEAL FOR AN END TO KOSOVO CRISIS
[07] PANDELI MAJKO: THE 6TH INTER-BALKAN FORUM IS AN ISLAND OF
HOPE IN THE TROUBLED BALKANS
[08] SIMITIS: THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO EVERYTHING FOR PEACE IN THE
REGION
[09] THE 6TH INTER-BALKAN FORUM CONTINUES IN THESSALONIKI
[10] APPEALS FOR INVESTMENTS IN THE BALKANS BY THE FYROM FINANCE
MINISTER
[11] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY
IN BELGRADE
[12] REPPAS ON SOLANA'S CONFIDENTIAL LETTER
[13] GREECE'S GROWTH RATE WILL EXCEED THE AVERAGE OF THE "15" IN
THE PERIOD 1999-2000
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] GREEK PRESIDENT ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO GEORGIA
[15] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS MEETS WITH GEORGIAN COUNTERPART
[16] GREEK PRESIDENT INAUGURATES SAE'S HOSPITAL IN GEORGIA
[17] GREEK PRESIDENT TO PAY VISIT TO ARMENIA ON MAY 11-13
[18] HELLENIC PETROLEUM DEAL ENDORSED BY FYROM'S GOVERNMENT
[19] NIS BOMBARDED BY NATO DURING THE COURSE OF THE NIGHT
[20] NATO SLAMS BELGRADE COURT ACTION AS "FRIVOLOUS & CYNICAL"
[21] CLINTON SENDS LETTER OF APOLOGY TO CHINESE CHAIRMAN
[22] CHINA TO INVESTIGATE AIR BOMBING OF ITS BELGRADE EMBASSY
[23] CHERNOMYRDIN TRAVELS TO BEIJING TODAY
[24] RUGOVA FAVORS THE DISARMING OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY
[25] HELLENIC-SWEDISH FRIENDSHIP PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION OPENS
[26] VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN WILL VISIT PEKING
[27] NATO ATTACKED SERB POSITIONS AT THE BORDERS WITH ALBANIA
[28] PART OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY BEGAN ITS WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSSOVO
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK PREMIER IN THESSALONIKI, INAUGURATES BORDER OPERATION
Greece's Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who is presently in
Northern Greece in order to participate at the Thessaloniki-held
sixth annual Business Forum economic conference, yesterday
inaugurated the frontier post of Krystallopighi on the Greek-
Albanian border.
During the ceremony, the Premier stated the continuation of
NATO's bombings against Yugoslavia entails only dangers,
stressing that flexibility was necessary for peace to be achieved
in the Balkans, coupled with prudence
and caution in the implementation of any policy applied for peace
in the region.
Mr. Simitis further added that Greece will do all it can so
that a political solution is found to the crisis, noting that the
European Union is to discuss later this month Greece's plan for
the reconstruction of the Balkans.
During the installation of the new border guard corps in the
prefectures of Florina, Kastoria and Ioannina, Mr. Simitis stated
that the government was advancing the development of Macedonia, as
it will constitute the basis for Greece's development of relations
with the neighboring countries.
Mr. Simitis said that one trillion drachmas have been allocated
for projects in the region under the Second Community Support
Framework (CSF), adding that approximately 20,000 smaller and
larger-scale projects are currently being carried out throughout
the country.
[02] THESSALONIKI, THE EPICENTER OF POLITICAL, ECONOMIC INTERESTS
Thessaloniki takes center stage in the world's political and
economic affairs, by hosting the two-day, sixth annual Economic
Forum. Greece's Premier Costas Simitis is to meet with his
counterparts from Portugal, FYROM and Albania, Messrs. Antonio
Gutierres, Liupco Georgievski and Panteli Majko, respectively.
Mr. Simitis and the Portuguese Premier are to travel to the
monastic community of Mt. Athos today, where they will visit
various monasteries.
