Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-06-03
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 3, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] SIMITIS' SPEECH TO GREEKS LIVING IN GERMANY
[02] SCHEDULE OF GREEK POLITICAL LEADERS
[03] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH IN NEVROKOPI AND SERRES
[04] 8.912.901ARE THE REGISTERED VOTERS FOR THE EURO-ELECTIONS IN
GREECE
[05] LARGE QUANTITIES OF DIOXIN CONTAMINATED POULTRY WERE
CONFISCATED IN THESSALONIKI
[06] NATO HAS NOT ASKED GREECE TO TAKE OVER THE ADMINISTRATION OF
SERB REGIONS IN KOSOVO
[07] MR. NIKOLAOU'S RESPONSE TO THE TURKISH MINISTER OF DEFENSE
CLAIMS ON THE GREEK ISLANDS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SERB PARLIAMENT
[09] NATO CONTINUED RAIDS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA
[10] EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT BEGINS
[11] BELGRADE: ICJ DECISION "CYNICAL AND UNACCEPTABLE"
[12] OSCE CHAIRMAN IN BOSNIA
[13] ARMENIA: UNITY ALLIANCE WINS 43.4% OF THE VOTES
[14] CHERNOMIRDIN DENIES SPLIT WITH HIS MILITARY ADVISORS
[15] GLIGOROV-CLARK MEET IN SKOPJE
[16] TODAY'S SCHEDULE OF THE EU SUMMIT
[17] EU LEADERS AWAIT BELGRADE'S RESPONSE TO THE PEACE DEAL
[18] TURKEY CLAIMS MORE ISLETS IN THE AEGEAN
[19] BELGRADE: PEACE PLAN REALISTIC
[20] YELTSIN PARDONS 713 DEATH-ROW CONVICTS
[21] EUROPES CREDIBILITY IS TESTED IN COLOGNE
[22] RUSSIA CALLS FOR MORE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO YUGOSLAVIA
[23] YUGOSLAV CRISIS TO BE RESOLVED?
[24] CHICKENS AND EGGS FROM BELGIUM WERE CONFISCATED IN BULGARIA
[25] KOSTAS KARAMANLIS ATTENDS THE EUROPEAN POPULAR PARTY MEETING
[26] THE G-8 PEACE PLAN WAS APPROVED BY THE SERB PARLIAMENT
[27] THE YUGOSLAV CRISIS IS THE MAIN ISSUE IN THE EU SUMMIT
MEETING
[28] NEW NATO BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA
[29] AUSTRIA: 4 OUT OF 5 ARE AGAINST THE BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA
[30] THE MISSILE THAT DROPPED IN BULGARIA YESTERDAY WAS AN AIR-TO-
GROUND
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] SIMITIS' SPEECH TO GREEKS LIVING IN GERMANY
Prime Minister Costas Simitis stated his belief that PASOK
will win the euroelections, in a speech he addressed last night to
Greeks who live in Cologne.
Mr. Simitis reminded that 29 years ago he had addressed his
fist speech in Cologne in a meeting to protest against the
dictatorship in Greece, held in Cologne and stressed that on June
13th, the Greek people will face a clear dilemma: "Will we move
forward and secure everything we have achieved or will we go back
with the ‘referendums' of the Right? The stream cannot go back! We
ask from the Greek people to compare the present to the future. To
compare our work to others' words. To compare if we achieved what
we had said to whether the others have achieved what they had
promised in the past. I believe we talk through our works. Our
work shows the truth" he stressed.
Premier Simitis said that regarding the Yugoslav issue Greece
has achieved to stand firm and secure in the middle of a crisis
and that our country acts according to its own interests.
He also noted that his party, PASOK, supports the Greek
immigrants with its policies and it has adapted an important
organizational work in order to follow the developments that
concern the Greeks who live abroad, referring to the founding of
the Council of Greeks Living Abroad.
[02] SCHEDULE OF GREEK POLITICAL LEADERS
Prime Minister Kostas Simitis is in Cologne today, taking
part in the European Union Summit. Last night he addressed a
speech to Greeks living in Germany, were he referred to the euro-
elections as well as the Yugoslav crisis.
