Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-06-11
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 11, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK PM: THE DEVELOPMENTS IN YUGOSLAVIA VINDICATE GREECE
[02] GREEKS TO VOTE ON SUNDAY FOR EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS
[03] GREEK FM IN BELGRADE TODAY, TO MEET WITH YUGOSLAV LEADERS
[04] LAST CONTINGENT OF US MARINES DISEMBARKS IN GREECE TODAY
[05] CONTAINERS WITH BELGIUM-MADE FOOD SEIZED AT PIRAEUS PORT
[06] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER: THE GREEKS ARE DOUBLY VINDICATED
[07] KOZANI TO HOST $1.2 MILLION TIMBER INDUSTRIAL PARK
[08] THE GREEK BATTALION THAT WILL BE SENT TO KOSSOVO WAS REVIEWED
BY THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE
[09] 8.912.901 GREEKS WILL VOTE IN THE EURO-ELECTIONS ON SUNDAY
[10] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: THE GREEK PEOPLE WERE VINDICATED
[11] EARTHQUAKE HIT THE ISLAND OF ZAKYNTHOS
[12] THE GREEK FARM PRODUCTS ARE SAFE
[13] MR. ATHANASAKIS COMMENTED ON THE STATEMENTS OF THE TURKISH
FOREIGN MINISTER
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] U.S. WON'T ASSIST IN REBUILDING F.R.Y. WITH MILOSEVIC IN
POWER
[15] FIRST PEACEKEEPING TROOPS TO ARRIVE IN KOSOVO TOMORROW
[16] UN SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION FOR FORCE DEPLOYMENT
[17] G8 FOREIGN MINISTERS CALL FOR COMPREHENSIVE TALKS IN CYPRUS
[18] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC: PEACE HAS DEFEATED VIOLENCE
[19] GREEK FM MEETS WITH YUGOSLAV COUNTERPART IN BELGRADE
[20] GREEK JOURNALISTS COVERING WAR IN KOSOVO RECEIVE PRAISE
[21] MR. PAPANDREOU HAD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS IN BELGRADE
[22] MS. ALBRIGHT IS IN SKOPJE
[23] CHERNOMYRDIN: THE RUSSIAN FORCE WILL CONTROL THE REGION
BETWEEN KOSOVO AND SERBIA
[24] BILT: 100.000 SERBS ARE READY TO ABANDON KOSOVO
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GREEK PM: THE DEVELOPMENTS IN YUGOSLAVIA VINDICATE GREECE
Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis has the U.N. Security
Council resolution which specifies the terms of effecting the
peace process in Kosovo.
"I am especially satisfied with this development of events.
It confirms the correctness of Greece's stance, it confirms
our viewpoint, that it is necessary to insist on political talks,
diplomatic initiatives and permanent consultations with the
parties concerned," he said.
Meanwhile, the Greek contingent participating in the
peacekeeping mission assigned to Kosovo is expected to depart
tomorrow. This afternoon, Minister of National Defense Akis
Tsochatzopoulos is to visit a military camp in Yiannitsa where he
will review the corps.
[02] GREEKS TO VOTE ON SUNDAY FOR EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS
Approximately 8.9 million Greeks will take to the polls on
Sunday in order to cast their ballot for the country's 25 deputies
in the European Parliament.
Voting will begin at 7 a.m. and will conclude at 7 p.m.
According to an EC directive, the ballots will be opened at 9:00
p.m., although exit polls will begin to air at 7 p.m.
The precise number of registered voters is 8.912.901
(4.353.685 men, 4.559.216 women).
In spite of the feverish speeches and rallies, the
Europarliament elections have been marred by public indifference
in the past, as the country's abstention rate in the last
European election, June 1994, amount to 28.78 percent.
[03] GREEK FM IN BELGRADE TODAY, TO MEET WITH YUGOSLAV LEADERS
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou is to travel to
Belgrade today where he will have talks with the Yugoslav
leaders.