[03] SIXTH FORUM GETS UNDERWAY IN THESSALONIKI
A major Balkan economic conference, an annual event held by
the Federation of Northern Greek Industries (SBBE), is beginning
in Thessaloniki today, where the participants will focus on the
situation in the Balkans a decade after the deregulation of
markets.
In addition to Greece's Premier, the Forum will feature the
participation of Foreign Minister George Papandreou, National
Economy Yiannos Papantoniou, Development Evangelos Venizelos,
Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis Magriotis and the undersecretaries of
Development.
The event is co-organized by the Macedonia-Thrace Bank and the
Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce.
[04] MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER TO MEET WITH ALBANIAN, FYROM PMs
The leader of Greece's main opposition party, New Democracy's
Kostas Karamanlis, is to meet with the Prime Ministers of Albania
and FYROM, Messrs. Panteli Majko and Lupcko Georgievski,
respectively, in Thessaloniki this evening.
Their meeting will be held within the framework of the sixth
annual Business Forum, which started in Thessaloniki today.
[05] SERB NEWS AGENCY TANJUG IS SAID TO BE EYED BY NATO AS TARGET
The editor in chief of the Yugoslav state-owned news agency
Tanjug believes that the organization is among NATO's bombing
targets, with an attack being imminent.
According to Slobodan Lazarevic, media organizations are
included in the Alliance's targets, which so far have struck
embassies, hotels and open markets, not including the television
building massacre.
Mr. Lazarevic made the aforementioned statement shortly
before his departure form Thessaloniki where he had participated
in an extraordinary conference hosted by the MPA. The news
agencies from all the countries comprised in the Balkan region,
and those countries neighboring with the peninsula. met in
Thessaloniki in order to examine the problems that have arisen in
the operation of the mass media organizations as a result of the
dramatic events taking place in Yugoslavia.
[06] S.E. EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES APPEAL FOR AN END TO KOSOVO CRISIS
The Association of South-Eastern Europe Economic Universities
(ASECU) founded in Thessaloniki, has issued an appeal to state and
government leaders throughout S.E. Europe, the European Union, the
U.S, Australia and Canada to do everything within their power so
that peace is restored to the Balkan region.
The ASECU's chairman, Professor Yiannis Tsekouras, has stated
that the region's countries must first resolve their home
affairs and then turn to assistance from close or distant
neighbors, whether European and/or American.
In his letter, forwarded to thirty state and government
leaders throughout the world, Mr. Tsekouras also issued an
explicit appeal to the political leaders of Yugoslavia and , the
leaders of the Albanian Kosovars to "take immediate action so that
all Kosovars (both Albanians and Serbs) may return and be
reinstated to their homes safely under conditions of full respect
for individual and minority rights and so that the highest
possible autonomy is conceded to them.
"This is what the long cultural tradition and contemporary
civilization of the Balkan people, that we so often boast about,
demands. This is what modern culture, which seems to be deficient
in our region as well, demands. This is what an unbiased sense of
logic dictates," he stated.
"The situation in Yugoslavia, as seen by us in the Balkans is
not a civil war since it tends to develop into a war of nations,"
Mr. Tsekouras added.
" The European idea of peace, democracy and prosperity that
we all fought to establish and bear fruit seems to be in danger of
dissolving within the storm of a senseless and pointless war. A
war that may have been started by the nationalism of the
Yugoslavian leadership and the few – at the beginning – extremist
separatist Albanian Kosovars, but which has been intensified and
allowed to spread by the arrogance and selfishness of the powerful
and the conceit of those who are better off.
"Europe has managed to construct the European Union idea
through its polyphonic and multicultural dimension by "giving way"
and "sacrificing" national interests on all sides. This led to
peace within our continent. At present, instead of supporting the
principles of the European idea and helping them be established in
the Balkans (in an effort to bring closer and later incorporate
the Balkan countries in the European Union), we are bombing the
European dream, we incite race against race and religious group
against religious group, thus rekindling hatred and passions that
were born and developed centuries ago."
