Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-06-21
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, Ιούνιος 21, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN REFUTES INTENSE RUMORS OF RESHUFFLE
[02] NICOSIA, ATHENS, SATISFIED WITH G8'S COMMUNIQUE ON CYPRUS
[03] BLACK SEA TRADE & DEVELOPMENT BANK INAUGURATED TODAY
[04] BSTDB OPENS A NEW CHAPTER IN ECONOMIC, DIPLOMATIC TIES
[05] PM, ECONOMY MINISTER MEET TOMORROW TO DISCUSS TAX BREAKS
[06] GREECE'S DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER TO VIEW BRITAIN'S TAX SYSTEM
[07] EUROPEAN BORDER REGION REPRESENTATIVES MEET IN GREECE
[08] EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 3.3 ON RICHTER SCALE ROCKS VOLOS
[09] THE BLACK SEA BANK IS OPEN TO ALL
[10] REPPAS: SETTLEMENT OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM BASED ON THE UN
RESOLUTIONS
[11] THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION COUNTRIES
WILL MEET WITH THE EU TROIKA IN THESSALONIKI IN OCTOBER
[12] PAPANTONIOU : THE GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC POLICY WILL BE
UNAFFECTED
[13] THE ODYSSEY OF THE OLYMPIC AIRWAYS PASSENGERS CONTINUES
[14] THE EU MINISTERS OF ENVIRONMENT WILL MEET IN LUXEMBOURG ON
THURSDAY
[15] THE ROMANIAN PRESIDENT'S INTERVIEW TO THE GREEK NEWSPAPER
"APOGEVMATINI"
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] UCK AGREES TO TURN OVER ITS ARMS, SIGNS ACCORD WITH NATO
[17] US SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT TO VISIT BULGARIA TOMORROW
[18] RUSSIAN PRESIDENT GIVES TO US COUNTERPART DOCUMENTS ON JFK
[19] CLINTON TO MEET WITH SCHROEDER TODAY FOR AN EU-US SUMMIT
[20] CLINTON DOES NOT RULE OUT PEACEKEEPERS MAY SUFFER LOSSES
[21] AFTER DEAL WITH KFOR, UCK DOESN'T EXIST AS MILITARY FORCE
[22] BEIJING CALLS ON THE US TO CLARIFY ITS POSITION CONCERNING
THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE
[23] THE MATERIAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE NATO BOMBINGS IN YUGOSLAVIA
IS ESTIMATED AT 100 BILLION US DOLLARS
[24] PREMIERE FOR THE GREEK NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM IN FRANCE
[25] THE EU EXAMINED ITS RELATIONS WITH THE FIVE COUNTRIES MOST
HIT BY THE WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN REFUTES INTENSE RUMORS OF RESHUFFLE
Government spokesperson Dimitris Reppas has refuted the
recent and persistent rumors of a cabinet reshuffle being in the
works, by stating that there is no such plan in the horizon.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis is reportedly considering the
possibility of a cabinet reshuffle, in his effort to give a new
boost to the government. His final decision is expected soon and
either prior to his departure to Latin America on Wednesday or
after his return and in conjunction with the convening of the
ruling PASOK party's central committee, which is scheduled to meet
on July 9-10.
Mr. Simitis attended and spoke at yesterday's memorial held
at the Athens Metropolitan Church in honor of the three-year mark
since the death of PASOK founder Andreas Papandreou.
The Premier stated that "Andreas (Papandreou) is on our side
for a strong, socially just Greece. His work demands of us to be
protagonists of renewal and modernization."
[02] NICOSIA, ATHENS, SATISFIED WITH G8'S COMMUNIQUE ON CYPRUS
The governments of Greece and Cyprus are reportedly satisfied
with the joint communique issued by the leaders of the Group of
Seven leading industrialized nations and Russia regarding Cyprus.
The G8 call on the U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan to bring
both sides in
Cyprus to the negotiating table in the autumn in order to resolve
the island nation's division.
