Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-05-17
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, May 17, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] "17 NOVEMBER" FIRES ROCKET AT GERMAN AMBASSADOR'S HOUSE
[02] GREEK PREMIER TELLS SUPPORTERS: PASOK IS HERE TO STAY
[03] GREEK FM PROPOSES TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE IN YUGOSLAVIA
[04] BSTDB DIRECTORS TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI THIS WEEK
[05] GREEK MINORITY PARTY SENDS HUMANITARIAN AID TO YUGOSLAVIA
[06] GREEK CONSORTIUM BUILDS IMPRESSIVE PORT PROJECTS IN GEORGIA
[07] EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY
[08] REPPAS ON THE DEMIREL STATEMENTS
[09] REPPAS ON THE TERRORIST ATTACK TARGETING THE GERMAN
AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
[10] SIMITIS AND PRODI ARE AGAINST THE GROUND OPERATIONS IN
YUGOSLAVIA
[11] TURKISH WARSHIPS MADE AN ATTEMPT TO APPROACH THE IMIA ISLET
[12] TSOCHATZOPOULOS IS ON A VISIT TO SOFIA
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER TRAVELS TO SOFIA TODAY
[14] CYPRUS: MASSIVE PEACE MARCH HELD AGAINST BOMBING OF F.R.Y.
[15] SINCE BOMBS CONTINUE, BELGRADE CANCELS PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL
[16] AHTISAARI TO MEET WITH SCHROEDER, CHERNOMYRDIN, TALBOTT
[17] RUSSIAN FM IVANOV IN BRUSSELS, TO MEET WITH RUGOVA
[18] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL: REFUGEES BACK AT HOME BY WINTER
[19] RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER TO VISIT CHINA IN EARLY JUNE
[20] THE "GREY WOLVES" WERE FINANCED BY HOLLAND
[21] CONFLICTING INFORMATION ON THE PARTICIPATION OF TURKISH JETS
IN THE NATO BOMBINGS
[22] GEORGIEVSKI SEES THE END OF THE YUGOSLAV CRISIS IN THE
FOLLOWING DAYS
[23] THE KOSSOVO REFUGEES IN ALBANIA ARE ESTIMATED AT 450.000
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] "17 NOVEMBER" FIRES ROCKET AT GERMAN AMBASSADOR'S HOUSE
Police believe that the infamous "17 November" group is
behind last night's attack against the residence of German
Ambassador in Athens where a rocket was fired from a fuse within a
short distance, but no one was hurt as the weapon failed to
explode.
Both the Ambassador, Carl Heinz Kuhna, and his wife were
inside the house, when the rocket tore a hole in the roof.
Following the incident, the Ambassador told reporters that he
continues to feel safe in Greece and urged the German citizens to
visit Greece fearlessly.
The "17 November" terrorist group has been active for a great
number of years but continues to remain elusive. It first appeared
in 1975 when it claimed responsibility for the killing of 20
Greeks and foreigners.
[02] GREEK PREMIER TELLS SUPPORTERS: PASOK IS HERE TO STAY
Addressing a rally of supporters in Kalamata, south
Peloponnese, yesterday, Greece's Prime Minister Costas Simitis
told a rally of supporters that the country is an oasis of
stability in the Balkans.
The Premier outlined the governing party's achievements in
the public sector and emphasized that the real incomes of workers
have been on an upward course for an annual basis. He further
stressed that a health sector restructuring program is presently
in the works, totaling 200 billion drachmas.
After accusing the main opposition party, New Democracy, of
irresponsibility and hypocrisy, Mr. Simitis vowed that PASOK will
govern the country for the years to come.
[03] GREEK FM PROPOSES TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE IN YUGOSLAVIA
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou is proposing that
a state of temporary ceasefire be applied to Yugoslavia, where
NATO forces will stop the bombarding, thus giving the UN Security
Council the opportunity to issue a resolution which in turn would
have to be responded by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
Mr. Papandreou has stated that he will bring forth his
proposal during an imminent meeting with his French counterpart
Hubert Vedrine, in Paris.
[04] BSTDB DIRECTORS TO MEET IN THESSALONIKI THIS WEEK
The Board of Directors of the Black Sea Trade and
Development Bank
(BSTDB) is to meet in Thessaloniki on May 21-22, in order to draw
the final touches prior to the financial institution's operation.