ASECU comprises more than forty Universities from Albania,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, FYROM, Turkey, Yugoslavia
and Greece, while another 20 Universities have expressed interest
and are in the process of becoming members.
The main aim of the Association is to contribute towards a
supra-national cooperation, promoting economic and social progress
as well as closer bonds among the peoples of the region through
working together in the scientific and research fields.
Professor Tsekouras is also the Pro-Rector at the
Thessaloniki-based
University of Macedonia.
[07] PANDELI MAJKO: THE 6TH INTER-BALKAN FORUM IS AN ISLAND OF
HOPE IN THE TROUBLED BALKANS
Albanian prime minister Pandeli Majko characterized the 6th
Annual Inter-Balkan Forum that takes place in Thessaloniki as an
island of hope in the troubled Balkans.
Speaking in the formal lunch at noon today, the Albanian
prime minister referred to the massacres in Kosovo and the war
clashes and sent a message of peace saying that his country, the
poorest of Europe, wants more than anyone else peace,
fraternisation and economic development to prevail.
He also stressed the need for an end to the genocide and
pointed out that the Balkans can be reconstructed, adding that
himself came to Thessaloniki to contribute to the drawing up of
the programs for the reconstruction of the new Balkans in the new
millennium.
Referring to the dramatic consequences of the war in
Yugoslavia he said that Albania took over 400.000 refugees in a
period of four weeks and its population increased by 15%. He said
that Albania will be a dignified partner and a honest friend and
pointed out that in the trade transactions with the neighbouring
states Greece has the second place, Turkey the fourth and FYROM
the sixth.
On the economic situation of the country, he referred to the
implications of the so-called "pyramid scheme" crisis saying that
in 1997 the GDP decreased by 8%, inflation increased by 42% and
the national currency was devaluated by 50%. He also said that the
government has approved legislation that prevents a repeat of a
"pyramid scheme" type scandal.
Albania today aims at a macro-economic stability and it is
determined to proceed with the privatization of the largest bank
in the country, the mobile phone and the Telecommunications
Organization.
[08] SIMITIS: THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO EVERYTHING FOR PEACE IN THE
REGION
Prime minister Kostas Simitis pledged from the monastic
community in Mount Athos that his government will do everything
for peace to prevail in the region. Mr. Simitis is visiting the
monastic community together with his Portuguese counterpart
Antonio Gutieres.
The Greek prime minister will give a formal dinner in honor
of Mr. Gutieres this evening and tomorrow morning they will have
talks in Thessaloniki's Macedonia Palace Hotel followed by a joint
press conference. Mr. Simitis will meet tomorrow with prime
minister of FYROM Ljupco Geogiefski and Albania's Pandeli Majko.
[09] THE 6TH INTER-BALKAN FORUM CONTINUES IN THESSALONIKI
The 6th Inter-Balkan Forum continues in Thessaloniki in the
presence of businessmen from Greece and south-eastern Europe as
well as representatives of banking institutions from western
Europe.
The forum was formally opened by minister of Macedonia-Thrace
Yiannis Magriotis, who stressed that Thessaloniki acquires again
the importance and dynamism it had in the beginning of the
century. He stressed that the forum is very important for the
exchange of views and high level contacts. Referring to the crisis
in Kosovo he stressed that Greece can play a role of stability and
peace as the only NATO and EU member state in the region that has
good relations with all its neighbors.
Speaking in the conference Association of Industries in
Northern Greece chairman Mr. Vasilis Takas suggested the immediate
customs union of the south-eastern European countries with the 15
EU member-states within the framework of the economic
reconstruction plan for the region on "the day after" the crisis
in Kosovo. Mr. Takas also proposed the association of the Euro
with the national currencies of the Balkan countries that want
this, as an additional measure for the reinforcement of their
economies.