In Cologne yesterday, Mr. Papandreou participated in a
conference on the Balkans where the foreign ministers from 28
countries (with the exception of Yugoslavia) adopted a stability
pact for southeastern Europe.
The document is aimed at creating conditions for establishing
peace and safety in the region. It envisions the development of
democratic processes and market economy there, overcoming of
ethnic enmity and integration of Balkan states in European
structures.
[04] LAST CONTINGENT OF US MARINES DISEMBARKS IN GREECE TODAY
The last contingent of U.S troops comprising the 26th Marine
Expeditionary Unit, who will join the Kosovo implementation force
(KFOR), is to disembark this evening in the port of Litochoro, en
route to Skopje.
Dozens of containers with military equipment and vehicles are
being transported from the two warships and helicopter-carrier
presently off-shore onto trailer-trucks.
According to a NATO official, once the troops and equipment
transport has been completed, the ships will leave the sea region.
The few remaining protesters left the port yesterday
afternoon, although a strong police force continues top guard the
premises.
[05] CONTAINERS WITH BELGIUM-MADE FOOD SEIZED AT PIRAEUS PORT
Fifteen containers with Belgian pet food, chocolates and
margarine remain seized at the Piraeus port customs since
yesterday, with samples having been taken for inspection from the
state authorities.
The containers arrived in Greece four months ago, well after
the official ban (imposed on January 15) on Belgian food imports.
At the same time, the Attica Pharmaceutical Association is
requesting from the National Drug Organization (EOF) a list of
baby milk products and their producers in order to ascertain which
milk could be contaminated with dioxin.
Meanwhile, a representative from the European Consumers
Association stated that fish from fish farms are also suspect
since they could have been given tainted feed. Greek officials
have categorically refuted implications of Greek fish raised in
farms being tainted.
[06] GREEK DEFENSE MINISTER: THE GREEKS ARE DOUBLY VINDICATED
The Greek people are doubly vindicated from the result of the
Kosovo crisis, as over 90% of them were against the bombings
stated the Minister of National Defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos.
The Defense Minister added that the remaining Europeans,
realizing later that the war tactic is a dead end, began
supporting the political and diplomatic option.
Referring to Sunday's European Parliament elections, Mr.
Tsochatzopoulos stated that Greeks, who are greatly sensitized to
peace, view the ruling PASOK party's policy as having made
consistent choices, which will be appreciated when the time to
vote comes.
[07] KOZANI TO HOST $1.2 MILLION TIMBER INDUSTRIAL PARK
A timber industrial park, amounting to 400 million drachmas
(approximately 1.2. million dollars) is to be established at the
prefecture of Kozani, housing wood and timber manufacturers at an
expanse of over 200 acres.
The Ministries of Development and Environment, Planning and
Public Works have issued a joint resolution approving the
project's funding.
[08] THE GREEK BATTALION THAT WILL BE SENT TO KOSSOVO WAS REVIEWED
BY THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE
The mechanized battalion of the 34th brigade that will be
sent to Kossovo to be part of the international peacekeeping force
was reviewed today by Greek minister of defense Akis
Tsochatzopoulos at Filippakou Army Camp in Yiannitsa, northern
Greece.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos stated to reporters that the war has
ended but the peace agreement should be backed in order to be
implemented. He said that there should be peace in the Balkans and
the procedure for their economic restructuring should be underway,
adding that there will be multi-national military forces in the
Balkans (Bosnia, Albania, FYROM and Kossovo) for many years and
for this reason there should be a new system of security.
The battalion is made up of 450 officers, personnel carriers,
and other military vehicles and it will be deployed at the south-
eastern part of Kossovo between the German and the US force. The
Greek minister of defense stated that Greece wants to participate
in the command of the peacekeeping force but this has not been
decided yet as the relevant negotiations continue.
Referring to the signing of the peace agreement, Mr.
Tsochatzopoulos stated that it is a vindication of the policy
followed by the Greek government which had clarified from the
beginning that it will not take part in war operations but only in
a peacekeeping force after a UN Security Council decision.