The G8 leaders also said that in accepting an invitation for
talks from U.N Secretary General Kofi Annan, the two
"parties/leaders" should commit themselves to four principles. The
principles stated in the communique were to set no pre-conditions
for talks, put all issues on the negotiating table, make a
commitment in good faith to continue to negotiate until a
settlement is reached, and give full consideration to relevant UN
resolutions and treaties.
"The Cyprus problem has gone unresolved for too long.
Resolution of this problem would not only benefit all the people
of Cyprus, but would also have a positive impact on peace and
stability in the region," the G8 leaders said.
Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash is reportedly
dissatisfied with the communique, as he has stated that if his
demand for a confederation is not considered, then he will not
participate in the talks.
[03] BLACK SEA TRADE & DEVELOPMENT BANK INAUGURATED TODAY
The official opening of the Black Sea Trade and Development
Bank (BSTDB), which embarked on its operation at the beginning of
the month, will be inaugurated today by the Minister of National
Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou in the presence of
government officials from the 11 member-states of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation Pact (BSEC).
Mr. Papantoniou will be the keynote speaker at the event,
which will also feature addresses by the Minister of Macedonia-
Thrace Yiannis Magriotis, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs
Grigoris Niotis, Secretary-General of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Mr. Baychev, the Governor of the Central Bank of the
Ukraine Mr. Yushchenko, who is also the vice-chairman of the
Bank's administrative council, and the chairman of the BSTDB Ersoy
Volkan.
A number of events will be held throughout the morning, where
bank officials will outline the financial institution's strategy
and aims.
The day will close with a formal gala, sponsored by the
Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace, which will feature a concert by the
Black Sea Orchestra.
The BSEC aims at facilitating the transition of the
member-states of the BSEC to the free market economy. Thus, funds
from its budget will be channeled mainly into projects and
programs which will be co-funded by similar organizations such as
the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development.
Members of the BSEC are Greece, Turkey, Russia,
Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldavia
and Albania.
[04] BSTDB OPENS A NEW CHAPTER IN ECONOMIC, DIPLOMATIC TIES
The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) is opening a
new chapter in the economic, diplomatic and political relations of
its 11 member-countries, according to the Minister of National
Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou who officially
inaugurated the financial institution's operation today in
Thessaloniki in the presence of government officials from the 11
member-states of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Pact (BSEC).
Mr. Papantoniou stressed that Greece holds a leading role in
the European Union's eastward course, underlining that
Thessaloniki's role in this direction is decisive.
"Our aim is to establish Thessaloniki as the center of the
Balkans," Mr. Papantoniou said, pointing out that, within the
framework of the 3rd Community Support Framework, the region of
Northern Greece will enjoy a significant share of community funds
which are expected to surpass by 50% the funds allocated from the
Delors Package.
Referring to Greece's potential role in the economic
reconstruction of the Balkan region, Mr. Papantoniou stated:
"We are in a position to assist the region's people to stand
on their feet, especially following the peaceful resolution of the
Balkan conflict.
"However, the economic development of the Balkan and Black
Sea regions has to be handled within the framework of their
incorporation in the wider European region," the Minister added.
In turn, the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis Magriotis
expressed his confidence that the BSTDB will function as a vehicle
for the expedient development of economic cooperation in the
region.
[05] PM, ECONOMY MINISTER MEET TOMORROW TO DISCUSS TAX BREAKS
Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the Minister of National
Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou are to meet tomorrow, June
22, in order to discuss ways to bolster the lower incomes.
According to reports, the Economy Minister and his staff are
drawing a package of tax breaks amounting to 300 billion drachmas.
Commenting on these reports, a main opposition deputy, New
Democracy's George Alogoskoufis, said that they concern
"irresponsible adjustments that create negative conditions for the
(imminent accession to) Economic and Monetary Union."
[06] GREECE'S DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER TO VIEW BRITAIN'S TAX SYSTEM
Deputy Finance Minister George Drys is embarking on a four-
day visit to Britain today where he will hold talks with British
government ministers concerning the country's tax system.