On the stability pact for south-eastern Europe suggested by
the German EU presidency, Mr. Takas pointed out that it must have
the approval of all parties involved and in any case the approval
of the European Union, the United States, the Russian Federation
and Yugoslavia. He also expressed the belief that the existing
international organizations, such as the UN, NATO, OSCE, EU, etc
are in a position to deal with the stability pact and the creation
of new institutions for this purpose is not necessary.
Mr. Takas also pointed out that the countries that will take
Kosovo refugees should receive a monthly sum of 40 Euros for each
refugee because it is almost certain that the refugees will not be
able to return to their homes before at least a year passes after
the end of the hostilities.
Cypriot finance minister Takis Clerides speaking in the forum
referred to the satisfactory, as he characterized it, development
course of the Cypriot economy, pointing out that its growth rate
in 1998 was 5%.
Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader
Kostas Karamanlis will speak this evening in a dinner that will be
given within the framework of the Balkan Forum, while tomorrow the
main speaker will be prime minister Kostas Simitis.
[10] APPEALS FOR INVESTMENTS IN THE BALKANS BY THE FYROM FINANCE
MINISTER
FYROM's finance minister Boris Stoymenov speaking in the 6th
Inter-Balkan Forum in Thessaloniki issued an appeal to the United
States and the rest of the countries to invest in the Balkans. He
stressed that FYROM has decided to play a constructive and active
role in the settlement of the crisis in Kossovo and that its
solution has to do with the development of the wider region.
Mr. Stoymenov referred to the problems faced by his country
as a result of the war in Yugoslavia as the economy of FYROM is
dependent on Belgrade. He said that the influx of refugees had
negative effects on the economy of FYROM due to the significant
cost of the humanitarian aid that has to be offered to them,
stressing that this a burden on his country where the jobless are
estimated at 284.000. He requested help in order to deal with the
problem of the refugees and at the same time, he underlined that
if the crisis spreads to FYROM it will easily spread to any other
country in the region.
Greek minister of development Evangelos Venizelos referred to
the need for the reconstruction of the region after the war in
Yugoslavia, stressing that the pre-conditions to achieve it are
the establishment of institutional and political security and
adequate funding by different sources. Mr. Venizelos also stressed
that the future of the Balkans lies with the EU and backed the
accession of the region's countries into the European Union.
Russian finance ministry international cooperation department
director Alexandar Goroholinski pointed out that his country
receives 10% of the world investments annually and it aims to
attract investments of 70-100 billion dollars by the year 2010. He
also stated that legislation is being promoted aimed at attracting
more foreign investors.
[11] REPPAS COMMENTED ON THE NATO BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY
IN BELGRADE
Such actions can prolong the crisis and such a development
will be tragic, stated Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas,
commenting on the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.
Mr. Reppas stated that the bombings with victims unarmed civilians
make the return of peace in the region more difficult.
Referring to the G8 peace proposal, he pointed out that it
was a significant step and Greece has called on Yugoslavia to give
a positive response and not miss the chance for the solution of
the crisis.
Mr. Reppas backed the foreign policy followed by Greece and
accused the right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy of
co-signing a European Popular Party text in which FYROM is
referred to as Macedonia, while it speaks of a genocide taking
place in Yugoslavia instead of ethnic cleansing. Mr. Reppas stated
that the policy followed by the government serves the interests of
the country and added that Greece will not take part in military
operations.
[12] REPPAS ON SOLANA'S CONFIDENTIAL LETTER
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, when asked to
comment on the secret NATO document which is published by an
Athens newspaper today, said that the Greek government had stated
from the beginning that there will be problems of economic and
social nature in the region of the Balkans as a result of the war
in Yugoslavia.
According to the newspaper, NATO secretary-general Javier
Solana has addressed a confidential letter to the 19 member-states
of the alliance in which he speaks of a general destabilisation
risk in the Balkans because of the crisis.