Main opposition leader, Costas Karamanlis is in Bonn as of
last night where he participates in the European People's Party
Summit, discussing subjects that concern the institutional
reforming of the European Union, the boost of employment and the
Yugoslav crisis.
In his speech the president of New Democracy stressed the
need to form a common administration of Kosovo after the crisis is
over while noting the need to appoint an official representative
of the EU who will act as a mediator between the Kosovars and the
Serbs.
The Secretary General of the Communist Party, Aleka Papariga
tours in the region of Ipiros and tonight she will address a
speech in the town of Ioannina.
Leader of the Coalition of the Left and the Progress, Nikos
Konstantopoulos will visit Lamia and Patra today where we will
meet with local representatives.
Dimitris Tsovolas, president of the Democratic and Social
Movement, will visit the municipality of Peristeri and during the
day he will go to the central market where he is to meet with
local representatives.
Antonis Samaras, president of Political Spring party, is in
Thessaloniki where he is to visit industrial facilities. At 1.30
pm he will give a press cnoference and later in the evening he
will visit the conference center of HELEXPO. Mr Samaras will leave
Thessaloniki tomorrow to Kilkis.
[03] ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH IN NEVROKOPI AND SERRES
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will visit Nevrokopi and
Serres today, continuing his tour of Northern Greece.
Yesterday, the citizens of Drama received Vartholomeos with
enthusiasm. The Patriarch will leave to Constantinoples on June 5.
[04] 8.912.901ARE THE REGISTERED VOTERS FOR THE EURO-ELECTIONS IN
GREECE
Ten days are left before the June 13 elections for the
European parliament deputies. The voting will begin at 7am and
will end at 7pm, while the counting of the votes will begin 2
hours later when voting will be completed in every part of the
European Union.
According to data provided by the ministry of interior, out
of 8.912.901 registered voters 4.353.685 are men and 4.559.216 are
women, while the Greeks living in other EU member states will vote
a day earlier, on June 12, and are estimated to be about 45.000.
The polling stations across Greece are 18.525.
[05] LARGE QUANTITIES OF DIOXIN CONTAMINATED POULTRY WERE
CONFISCATED IN THESSALONIKI
Large quantities of contaminated with dioxin Belgian poultry
and food products made with chicken eggs were confiscated in the
prefecture of Thessaloniki after an investigation conducted by the
responsible authorities. According to a statement issued
yesterday, a total of 9 tons of contaminated products have been
confiscated.
The inspections in Thessaloniki for the location of
contaminated poultry and eggs imported from Belgium will continue.
[06] NATO HAS NOT ASKED GREECE TO TAKE OVER THE ADMINISTRATION OF
SERB REGIONS IN KOSOVO
Acting Greek government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou denied
today that there is a NATO letter calling on Greece to take over
the administration of certain Serb regions in Kossovo.
Mr. Nikolaou mentioned that there is no such letter and
everything is at the negotiating table namely, what will be the
role of the Greek peacekeeping force, where it will be stationed
and what will be its capabilities, adding that everything will
depend on the content of the peace agreement that will be reached.
When asked if NATO forces are passing through the port of
Thessaloniki he responded negatively.
[07] MR. NIKOLAOU'S RESPONSE TO THE TURKISH MINISTER OF DEFENSE
CLAIMS ON THE GREEK ISLANDS
Acting Greek government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou commented
on the statements made by Turkish minister of defense Sabahatin
Cakmakoglu, who disputed the sovereignty of Greek islands in the
Aegean.
Mr. Nikolaou called on Ankara to behave in accordance with
international law and stressed that Turkey with its statements is
being constantly exposed to the international community.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[08] SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SERB PARLIAMENT
The Serb parliament holds a special session today in order to
consider the peace plan submitted yesterday to Slobodan Milosevic
by Viktor Chernomirdin and Marti Ahtisaari.
Today, the Russian mediator and the Finnish President, who
flew to Belgrade yesterday, will resume talks with the Yugoslav
President. American President, Bill Clinton did not rule out, in
his message, the possibility of ground operations in case these
diplomatic efforts fail as well.