The meeting will concern the BSTDB's latest financial
policies which are subject to approval, matters concerning project
strategy and investment policies and assessment of risk
management.
While the Bank will embark on full operation mode on the 1st
of June, the official inauguration will take place on the 21st of
that month.
The bank's budget, which is expected to be 150 million
dollars in 1999, will finance projects and programs funded
jointly with other credit organizations, such as the European
Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The shareholders of the Black Sea Bank are the 11 member-
states of the Black Sea Organization of Economic Cooperation:
Greece, Turkey, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Georgia, Moldavia and Albania.
[05] GREEK MINORITY PARTY SENDS HUMANITARIAN AID TO YUGOSLAVIA
Greece's minority party Democratic and Social Movement
(DIKKI) has gathered twenty-two tons of humanitarian aid for
Yugoslavia, which will be transported to Belgrade today.
A delegation of party officials, led by DIKKI President
Dimitris Tsovolas, is to accompany the aid mission, which
includes pharmaceutical supplies and foodstuffs.
DIKKI announced that the aid is a symbolic gesture of
solidarity and support towards the Serb people.
[06] GREEK CONSORTIUM BUILDS IMPRESSIVE PORT PROJECTS IN GEORGIA
A Greek consortium has drafted and completed a "railway
ferry" that will link Georgia, Ukraine and Bulgaria, this being
the Black Sea region's first structural project to be funded by
the European Union.
The sea route, which will link the cities of Poti (Georgia),
with Ilitcovsk (Ukraine) and Varna (Bulgaria) and constitutes a
section of the TRACECA axis (Transportation Corridor Europe
Caucasus Asia), was recently inaugurated by Georgian President
Eduard Shevardnadze in the presence of presidents and other
leaders from 11 countries.
The port of Poti is considered of utmost importance as it
constitutes the key junction for transporting trade to neighboring
countries and the Caspian region.
The Greek consortium, comprising "Athena S.A." and "Elliniki
Technodomiki" (with the input of "Triton Engineering
Consultants"), undertook the project following an international
bidding process and completed the task far ahead of the deadline.
The project, a world first, involved the construction of all
necessary facilities and infrastructures for the creation of a
link span (similar to a floating bridge) which will enable the
complete and mass loading-unloading of cargo trains from ferry
boats to - and from - the piers.
The said bridge was fully constructed in Greece, based on a
hoisting system patented by Britain's MDC, and was towed to Poti
by traveling a distance of 1,000 miles through the Bosporus
Straits.
[07] EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN ATHENS TODAY
European Commission President Romano Prodi is to arrive in
Athens
today where he will meet with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and
opposition
party leaders.
According to reports, Messrs. Prodi and Simitis are expected
to discuss
selection criteria for the EC's new commissioners.
[08] REPPAS ON THE DEMIREL STATEMENTS
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas characterized the
statements of Turkish president Suleiman Demirel as a delirium.
He said that this shows that Ankara is in an awkward position
because of its policy. He said that Turkey tries to create
tensions and preserve the friction in the Greek-Turkish relations.
[09] REPPAS ON THE TERRORIST ATTACK TARGETING THE GERMAN
AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas condemned last
night's terrorist attack on the residence of the German ambassador
to Athens.
Mr. Reppas stated that this attack targets Greece as well and
it is condemned by the Greek people.
[10] SIMITIS AND PRODI ARE AGAINST THE GROUND OPERATIONS IN
YUGOSLAVIA
The foreign policy can not be exercised by private
individuals, who undertake to solve the problems in international
relations, stated the Greek prime minister on the occasion of the
new incident caused by the Turks in the Imia islets.
Mr. Simitis also stressed that calm is needed especially
during the present period of time, while he called again on Turkey
to appeal to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
A short while ago, the meeting of the Greek prime minister
with European Commission president Romano Prodi was completed in
Athens. The two men backed a quick peaceful settlement of the war
in Kosovo and expressed their opposition to the ground military
operations in the region.
[11] TURKISH WARSHIPS MADE AN ATTEMPT TO APPROACH THE IMIA ISLET
A Turkish Coast Guard boat and another warship, on board
which most likely were Turkish journalists, made an attempt to
approach the region of the Imia islet in south-eastern Aegean at
11:30am this morning.