[13] GREECE'S GROWTH RATE WILL EXCEED THE AVERAGE OF THE "15" IN
THE PERIOD 1999-2000
The economic growth in Greece will exceed the average growth
rate of the "15" in the period 1999-2000, according to the
research department of the magazine "The Economist" (EIU-Economist
Intelligence Unit).
In the research that was presented in Thessaloniki today
within the framework of the 6th annual forum of the Association of
Industries in Northern Greece, it is pointed out that Greece will
most likely keep its appointment with the year 2001 and join the
EMU.
Ms. Merli Baroudi, regional director of the EIU, stated while
analysing the results of the research that Greece's course toward
the EMU will not be affected by the crisis in Kossovo.
Specifically, the war in Yugoslavia will signal the start of a
short-term period of risks and a long-term period of opportunities
for the Greek economy which will not affect Greece's participation
in the Euro-zone.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] GREEK PRESIDENT ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO GEORGIA
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
is presently on a two-day official visit to Georgia, the first by
a Greek president to Georgia after the Caucasian republic became
independent.
The President will meet with his Georgian counterpart Eduard
Shevardnadze today, as well as with Georgian parliament chairman
Zurab Zhvania Foreign Minister Irakly Menangarishvili and
Patriarch Ilia II.
An agreement on developing cooperation between the two
countries will be signed today.
[15] PRESIDENT STEPHANOPOULOS MEETS WITH GEORGIAN COUNTERPART
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
met with his Georgian counterpart Eduard Shevardnadze in Tbilisi
this morning, and discussed bilateral ties, as well as Greek-
Turkish relations.
Following a signing ceremony of a number of agreements on
developing cooperation between the two countries, the two
presidents gave a joint press conference where they both noted
that the "especially warm" relations established between Georgia
and Greece are called upon to ensure further prosperity of the two
countries' peoples.
Responding to a question posed by the Macedonian Press
Agency, President Stephanopoulos stated that while Georgia is a
country that is friendly towards Turkey, it is more friendly
towards Greece and has no reason to become involved in Greek-
Turkish differences.
"I was given the opportunity to develop our positions, mainly
Greece's proposal that (Turkey) approach the International Court
of Justice at The Hague as a means of resolving the differences,"
President Stephanopoulos stated, adding that "in regards to the
substance of the differences, Greece is always in favor of the
application of international law and accords."
President Shevardnadze stated that his country's ties
with Greece and Turkey are very good.
"We are a small country," the Georgian President stated, "
and we are always looking for friendly countries. We have
excellent relations with Greece and very good relations with
Turkey."
President Shevardnadze added that an international force
should be found for the resolution of the disagreements, which
would regulate the differences.
Concerning the Black Sea and Trade Development Bank (BSTDB)
which will be founded in Thessaloniki, President Stephanopoulos
told the MPA that it will start operating in June, and that is was
among the topics discussed with his Georgian counterpart.
The Georgian President expressed his gratitude to Greece for
enabling his country to participate in BSTDB as a founding member.
Messrs. Stephanopoulos and Shevardnadze stated that their
discussion confirmed the excellent ties between the two countries,
and added that there is a coincidence of views and positions
concerning the Kosovo crisis.
[16] GREEK PRESIDENT INAUGURATES SAE'S HOSPITAL IN GEORGIA
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos,
presently on a two-day official visit to Georgia, inaugurated the
"Hippocrates Hospital" of Tbilisi yesterday, which is one among
the ten clinics founded by the Council of Greeks Abroad.
During the course of the ceremony yesterday, President
Stephanopoulos was bestowed the city's key by his Georgian
counterpart Eduard Shevardnadze and was named an honorary citizen
of Tbilisi.
Mr. Shevardnadze, who also participated in the event, said
the people of Greece and Georgia feel as "brothers", while he
noted that both countries will do what is necessary to resolve the
differences in the Caucasus region.