[09] NATO CONTINUED RAIDS AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA
NATO air strikes were limited last night to a few targets
around Belgrade and other areas in Serbia hit by the Alliance's
fighter planes. Missiles hit Obrenovac while one person was
wounded by another missile that fell close to a gas station on the
road from Belgrade to Pancevo.
[10] EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT BEGINS
The second European Union Summit begins today in Cologne,
Germany. European leaders will discuss about the crisis in
Yugoslavia and are expected to issue a communique on the common
European defense and the appointment of the official in charge of
the European Foreign Policy. This post is likely to be assigned to
NATO Secretary General, Javier Solana.
[11] BELGRADE: ICJ DECISION "CYNICAL AND UNACCEPTABLE"
Serbia's Justice Minister Dragoljub Jankovic said the
International Court's Justice decision to reject the Yugoslav
petition to end NATO air raids was "cynical and unacceptable", in
an interview in the daily Politika.
Yesterday the ICJ ruled that it has considered the case
profoundly "it was not competent to judge most of the case".
Jancovic stressed tat the consequences of the attack against
Yugoslavia are such that a court should have taken temporary
measures to protect the entire people of Serbia adding that
Belgrade will continue to ask from the United Nations to issue a
resolution to settle the problem.
[12] OSCE CHAIRMAN IN BOSNIA
OSCE chairman Knut Vollebaek pays a three-day visit to Bosnia
and Croatia as of last night, the OSCE office in Sarajevo
announced.
Vollebek is to meet with the High Representative of the
international community, Carlos Westendorp as well as with members
of the collective presidency of Bosnia. Afterwards he is to leave
to Banka Luka, the administrative center of the Bosnian Serbs.
He will also meet NATO officials from the Stabilisation Force
which oversees the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement.
OSCE is in charge of the organization of the post-war
elections in Bosnia.
[13] ARMENIA: UNITY ALLIANCE WINS 43.4% OF THE VOTES
The Unity Alliance of Armenia, led by ex-communist leader
Karen Dermichyan and Armenian Defense Minister Vazgen Saarkisian
won Sunday's electrions.
With 95% of the votes counted, the Unity Alliance won 43.4%
of the votes, while the Communists came secont with 12,5%. The
Alliance is expected to claim 65 or 66 seats in the 131 member
Armenian Parliament.
OSCE's observers welcomed the results of the election despite
the problemes that emerged stressing that steps of democratisation
are being made in the Armenian society.
[14] CHERNOMIRDIN DENIES SPLIT WITH HIS MILITARY ADVISORS
Viktor Chernomirdin's aide, Valentin Sergeyev dismissed media
reports regarding disagreements between the Russian mediator and
his military advisors concerning the peace deal for Kosovo.
Moscow television station NTV, reported yesterday that
military advisors accompanying Viktor Chernomirdin accused him of
supporting too much the proposals submitted by the American side.
Sergeyev stressed that these reports are based only on
rumors, now that the negotiations have reached a crucial stage.
After last nights talks with Slobodan Milosevic, Chernomirdin
stated that the Yugoslav President and the country's leadership
have to make a hard choice and hoped that they will accept the
proposals he submitted.
[15] GLIGOROV-CLARK MEET IN SKOPJE
NATO chief commander General Wesley Clark flew to Skopje,
last night in order to meet with FYROM President Kiro Gligorov.
Clark stated that his trip to Skopje is related to NATO's
decision to increase the number of its troops stationed in FYROM
and Albania.
"We should start sending forces right now" he said adding
that NATO will continue to bomb Yugoslavia until the terms set by
G-8 are fully accepted.
"The Yugoslav Army has suffered major losses and Milosevic
cannot win this conflict with NATO" Clark claimed and called
Sloodan Milosevic to accept the peace deal and withdraw his
military forces from Kosovo.
[16] TODAY'S SCHEDULE OF THE EU SUMMIT
German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder received today leaders
of the European Union member-states who take part in the EU Summit
in Cologne, in the conference center Gurzenich. Afterwards the
"15" met with the president of the European Parliament Jose Maria
Gie-Robles.
The Summit Council began its session at 10.45 (local time)
and at 11.00 Mr. Robles gave a press conference.