The two boats attempted to approach the coast of the rocky
islet but they were spotted by a Greek Coast Guard boat that
prevented them from getting close to the islet. Two Turks jumped
in the water and tried to swim to the islet coast but they failed
in their attempt and they were picked up by the Turkish Coast
Guard boat. The two Turkish boats then left the region.
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas referring to the
incident maintained that there is certainly expediency on behalf
of the Turkish side, adding that this behavior poisons the Greek-
Turkish relations and has a negative effect on the existing
situation in bilateral relations.
[12] TSOCHATZOPOULOS IS ON A VISIT TO SOFIA
Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos is on a two-
day formal visit to Bulgaria. Mr. Tsochatzopoulos and already met
with his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Ananiev, while he will also
meet with foreign minister Nadezda Michailova, foreign policy
parliamentary committee chairman Asen Agov and parliament speaker
Jordan Sokolov. Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will also be received by
Bulgarian president Petar Stoyanov.
After the meeting of the two ministers of defense it was
stressed that they share the same position for the quick peaceful
settlement in Kossovo through diplomacy. They also backed the
deployment of multi-national peace-keeping forces made up of NATO
members and non-member states that will guarantee the
implementation of the peace agreement that will be reached. Mr.
Tsochatzopoulos stressed that Russia and Ukraine should be
included in the countries that will send peace-keeping forces.
Meanwhile, Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou is on a
visit to Paris today. Later in the afternoon, Mr. Papandreou will
meet with his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[13] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER TRAVELS TO SOFIA TODAY
Greece's Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos is
to embark on a two-day visit to Sofia today, where he will hold
talks with Bulgaria's political leadership regarding the Kosovo
crisis.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos will reportedly focus on the initiatives
for reaching a diplomatic solution to the problem.
[14] CYPRUS: MASSIVE PEACE MARCH HELD AGAINST BOMBING OF F.R.Y.
Thousands of people participated in a peace march held in
Larnaca yesterday to condemn Turkey's occupation of part of
Cyprus, the presence of British Bases on the island and NATO's
bombing of Yugoslavia.
According to the Cyprus News Agency, a resolution was issued
calling on UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to "intensify his
efforts for the implementation of UN
resolutions on Cyprus."
It also says that the two military bases Britain retains in
Cyprus since granting the island freedom from colonial rule in
1960 must be abolished.
Moreover, the resolution condemns NATO's offensive against
Yugoslavia and calls for its dissolution.
Greece's famous composer Mikis Theodorakis addressed
participants, and messages from the Primate of the Church
Archbishop Chrysostomos and the Russian Communist Party were read.
The march was organized by the Cyprus Peace Council.
[15] SINCE BOMBS CONTINUE, BELGRADE CANCELS PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL
As another round of NATO bombings pounded Yugoslavia last
night, Belgrade has reconsidered its stance regarding the partial
withdrawal of Serb troops from Kosovo.
The chief of the Yugoslav military press center stated that
the partial withdrawal cannot continue as, since the day Belgrade
announced its intent to do so, the Alliance has intensified the
attacks by 50-80%.
Meanwhile, "Newsweek" has reported that the U.S. Pentagon
warned President Bill Clinton that the attacks against Yugoslavia
cannot be successful without ground operations.
[16] AHTISAARI TO MEET WITH SCHROEDER, CHERNOMYRDIN, TALBOTT
Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari is to receive German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Helsinki today, in order to search
for approaches to a political settlement of the conflict in the
Balkans.
President Ahtisaari will also hold talks with the Russian
President's special Balkans envoy Viktor Chernomyrdin today and US
Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott tomorrow.
[17] RUSSIAN FM IVANOV IN BRUSSELS, TO MEET WITH RUGOVA
Russia's acting Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov is to travel to
Brussels today where he is to attend the 2nd session of the Russia-
European Union Cooperation Council. Mr. Ivanov will hold talks
with the European Union's Foreign Ministers and the moderate
leader of Kosovo's ethnic Albanians, Ibrahim Rugova.
In regards to the Kosovo crisis, political analysts are
forecasting clouds in the so-far close cooperation between London
and Washington. Greece's alternate Foreign Minster Yiannos
Kranidiotis also spoke of divisions having emerged within the
Alliance.
[18] NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL: REFUGEES BACK AT HOME BY WINTER
NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana has stated that the
Kosovo refugees will be back in their homes by winter.