In response, President Stephanopoulos stated that "I don't
know if we are brothers, but we are at least first cousins."
[17] GREEK PRESIDENT TO PAY VISIT TO ARMENIA ON MAY 11-13
The President of the Hellenic Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
will pay an official visit to Armenia on May 11-13 at the
invitation of the republic's leadership.
Before arriving in Armenia the President will make an
official visit to Georgia.
While in Tbilisi, he will meet Georgian President Eduard
Shevardnadze, the parliament speaker and the foreign minister to
discuss further development of
cooperation between the two countries and regional issues.
[18] HELLENIC PETROLEUM DEAL ENDORSED BY FYROM'S GOVERNMENT
Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) now holds the majority shares in
FYROM's OKTA refinery and will go ahead with the construction of
an oil pipeline linking Thessaloniki with Skopje, after contracts
were signed on Saturday between the government of FYROM and
Greece's Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos.
Specifically , the agreement calls for ELPE becoming the
strategic investor of FYROM's OKTA refinery, with the investment
being the largest ever in the neighboring country. ELPE, which is
listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, will upgrade OKTA's
facilities and will construct the 90-million-dollar pipeline,
which will have an annual capacity of 2.5 million tons and a
length of 220 kilometers. The pipeline is due for completion in
three years.
Mr. Venizelos stated that the agreement has opened new
horizons for political and economic ties between the two
countries.
[19] NIS BOMBARDED BY NATO DURING THE COURSE OF THE NIGHT
Nato warplanes bombed Nis, Yugoslavia's third largest city,
throughout last night, targeting an industrial area, the airport
and the central post office.
This was the first time the wails of sirens didn't sound in
Belgrade, as the capital city was not targeted. Meanwhile, the
International Court of Justice at The Hague is to hold a hearing
today on the request filed by Yugoslavia calling for the end of
the bombings and asking for damages from ten NATO member-states.
[20] NATO SLAMS BELGRADE COURT ACTION AS "FRIVOLOUS & CYNICAL"
The case brought before the International Court of Justice at
The Hague by Yugoslavia against 10 NATO member-states over the
Alliance's bombings, has been condemned by NATO as "frivolous
and cynical".
According to the French news agency AFP, NATO spokesman Jamie
Shea said that "it is like Saddam Hussein suing for damages after
Operation Desert Storm,"
referring to the Gulf War allied campaign against Iraq.
The Hague legal move "is a frivolous and cynical attempt to
deflect
responsibility for the campaign of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo,"
Mr. Shea told
reporters in Brussels.
Belgrade's legal action, has asked the ICJ to adjudge 10
states "for violation of the obligation not to use force against
another state", and "order that the use of force cease
immediately".
According to AFP, preliminary hearings will most likely last
two days, with
the accusations against each of the 10 NATO states being examined
separately
and in alphabetical order.
[21] CLINTON SENDS LETTER OF APOLOGY TO CHINESE CHAIRMAN
U.S. President Bill Clinton has sent a letter to Chinese
Chairman Jiang Zemin,
offering an apology and expressing condolences in connection with
the NATO aircraft's bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.
The U.S. president noted that the embassy had been attacked
by accident and the tragic incident occurred by mistake.
At the same time, Mr. Clinton expressed concern over the mass
protest demonstrations held outside the U.S. embassy in Beijing
and the consulates in Chinese cities. He called on Chinese leaders
to insure safety of U.S. diplomats and all other Americans in
China.
[22] CHINA TO INVESTIGATE AIR BOMBING OF ITS BELGRADE EMBASSY
A group of Chinese government experts are traveling in
Belgrade from Beijing
in order to investigate the reasons behind NATO's air attack on
the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia.
According to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass, the group
includes high-ranking officials of the cabinet, the Chinese
Foreign Ministry and other leading departments of
the country.