According to reports, Mr. Drys wants to be informed on the
operation of the British tax settlement system which enables
taxpayers to calculate their taxes by
themselves and pay the first installment simultaneously with the
submission of tax statements.
Mr. Drys will meet with UK's Treasury Undersecretary on tax
issues Barbara Roche, Treasury Undersecretary Dawn Rimarolo also
chairman of the EU's tax committee, Undersecretary for the public
sector's reform P. Kilfoyle and other government officials.
[07] EUROPEAN BORDER REGION REPRESENTATIVES MEET IN GREECE
The Association of European Border Regions is holding a
conference in the city of Drama today where the topics to be
discussed are the improvement of the border crossings for the
residents' better mobility and overall issues concerning
cooperation and communication.
The conference, which got underway yesterday, features the
participation of 26 delegates from various European countries,
among them the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Finland,
Belgium and the Netherlands.
The initiative and organization of the said conference was
taken and performed by the key participants of the NESTOS-MESTA,
as well as the Prefecture, Municipality and Chamber of Drama.
Yesterday, the delegates were given a tour on the Greek
Electrical Company's hydro-electricity power plant at Thesaurus,
which constitutes an example of Greek-Bulgarian border
cooperation.
[08] EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 3.3 ON RICHTER SCALE ROCKS VOLOS
An earthquake measuring 3.3. on the Richter sale rocked the
city of Volos at 8:30 a.m. today, although no damages were
reported.
According to the Athens National Observatory, the quake's
epicenter was located in the near by sea region.
[09] THE BLACK SEA BANK IS OPEN TO ALL
The Black Sea Bank receives positive messages 20 days after
its opening. The contacts that were made in the past 12 months
gradually give fruit as the bank has the support of the
governments of the participating countries and has attracted the
interest of the region's business world. The above were stated by
Black Sea Bank president Ersoi Volkan in a press conference today
on the occasion of the official opening of the institution.
Mr. Volkan stated that among the priorities of the bank is
the cooperation with other international money and credit
organizations, while at the same time he clarified that the Black
Sea Bank is open to private sector initiatives.
At the steering wheel of the Black Sea Bank are Greece,
Turkey and Russia with 16.5% of the share capital, followed by
Bulgaria, Romania and the Ukraine with 13.5%. Albania, Moldavia,
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaidjan participate with a smaller
percentage of 2%.
[10] REPPAS: SETTLEMENT OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM BASED ON THE UN
RESOLUTIONS
There is strong interest in the Cyprus problem and its
solution can be achieved based on the UN resolutions and
international law, underlined Greek government spokesman Dimitris
Reppas.
To the question concerning the statements made by US
ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns on terrorism in Greece, Mr.
Reppas responded that Greece rejects any insinuations and
characterized as "funny allegations" everything concerning the
alleged training of Kurdish terrorists on Greek soil.
[11] THE BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION COUNTRIES
WILL MEET WITH THE EU TROIKA IN THESSALONIKI IN OCTOBER
The Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization countries
will meet with the European Union troika in Thessaloniki on
October 27 and 28 within the framework of the Greek presidency of
the organization. In the meeting will be discussed issues
concerning the institutional cooperation of the two bodies.
The above were announced by Greek undersecretary of foreign
affairs Grigoris Niotis in the official opening of the Black Sea
Bank offices in Thessaloniki. Greece holds the organization's
presidency in the period of May to October 1999 and considers a
plan of action for the cooperation of the EU with the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation Organization with special emphasis to the
sectors of transportation, energy, tele-communications, trade,
foreign investments protection, environment and internal affairs.
From his part, the Black Sea Bank president Ersoi Volkan
stressed that on the occasion of the current events taking place
in the Balkans the Black Sea Bank can play the role of a leading
economic force in the wider region, as the recent events have
showed that the international credit organizations can not always
be helpful and therefore, the establishment of regional bodies is
imperative.
[12] PAPANTONIOU : THE GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC POLICY WILL BE
UNAFFECTED
The government's economic policy, which is currently PASOK's
powerful point and will continue to be in the future, will be
unaffected by the outcome of the Euro-elections, stated minister
of national economy and finance Yiannos Papantoniou in the
official opening of the Black Sea Bank offices in Thessaloniki.