"We'll see how the ethnic cleansing ends and i believe that
this will be before the start of winter," Mr. Solana told CNN.
[19] RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER TO VISIT CHINA IN EARLY JUNE
Preparations are continuing in Beijing for the arrival of
Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev, who is to visit China in
early June.
According to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass, Mr. Ivanov's
visit will take place as scheduled and both sides will discuss a
broad spectrum of bilateral and international matters.
Mr. Sergeyev's talks will center of the Yugoslavia crisis,
the Theater Missile Defense program laid out by the United States
and Japan, and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
[20] THE "GREY WOLVES" WERE FINANCED BY HOLLAND
The Dutch local administration organization was the financial
backer of the Turkish extreme right "Grey Wolves" organization
from 1990 until 1996. The revelation was made by the Dutch
newspaper "Algemeen Dagblad" in a report signed by Frank Renout
and published in the May 15 issue. Based on facts provided by a
research conducted by the Dutch committee against fascism and
racism, the municipality of Utrecht had financed a number of
organizations of the Turkish extreme right "Grey Wolves" in the
period 1990-1996.
The newspaper published city council decisions according to
which, the Turkish Cultural Center, which in reality is an extreme-
right gang having links with the extreme right party MHP as well
as with the "Grey Wolves", has received 24.000 guilders.
The news report also mentions the statements made by Turkish-
born criminology professor in the University of Utrecht Mr.
Yesilgoz, who is specialising on issues concerning the Turkish
organized crime according to which, the financing of the "Grey
Wolves" is a usual phenomenon in Holland given the fact that the
Turkish right extremists often manage to mislead the Dutch
authorities over their true intentions.
[21] CONFLICTING INFORMATION ON THE PARTICIPATION OF TURKISH JETS
IN THE NATO BOMBINGS
The Turkish press published conflicting information on the
active participation of Turkish jets in the bombings of NATO
against Yugoslavia.
The newspaper "Milliyet" in a correspondence from Brussels
writes that the Turkish F-16 will have an active participation in
the NATO operations starting next week. Based on the news report,
the Turkish F-16 will be used in the NATO operations only in air
defense but it is possible that there will be a request by the
alliance for the Turkish aircraft to participate in the NATO
bombings if the attacks intensify.
Meanwhile, the newspaper "Hurriyet", citing reliable sources,
reports that NATO has asked for the active participation of the
Turkish aircraft in the bombings since the beginning of April and
that Ankara has given its permission for the bombing of specific
targets in Yugoslavia. According to the same sources, initially,
only 5 of the 11 Turkish F-16 stationed in Italy had an active
participation but later, all the Turkish jets participated in the
operations. In the news report it is also mentioned that the
Turkish F-16 have dropped NATO supplied MK-82 bombs as well as AIM-
9L/M and AMRAAM bombs with which they were supplied by the Turkish
armed forces.
[22] GEORGIEVSKI SEES THE END OF THE YUGOSLAV CRISIS IN THE
FOLLOWING DAYS
FYROM prime minister Ljupco Georgievski, of the VMRO-DPMNE
party, ruled out any involvement of his country in the Yugoslav
crisis, while he predicted that the war will end within the week.
Speaking in his party's youth congress, gave the assurance
that the country will not be involved in the war against
Yugoslavia and stated that he is optimistic that there will be a
solution soon, predicting that the crisis will end within the
week.
He also stated that the crucial situation in Kosovo in the
end it could be to the benefit of FYROM, announcing that the
negotiations for the country's association with the European Union
will start in June.
[23] THE KOSSOVO REFUGEES IN ALBANIA ARE ESTIMATED AT 450.000
The Kossovo refugees in Albania are estimated at 450.000,
while information minister Musa Ulkini did not rule out the
likelihood to reach the 1 million mark.
In statements he made to MPA, he underlined that the Albanian
government will not block the entrance to any refugee from
Kossovo, while referring to the infrastructure created for their
reception he said that 130 refugee camps have been built and 70
are still under construction, adding that a total of 230.000
refugees will stay in those camps.
Meanwhile, the situation of thousands of refugees in Kukes,
at the borders with Yugoslavia, continues to be dramatic. Out of
80.000 refugees, 30.000 live in refugee camps, 40.000 are guests
in the houses of Albanian families, while 10.000 refugees still
live outdoors in sordid conditions.
|