[23] CHERNOMYRDIN TRAVELS TO BEIJING TODAY
Russia's envoy on Kosovo Viktor Chernomyrdin is traveling to
Beijing today, where he will hold talks with Chinese leaders,
according to the Russian News Agency ITAR-TASS.
The visit is to take place amid mass protests in China over
NATO's bombing of Beijing's embassy in Belgrade.
[24] RUGOVA FAVORS THE DISARMING OF THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY
Moderate Kosovar-Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova told Russian
envoy Viktor Chernomyrdin Saturday that he favored disarming the
Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and wanted Kosovo to have autonomy
within Yugoslavia, the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS reported
yesterday.
Mr. Chernomyrdin met Mr. Rugova in Bonn after holding talks
with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and new UN Balkans
representative Carl Bildt.
Mr. Rugova is unequivocal on keeping Kosovo within the
Yugoslav
Federation as an autonomous province, Mr. Chernomyrdin told
Russian journalists
after the talks, ITAR-TASS reported from Bonn.
The ethnic Albanian leader also called for the disarming of
the KLA separatists who have rejected a peace plan agreed last
week between Russia and the main western powers.
The KLA has said it will accept nothing short of independence for
Kosovo and has charged that Rugova has "no mandate" to negotiate
on behalf of the Kosovars.
The Russian envoy stated that Mr. Rugova supported the
deployment in Kosovo of an international peacekeeping force which
would enable refugees to return home in safety, ITAR-TASS said.
[25] HELLENIC-SWEDISH FRIENDSHIP PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION OPENS
The Parliamentary Association of Hellenic-Swedish Friendship
held its first meeting last week at the premises of the Swedish
Parliament, where Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou
presented a salutation to the 95 members.
The Association was founded two years ago by the Swedish
deputy Nikos Papadopoulos, who is of Greek-descent, and with the
encouragement of Mr. Papandreou and the Undersecretary of Foreign
Affairs Grigoris Niotis.
"The founding of this Association constitutes the beginning
of a fundamental tie between Sweden and Greece, so that we may
create friendly bonds between the two countries' parliaments," Mr.
Papadopoulos told the Macedonian Press Agency.
[26] VICTOR CHERNOMYRDIN WILL VISIT PEKING
Russian mediator Victor Chernomyrdin travels to Peking today
for talks with the Chinese government. The relations between the
United States and China continue to be tense and Peking announced
the interruption of contacts with the US on the issue of the
nuclear weapons as well as the human rights situation.
Meanwhile, German chancellor Gerhard Schroder requested a
detailed inquiry on the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in
Belgrade, while he is expected to meet in Bonn this evening with
NATO secretary-general Javier Solana to discuss the issue. Mr.
Schroder will travel to the Chinese capital tomorrow.
[27] NATO ATTACKED SERB POSITIONS AT THE BORDERS WITH ALBANIA
NATO aircraft bombed Serb installations in Kossovo, about 6
kilometers from the Albanian borders, according to eye witnesses
at the border crossing of Morina.
The French news agency AFP reports that four explosions were
heard around 2pm, Greek time, while NATO aircraft were flying at a
very low altitude.
Kosovars at the borders maintain that the aircraft bombed a
region close to Zur where it is known that Serb armoured tanks are
stationed, while according to eye witnesses, the Serb air defense
has responded to the attack.
[28] PART OF THE YUGOSLAV ARMY BEGAN ITS WITHDRAWAL FROM KOSSOVO
The Yugoslav state news agency Tanjug reported, quoting the
army's chief of staff, that the Yugoslav army has begun
withdrawing its troops from Kossovo.
A statement mentions that the activities in Kossovo against
the ethnic Albanian rebels of the KLA have ended and the chief of
staff has ordered parts of the army and police forces to return
from Kossovo, adding that the decision came into force on May 9,
at 10pm (2000 GMT).
NATO declined to comment on the report and according to an
alliance official, who requested to remain anonymous, NATO will
wait and see.
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