The noon session will hold from 15.00 to 17.30 and at 19.00
the 15 leaders will attend the diner hosted at Augustusburg palace
in Bruhl town.
[17] EU LEADERS AWAIT BELGRADE'S RESPONSE TO THE PEACE DEAL
The fifteen European Leaders are anxious to receive at the EU
Summit, Finnish President Marti Ahtisaari who will bring
Belgrade's response to the peace deal submitted by himself and
Viktor Chernomirdin.
Ahtisaari acts as European Union envoy to the Yugoslav
crtisis and is expected to brief the German Chancellor and the
rest of the European leaders on the results of his visit to
Belgrade.
Today it is believed to be the most crucial day that will
determine the course of the conflict in Yugoslavia.
Greek premier, Costas Simitis said to MPA that he expects
positive results from the negotiations held in Belgrade, while
Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou stressed that "the moment of
truth has come" for the Kosovo issue.
[18] TURKEY CLAIMS MORE ISLETS IN THE AEGEAN
Turkey claims more islands and islets from Greece, which,
according to the Turkish Army Staff are part of the "ottoman
heritage" while their "status is not determined by international
conventions", accusing Greece of "inventing problems in the
Aegean".
Turkish daily "Cumhurriet" reports that the Army Staff works
out it's response to Greece regarding 152 isles and islets Turkey
claims from Greece, which will be announced as soon the EU Summit
in Cologne is over.
Top Turkish official stated that there "every islet that it
is not named in any convention belongs to Turkey, which is the
heir of the Ottoman Empire", including 152 islets close to the
Turkish coastline.
He accused Greece of raising a Greek flag on Agathonisi
island in order to provoke a tough response form Turkey which
could be used against his country during the EU Summit.
[19] BELGRADE: PEACE PLAN REALISTIC
Valentin Sergeyev, aide to Russian mediator, Viktor
Chernomirdin said that the Yugoslav leadership showed great
interest in the peace plan submitted yesterday, and sees it as a
"realistic" way out of the Kosovo crisis.
Sergeyev stressed that during last night's talks Belgrade
stated that the conditions included in the peace deal are
realistic and open the way to an end of the NATO strikes against
Yugoslavia
[20] YELTSIN PARDONS 713 DEATH-ROW CONVICTS
Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed today a decree
pardoning 713 prisoners facing capital punishment, according to an
announcement issued by the Kremlin.
The punishments of the last 713 prisoners to have been
sentenced to death, have been commuted to either life or 25 year
imprisonment.
Yeltsin had suspended executions since 1996, because of
Russia's bid to join the Council of Europe and according to the
conditions of membership, Moscow has to abolish death penalty
before the end of February.
[21] EUROPES CREDIBILITY IS TESTED IN COLOGNE
Europe's credibility depends on the developments in the
Kosovo crisis, Prime Minister Costas Simitis stressed today, in a
letter he addressed to the leaders of the European Union member
states.
The issue of Yugoslavia ranks first among the subjects to be
discussed in today's session of the EU Summit in Cologne.
The Summit's agenda for today and tomorrow includes:
the developments in Kosovo
the European Employment Pact
the European Defense and Security Policy
the European Charter of Rights
the Common Strategy on Russia
the Institutional Reforms in the EU and
the promotion of the Euro-parliaments role
[22] RUSSIA CALLS FOR MORE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO YUGOSLAVIA
Russia supports the increase of the humanitarian assistant to
Yugoslavia, said today Russia's envoy to the United Nations,
Sergei Lavrov, adding that unless the strikes against Serbia are
stopped, the catastrophy in Kosovo cannot be overcome and progress
cannot begin.
Lavroc stressed that people carrying humanitarian assistance
are not secure under continuing raids and NATO seeks to completely
destroy Yugoslavia without caring for the consequences suffered by
civilians.
[23] YUGOSLAV CRISIS TO BE RESOLVED?
According to information coming from Belgrade, Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic has agreed to the proposals presented
to him yesterday by Viktor Chernomirdin and Marti Ahtisaari.