Responding to the question on the Euro-parliament elections,
he stated that he is optimistic that the Greek people will reward
the Greek government for its stance which safeguarded national
interests contributing, at the same time, to the efforts for peace
in the Balkans.
[09] 8.912.901 GREEKS WILL VOTE IN THE EURO-ELECTIONS ON SUNDAY
Two days are left before Sunday's Euro-elections. The voting
will start at 7:00am and will be completed at 7:00pm. The voters
must have with them their voting booklet and their identity card.
The counting of the votes will start at 9:00pm based on the
EU directive and the exit polls results can be reported after
7:00pm. The registered voters in Greece are 8.912.901, while the
registered voters in Thessaloniki are 632.993, of them 300.992 are
men and 332.071 are women.
[10] TSOCHATZOPOULOS: THE GREEK PEOPLE WERE VINDICATED
The Greeks were vindicated with the outcome of the crisis in
Kosovo as over 90% of them were against the bombings, stated the
minister of defense.
Mr. Tsochatzopoulos added that the rest of the Europeans
needed many days to realize that the war tactic was a dead end and
begin backing the political and diplomatic solution. Referring to
the Euro-elections, he said that the Greeks, who have a great
sensitivity toward peace, can see that PASOK's policy is
vindicated and will take this under consideration when they vote
on Sunday's Euro-parliament elections.
[11] EARTHQUAKE HIT THE ISLAND OF ZAKYNTHOS
An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale was recorded
at 10:50 am this morning and its epicenter was located at the sea
region between the Ionian island of Zakynthos and the Peloponesse
in southern Greece.
No damages or victims were reported by the local authorities.
[12] THE GREEK FARM PRODUCTS ARE SAFE
The Greek farm products are not harmful to the health of
consumers as the animal feed that is being used is of excellent
quality and has been approved by the responsible state agencies.
The assurance was given by the Greek Animal Feed Industries
Association and it was also clarified that the raw material used
undergoes strict controls by state and European Union agencies.
The Greek animal feed industries have their own quality
control labs for each production stage, while themselves undergo
periodical control by state agencies and the storage of the raw
material they use is being made based on the existing legislation.
[13] MR. ATHANASAKIS COMMENTED ON THE STATEMENTS OF THE TURKISH
FOREIGN MINISTER
Acting Greek government spokesman Nikos Athanasakis, on the
occasion of the statements made by Turkish foreign minister Ismael
Cem, who spoke of a hostile policy followed by Greece, stated that
the Turkish foreign minister should be more careful with his
statements.
Mr. Athanasakis reiterated that Greece expects from the new
Turkish government to act in order to reinforce peace and
cooperation in the region and stated that Greece does not provoke,
claim or give away anything.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[14] U.S. WON'T ASSIST IN REBUILDING F.R.Y. WITH MILOSEVIC IN
POWER
Efforts for the deployment of an international civil and
security presence in Kosovo under UN auspices are presently
underway, after the UN Security Council adopted the relevant
resolution last night.
Prior to the voting, NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana
stated that the Allied air operations against the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia had been suspended but added that they could begin
again if Serbia does not comply with the peace agreement.
Russia's role in the peacekeeping force remains to be seen,
as it is still the subject of negotiations between Russian and
NATO officials in Moscow.
United States President Bill Clinton stated that his country
will not contribute to the reconstruction of Yugoslavia as long as
Serb President Slobodan Milosevic remains in office.
[15] FIRST PEACEKEEPING TROOPS TO ARRIVE IN KOSOVO TOMORROW
The first troops of the peacekeeping force deployed in Kosovo
are expected to begin arriving tomorrow at the Serb province, a
slight delay in NATO's original plans.
According to reports, British and French parachutists are to
comprise the force's forefront, paving the troops' way from Skopje
to Prishtina.
Meanwhile, Serb forces are reportedly withdrawing from
Kosovo, while Russia is asking a separate zone for its troops,
whose administration would be independent from NATO.
[16] UN SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION FOR FORCE DEPLOYMENT
The United Nations Security Council yesterday endorsed a plan
to bring peace to a devastated Kosovo by adopting a resolution
which authorizes the deployment of an international civil and
security presence under UN auspices.