Mr. Papantoniou stressed that the operation of the bank opens
a new chapter in the economic, diplomatic and political relations
of the 11 Black Sea Cooperation Pact countries. He also added that
the goal is to make Thessaloniki the center of the Balkans.
The minister referring to the role Greece can play in the
economic reconstruction of the Balkans, stated that Greece is in
the position to assist the peoples in the region to stand on their
own feet after the peaceful settlement of the conflict in the
Balkans.
[13] THE ODYSSEY OF THE OLYMPIC AIRWAYS PASSENGERS CONTINUES
Serious problems are being observed since this morning in the
Olympic Airways flight schedule and as a result many airline
passengers are going through an odyssey in the Greek airports. The
Thessaloniki to Athens flight has been canceled because there was
no airplane available, while five domestic flights were held with
half-hour delays.
Minister of transportation Tasos Mandelis announced that a
bill handing over the management of the Greek state airline to a
foreign company will be passed in parliament during the week.
According to the minister of transportation, the new manager of
Olympic Airways will take over by July.
[14] THE EU MINISTERS OF ENVIRONMENT WILL MEET IN LUXEMBOURG ON
THURSDAY
The issue of the genetically altered products will be the
main topic of discussion in the meeting of the EU ministers of
environment that will be held in Luxembourg on Thursday.
Greece undertakes an initiative on the issue, while Greek
undersecretary of environment, public works and land planning
Theodoros Koliopanos will suggest the adoption of a 2-year
moratorium in the experimental farming in order to have the
necessary time to amend the relevant legislation. Mr. Koliopanos
stated that he got positive responses already to his proposal by
Denmark, Holland and Luxembourg. In Greece, the consideration of
applications concerning experimental farming has been suspended.
[15] THE ROMANIAN PRESIDENT'S INTERVIEW TO THE GREEK NEWSPAPER
SAPOGEVMATINI"
Romanian president Emil Constantinescu in an interview with
the Athens newspaper "Apogevmatini" expressed the view that the
NATO bombings of Yugoslavia are not enough to bring a viable
settlement of the situation in Kosovo and that the West has the
obligation to be involved in the efforts for the reconstruction of
the people's society in the region.
Mr. Constantinescu stated that his country backed the efforts
made by NATO in the Yugoslav crisis in order to avert ethnic
cleansing and pointed out that the West should not abstain from
the reconstruction procedures. He also expressed concern over the
risks involved in the passions of the Balkan minorities and
suggested that the antidote to nationalism is democracy, the
people's society and the market economy.
Mr. Constantinescu praised the role of Greece in south-
eastern Europe maintaining that it has a key-role and expressed
satisfaction over the results of his meeting with Greek president
Kostis Stephanopoulos who visited Bucharest recently.
On the Greek-Romanian relations, he said that they are at an
excellent level, that both countries share similar positions in
many important issues and that there is room for the further
development of bilateral relations.
On Romania's accession into the Euro-Atlantic structures, the
Romanian president stated that it is a fundamental goal of the
country's foreign policy and the wish of the Romanian people.
Regarding the presence of ethnic minorities in the Balkans,
he stated that they should not be a factor of friction but a
factor of rapprochement between different countries and reiterated
that if the West backed the democratic forces in Yugoslavia the
country would have avoided destruction.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[16] UCK AGREES TO TURN OVER ITS ARMS, SIGNS ACCORD WITH NATO
The Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) has signed an agreement with
NATO to turn over its heavy armaments and to store the remaining
artillery it possesses.
Meanwhile, Serb forces have completed their withdrawal from
Kosovo hours ahead of the deadline provided by NATO which
officially declared the end of its air raids against Yugoslavia.
[17] US SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT TO VISIT BULGARIA TOMORROW
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is to conduct a
visit to Bulgaria tomorrow, according to state television reports.