Yesterday, Greek Foreign Minister, Giorgos Papandreou has
said to MPA that the US, Russia and Ahtisaari (representative of
the EU) had come to terms on the Yugoslav crisis and the only
question remained to be answered was Milosevic's response.
At 12.30pm (German time) Mr Papandreou is to meet with
journalists coverings the EU Summit in Cologne.
Earlier, premier Costas Simitis had expressed his belief that
positive results would emerge from the Ahtisaari-Chernomirdin-
Milosevic meeting.
[24] CHICKENS AND EGGS FROM BELGIUM WERE CONFISCATED IN BULGARIA
Large quantities of Belgium imported chickens and eggs in the
form of powder used in pastries and have been confiscated in
Bulgaria as they are believed to be contaminated with dioxin.
The statement was made to the Bulgarian news agency, BTA, by
National Veterinary Agency director Ilian Batsvarov.
[25] KOSTAS KARAMANLIS ATTENDS THE EUROPEAN POPULAR PARTY MEETING
The summit meeting of the European Popular Party opened in
Bonn yesterday with the participation of Greek right-wing main
opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis. In the
meeting are being discussed issues concerning the institutional
reform of the European Union, the creation of more job positions
and the Yugoslav crisis.
Speaking in the meeting, Mr. Karamanlis underlined the need
for a single administration in the region of Kossovo after the end
of the crisis, pointing out that it is necessary to appoint an EU
representative, who will play a mediating role between the
Kosovars and the Serb side.
[26] THE G-8 PEACE PLAN WAS APPROVED BY THE SERB PARLIAMENT
The Serb parliament, with 136 votes in favor and 74 against,
approved the proposals included in the G-8 peace plan on the
Yugoslav crisis brought to Belgrade by Russian mediator Victor
Chernomyrdin and Finnish president Maarti Ahtisaari.
The talks of Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic with the
Russian and the Finnish mediators resumed after the Serb
parliament session. This evening, Mr. Ahtisaari will be in Cologne
where the EU summit meeting is taking place to brief the European
leaders on the outcome of the talks with Milosevic in Belgrade.
[27] THE YUGOSLAV CRISIS IS THE MAIN ISSUE IN THE EU SUMMIT
MEETING
The Yugoslav crisis is the main issue in the EU summit
meeting that is being held in Cologne, Germany. Prime minister
Kostas Simitis, speaking this morning to his associates, stated
that there will be a positive result from the Milosevic-Ahtisaari-
Milosevic meeting in Belgrade.
British prime minister Tony Blair stated that NATO and Russia
have made significant steps of progress but in spite this the
bombing will continue until the terms of the agreement are fully
accepted by the Yugoslav president.
[28] NEW NATO BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA
NATO continued its bombing of Yugoslavia this morning. The
allied aircraft hit targets in regions of Serbia and the capital
of Kosovo, Pristina. Targets were hit in northern Kosovo and
Voivodina as well as a radio and television transmitter in
Serbobran.
Warning sirens were heard in Belgrade. NATO maintains that it
hit Serb forces which had launched an attack against the Kosovo
Liberation Army, KLA, rebels in the south-western regions of the
Serb province.
[29] AUSTRIA: 4 OUT OF 5 ARE AGAINST THE BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA
According to the results of a public opinion poll that was
conducted in Vienna, most Austrians are in favor of the immediate
end of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.
A report issued by the Austrian Peace Council points out that
79% of those questioned want the immediate end of the bombing,
while only 3.8% believe that its continuation is reasonable and a
2.3% is in favor of ground operations by NATO in Yugoslavia.
[30] THE MISSILE THAT DROPPED IN BULGARIA YESTERDAY WAS AN AIR-TO-
GROUND
The missile that dropped on Bulgarian territory yesterday was
possibly an air-to-ground type. The missile dropped 10 kilometers
from the Yugoslav borders and 75 kilometers from the Kozlodui
nuclear plant.
The above were stated by Bulgarian minister of defense Georgi
Ananiev, who referred to yesterday's crash of a military training
MiG-21 aircraft that resulted to the deaths of its pilot and
trainer and ruled out the likelihood for the plane to have been
harassed or hit by a foreign war plane.
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