The Council's action came after UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan received a
letter from NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana saying Yugoslav
forces had begun to withdraw from Kosovo and NATO air operations
against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had been suspended.
The resolution, adopted by a vote of 14 in favor with China
abstaining, sets out the terms of a political solution for Kosovo
based on the general principles agreed to on May 6 by the Foreign
Ministers of the seven industrialized countries and Russia, known
as the G-8, and the peace plan presented to Belgrade last week by
Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari and Russian envoy Viktor
Chernomyrdin.
The Council demanded that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
immediately
end the violence in Kosovo and complete a rapid withdrawal of all
military, police and paramilitary forces.
It also demanded that the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and
other armed
Kosovo Albanian groups immediately end all offensive actions and
demilitarize. The resolution notes that the Council took its
action "bearing in mind" the principles of the UN Charter,
including the primary role of the Security Council for the
maintenance of international peace and security.
According to the resolution, the international security
presence in Kosovo
will have substantial NATO participation and will be deployed
under a unified command and control to establish a safe
environment for all people in the province and facilitate the safe
return of refugees and displaced persons.
It will also be responsible for ensuring the withdrawal and
prevent the return of Yugoslav forces, prevent new hostilities,
enforce a ceasefire, and demilitarize the Kosovo Liberation Army
(KLA) and other armed Kosovo Albanian groups.
The international civilian presence will be under the control
of Secretary-General's Special Representative who will coordinate
closely with the security component to ensure that both operations
work towards the same goals in a mutually supportive manner.
The civilian operation will be established to provide an
interim administration under which, in the words of the
resolution, "the people of Kosovo can enjoy substantial autonomy
within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia." The interim
administration will set up and oversee the development of
provisional democratic, self- governing institutions to ensure a
peaceful and normal life for all Kosovo inhabitants. The civilian
operation will also support humanitarian and disaster relief and
economic reconstruction, maintain civil law and order and protect
and promote human rights.
Under the terms of the plan, an agreed number of Yugoslav and
Serb personnel will be allowed to return to liaison with the
civilian mission and security presence, help with mine clearance,
and maintain a presence at Serb patrimonial sites and key border
crossings.
The Security Council also demanded "the full cooperation of
all concerned,
including the international security presence", with the
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
[17] G8 FOREIGN MINISTERS CALL FOR COMPREHENSIVE TALKS IN CYPRUS
The Foreign Ministers of the G8 (group of seven most
industrialized countries plus Russia) have recommended that the UN
calls the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides to comprehensive talks
without any preconditions.
According to the Cypriot News Agency, the group, whose
foreign ministers concluded their two-day meeting in Cologne
yesterday, also called on all concerned to "avoid any measures
that could increase tensions on the island and complicate efforts
to promote a just and lasting peace.
"We recommend that the G8 summit urge the UN Secretary-
General to invite the leaders of both parties to enter into
comprehensive negotiations without preconditions," according to
their joint statement.
[18] YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC: PEACE HAS DEFEATED VIOLENCE
Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic made a televised
address to the nation yesterday, announcing the end of the NATO
aggression and urging the population to start reconstruction in
the country.
According tot he Russian news agency Itar-Tass, Mr. Milosevic
stated "the aggression is over. Peace has defeated violence."
He further stressed that the first thoughts now go out to the
heroes who have given their lives for the defense of their
fatherland, adding that their names will be announced. The war,
which lasted exactly 11 weeks, killed 462 army soldiers and 114
policemen, he added.
"We must do everything to help the families of the dead,"
Milosevic stressed.
According to the Yugoslav president, the entire nation
participated in the war - from children and ill people to the
soldiers in air defense trenches, air defense specialists and
border guards.
"We shall not forget the heroism of those who defended the
bridges, the squares, the plants, protecting them with their own
bodies," Mr. Milosevic said.
"We never gave up Kosovo," he stressed, adding that the
country's territorial integrity and sovereignty is guaranteed by
the G-8 nations.