Ms. Albright will meet with her Bulgarian counterpart Nadejda
Makhailova, Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, and President Petar
Stoyanov with whom she will discuss the situation in Yugoslavia,
Bulgaria's application for membership in NATO,
and bilateral relations.
Ms. Albright's visit to Sofia has been postponed twice due to
her busy schedule.
[18] RUSSIAN PRESIDENT GIVES TO US COUNTERPART DOCUMENTS ON JFK
Russian President Boris Yeltsin handed over several
declassified documents concerning the assassination of former
President of the United States John F. Kennedy to US President
Bill Clinton yesterday, the Russian news agency Itar-Tass
reported.
According to Itar-Tass, U.S. National Security Adviser Samuel
Berger, who is accompanying Mr. Clinton in his European tour, made
the announcement by stating that "this is a very interesting
gift. "
Mr. Berger declined to say whether the documents contain new
information
on JFK's assassination.
"The documents will be reviewed carefully and all interesting
elements will be made public," he said.
The National Security Adviser said the materials had been
collected in various Russian archives on an instruction from
President Yeltsin.
[19] CLINTON TO MEET WITH SCHROEDER TODAY FOR AN EU-US SUMMIT
United States President Bill Clinton is to meet with German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Bonn today, for an EU-US summit
expected to tackle the problem of reconstruction in the Balkans
after the Kosovo war.
As the French news agency AFP reported, the two men will
also discuss a host of transatlantic issues, including trade
disputes. European Commissioner Jacques Santer will also attend
the talks.
Nevertheless, Kosovo is expected to be the focus of the
Clinton-Schroeder talks, just as it dominated the G8 summit that
ended in Cologne yesterday.
Mr. Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said in
Cologne that they
agreed Europe should carry the bulk of the cost of Balkan
reconstruction.
The US President has said that since the United States bore
the main cost of the NATO war to drive Serb troops from Kosovo,
Europe should pick up most of the bill for a major reconstruction
effort that will include Yugoslavia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Albania, and FYROM, the main countries affected by Yugoslavia's
wars since 1991.
[20] CLINTON DOES NOT RULE OUT PEACEKEEPERS MAY SUFFER LOSSES
U.S. President Bill Clinton does not rule out the possibility
of the international peacekeeping force assigned to Kosovo
sustaining losses in Kosovo, as he told CNN.
Peace-keepers of all the countries are faced with the threat
from both Kosovo Albanians and Serbs, President Clinton said,
adding that it cannot be ruled out that some persons or groups may
commit crimes guided by feelings of rage or revenge.
Mr. Clinton said he could not guarantee there would be no
acts of terror and no American soldier could be wounded or killed.
However, he assured they had taken additional safety
measures.
[21] AFTER DEAL WITH KFOR, UCK DOESN'T EXIST AS MILITARY FORCE
The Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) has agreed to disarm its
forces, after an accord on disarmament and demilitarization was
signed last night between the UCK's political representative,
Hashim Thaci and the commander of the Kosovo peace force, British
Lieutenant-General Michael Jackson.
According to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass, the UCK
leadership undertakes to refrain from any hostile and provocative
acts, and from the use of arms
and mine-laying.
The UCK promised to turn over most of its arms to the Kosovo
peace force, or KFOR, within 90 days.
The accord stipulates an immediate stop to all "hostile
actions" of the UCK and bans its setting up its check-posts.
The accord also said that the UCK's obligations not to
attack Kosovo's civilian population, not to take hostages and not
to carry out intimidating actions are effective immediately. The
UCK must leave its strongholds, trenches and road check-posts
within four days and show its mine-fields to KFOR.
The mine-fields must be cleared within a week of the signing
of the accord.
UCK fighters who are not Kosovo's residents are to leave the
province, and all "banned" arms with calibers over 12.7
millimeters are to be turned in at KFOR depots.
The demilitarization process must be completed in 90 days,
after which carrying any automatic arms of lower calibers and
wearing UCK uniforms and insignia will be banned.
Lt. Gen. Jackson, who signed the accord on behalf of KFOR,
told reporters that, by signing the accord, the UCK recognized
that it does not exist as a military force any longer.