This guarantee is in the draft resolution of the UN Security
Council. Thus, the issue of Kosovo independence has been
dismissed, according to Mr. Milosevic.
"We have brought back to the world stage the U.N. which did
not function since the beginning of the aggression. That is our
contribution to the creation of a multi-polar world, which will
not be based on the dictate from one center," Mr. Milosevic said,
adding that "we have shown that our army is invincible, that it is
the best army in the world, including the police."
The Yugoslav president urged the nation to maintain unity
during reconstruction work in the country. According to Mr.
Milosevic, the international forces which come to Kosovo will
serve peace, regardless from which countries they come from.
[19] GREEK FM MEETS WITH YUGOSLAV COUNTERPART IN BELGRADE
Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou is presently
meeting with his Yugoslav counterpart Zivadin Jovanovic in
Belgrade.
Mr. Papandreou is the first European minister to arrive in
Belgrade after the signing of the peace agreement. Messrs.
Jovanovic and Papandreou will discuss the organization of the
humanitarian aid mission dispatched to Yugoslavia.
[20] GREEK JOURNALISTS COVERING WAR IN KOSOVO RECEIVE PRAISE
Belgrade's Studio B radio-television station, in airing an
interview of the desk chief of the Greek Press Office in the
Yugoslav capital Spyros Hatzaras, stated that Greek journalists
covering the 11-week war honored the profession by being
objective, as opposed to certain other foreign correspondents who
served their country's motives.
The program also praised Greece's assistance by stressing
that humanitarian aid from Greece to Serbia and Kosovo's Albanians
pours in every other day
On the contrary, the program reported, other countries who
claim to be fervent supporters of human rights, did not display
the same sort of sensitivity when it came to the Serb people's
suffering.
[21] MR. PAPANDREOU HAD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS IN BELGRADE
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou had a number of
meetings with the Yugoslav leadership in Belgrade today within the
framework of his one-day visit to the Yugoslav capital where he
arrived this morning.
Mr. Papandreou has already met with his Yugoslav counterpart
Zivadin Jovanovic while he is expected to meet with Serb president
Milan Miludinovic, Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic and
leader of the Serb Renewal Movement Vuk Draskovic.
The talks Mr. Papandreou will have will focus on the
implementation of the Stability and Development Pact in south-
eastern Europe, the humanitarian aid distribution in Yugoslavia
mainly coordinated by Greece and details concerning the
implementation of the peace agreement that was signed two days
ago.
Mr. Papandreou, before flying back to Athens, is also
expected to visit Skopje later today where he is going to meet
with US secretary of state Madeleine Albright who is on a visit to
the capital of FYROM.
[22] MS. ALBRIGHT IS IN SKOPJE
US secretary of state Madeleine Albright is in Skopje to
visit the US troops before they move on to be deployed in Kosovo.
The talks between the military delegations of Russia and the
United States were interrupted in Moscow due to the disagreements
that exist regarding the command of the Russian military mission
in Kosovo.
[23] CHERNOMYRDIN: THE RUSSIAN FORCE WILL CONTROL THE REGION
BETWEEN KOSOVO AND SERBIA
Russia will have its own zone of responsibility in the
peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, stated Russian mediator Victor
Chernomyrdin.
After his meeting with the Austrian foreign minister, Mr.
Chernomyrdin stated that the Russian force will have the exclusive
control of a zone that will possibly be at the borders of Kosovo
with Serbia.
However, until now the Russians and the Americans were unable
to reach an agreement on where the Russian force will be deployed,
while the issue of its command has not been clarified yet.
[24] BILT: 100.000 SERBS ARE READY TO ABANDON KOSOVO
UN special mediator in Kosovo and former prime minister of
Sweden Karl Bilt expressed the view that within the next few days
Kossovo will be abandoned by 100.000 of the Serbs who are living
there.
Mr. Bilt warned that during their departure from Kossovo they
may destroy everything they leave behind and expressed the hope
that changes in Belgrade's political scene will be promoted soon
for the benefit of the whole region.
|