Mr. Thaci said in a statement that the "army" had fulfilled
its "historic task" during the war and is to transform to act in
new conditions.
The signing ceremony was attended by the US State
Department's press secretary James Rubin, who held a long meeting
with Mr. Thaci.
[22] BEIJING CALLS ON THE US TO CLARIFY ITS POSITION CONCERNING
THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN BELGRADE
Chinese foreign ministry press spokesperson and deputy
director of the foreign ministry information department Ms. Zank
Kiue responding to a question by MPA on the relations of the US
with her country and the bombing of the Chinese embassy in
Belgrade by NATO, stated that the relations of China with the
United States are in a very difficult period and the bombing of
the Chinese embassy in Belgrade has caused the anger of the
Chinese people.
China is not satisfied with the answers that were given to
Beijing by the US government spokesman concerning the NATO bombing
and wants new investigations and satisfactory results. Also, China
wants compensation for the victims of the bombing and the material
damages caused to the embassy building as well as the court trial
and punishment of those responsible.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson responding to a
question concerning the appeal to the International Court of
Justice in The Hague in order to settle differences between two
countries, on the occasion of what is taking place in the Aegean
and Greece's position on the issue, she stated that the Court of
Justice in The Hague plays a role in the settlement of disputes
between two countries, stressing that both countries should agree
to bring their cases to the court.
[23] THE MATERIAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE NATO BOMBINGS IN YUGOSLAVIA
IS ESTIMATED AT 100 BILLION US DOLLARS
International economic analysts estimate that Serbia will be
needing 40 years to recover from the NATO bombings and return to
the economic levels it was before Yugoslav president Slobodan
Milosevic came to power.
Based on facts provided by the independent Institute for War
and Peace Reporting, the material damage inflicted on Serbia after
2.5 months of continuous bombings is expected to reach 100 billion
US dollars. However, Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic himself
is regarded by the international community as the biggest problem
for the recovery of the Yugoslav economy. Mr. Milosevic is seen as
an obstacle to the economic and institutional reforms the country
needs in order to receive new foreign investments.
The Group 17 which is made up of independent Serb economists
believes that Yugoslavia will need at least 16 years to reach the
production levels it had before the NATO bombings. However, other
economists appear more optimistic. Former governor of the National
Bank of Yugoslavia Dragoslav Avramovic believes that the
destruction caused by the bombings is an opportunity for the
country as most of the facilities hit by the allied forces were
not productive.
On the electricity production network, it is estimated that
its capacity has been limited by 30% because of the bombings,
while the rebuilding of the Serb oil refineries will cost about
100 million US dollars.
[24] PREMIERE FOR THE GREEK NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM IN FRANCE
The Greek national basketball team will have its first game
in the European Championship in France. The Greek team will play
against Germany's national team at 9:45pm this evening. The
participation of Frangiskos Alvertis and Yiannis Yiannoulis, who
were injured in yesterday's practice, is uncertain.
In spite of the unfortunate incidents the Greek national team
is optimistic and its goal is to win a medal in the event.
The national team of Lithuania, which belongs to the same
group of teams with Greece, will play this afternoon against the
national team of the Czech Republic.
[25] THE EU EXAMINED ITS RELATIONS WITH THE FIVE COUNTRIES MOST
HIT BY THE WAR IN YUGOSLAVIA
The contractual relations of the European Union with the five
countries most hit by the war in Yugoslavia namely, Albania,
FYROM, Croatia, Bosnia and Yugoslavia, were examined in the
general affairs council meeting that was held in Luxembourg this
morning.
The council will start procedures for the association of
FYROM with the European Union and the same procedures will be
followed almost immediately with Albania.
Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou requested that
there should be equal treatment of the five countries in the
procedure for their association with the European Union, while he
suggested that Thessaloniki should be the seat of the Organization
for the Reconstruction of the Balkans.
Meanwhile, Greece and Italy called for the lifting of the
fuel embargo imposed on Yugoslavia.
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