Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 99-07-16
MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, July 16, 1999
SECTIONS
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
NEWS HEADLINES
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ALBANIAN HIJACKER KILLED, IDENTITY UNCONFIRMED, HOSTAGES OK
[02] GREEK PREMIER SATISFIED WITH OUTCOME OF HOSTAGE SITUATION
[03] NATION ELATED OVER END OF HOSTAGE CRISIS, LEADERS SATISFIED
[04] GREEK MAN ARRESTED OVER RETALIATORY HIJACKING OF ALBANIANS
[05] GREEK PRIME MINISTER COSTAS SIMITIS TO VISIT KOSOVO THIS
MONTH
[06] GREECE TO SUPPORT TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT PROSPECT IN F.R.Y.
[07] GREEK FM RECEIVES YUGOSLAV OPPOSITION LEADER DJINDJIC TODAY
[08] NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL HOLDS ITS SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[09] SIMITIS: ANY THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS WILL BE
FACED WITH DRASTIC ACTION
[10] THE IDENTITY OF THE BUS HIJACKER WAS REVEALED BY THE GREEK
POLICE CHIEF
[11] THE GREEK CABINET MET TODAY
[12] THE INDIRECT TAXES WILL BE LOWERED IN AUGUST
[13] THE PAPANDREOU-DJINDJIC MEETING WAS CANCELED
[14] THE BODY OF A MAN, POSSIBLY THAT OF THE MISSING US
BUSINESSMAN, HAS BEEN FOUND
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] UN REPRESENTATIVE FOR KOSOVO IN PRISHTINA, OUTLINES AGENDA
[16] UN ACTING SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE MEETS WITH RUGOVA
[17] ANNAN: FOR KOSOVO TO SUCCEED, BALKAN REGION MUST RECOVER
[18] MINOR ACCIDENT OCCURS AT CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR STATION
[19] THE SERB OPPOSITION CONTINUES THE MOBILIZATIONS AGAINST
MILOSEVIC
NEWS IN DETAIL
[A] NATIONAL NEWS
[01] ALBANIAN HIJACKER KILLED, IDENTITY UNCONFIRMED, HOSTAGES OK
The Albanian hijacker who was holding five Greeks captive in
a bus for more than 30 hours was killed by SWAT police yesterday
after being disarmed by one of his hostages, a 21-year-old off-
duty conscript soldier.
The masked man, who was holding two primed hand grenades
throughout the hostage situation, had identified himself as
Alexander Nana, 28, although police have yet to confirm this.
All five hostages aboard were safe and unharmed.
The hijacker had threatened to set off the grenades unless he got
250 million drachmas (780,000 dollars), two automatic weapons and
safe passage to Albania.
He had freed two hostages earlier yesterday but maintained
his threats to blow up the bus unless his demands were met.
The soldier, Nestor Kokkalis, grabbed the grenade out of the
hijacker's hand and threw it out of the window into a field. The
SWAT team then stormed the bus, grabbed the second grenade and
shot the man dead.
Mr. Kokkalis, who was almost at the end of his military
service, will be honored by the state for his bravery.
[02] GREEK PREMIER SATISFIED WITH OUTCOME OF HOSTAGE SITUATION
Prime Minister Costas Simitis has expressed satisfaction over
the end of
the hostage situation, and congratulated police and the ministers
who handled the crisis.
"I want to congratulate the Greek Police Force, which truly
did a fine job," Mr. Simitis stated.
"This shows that we can. We can face the challenge stemming
from the influx of economic immigrants. We can guard the Greek
citizens' safety, which is our concern," he added.
The Premier also added that a series of crime-combating
measures is already underway.
[03] NATION ELATED OVER END OF HOSTAGE CRISIS, LEADERS SATISFIED
Greece's Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoides thanked
the country's SWAT forces who successfully carried out yesterday's
rescue operation of the five hostages held for over 30 hours by an
Albanian man.
Mr. Chrysohoides stated that the incident will be
investigated in depth.
National Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos stated that he
will decorate
Private Nestor Kokkalis, the off-duty soldier who bravely disarmed
the hijacker of one grenade, leading to the end of the ordeal.
The spokesperson of the country's main opposition party, New
Democracy's Aris Spiliotopoulos, also expressed satisfaction with
the successful outcome to the hijacking and congratulated the
police forces who carried out the rescue plan, adding that his
party will support any measures taken by the government for
preventing such unpleasant situations.
The leader of minority opposition party, Coalition of the
Left and Progress Nikos Constantopoulos, also expressed his
satisfaction with the rescue operation.
[04] GREEK MAN ARRESTED OVER RETALIATORY HIJACKING OF ALBANIANS
A Greek farmer was arrested yesterday after taking a bus full
of 38 Albanians hostage in central Greece and, while brandishing a
carabin, ordered the driver to go to the nearest police station
where he asked for their deportation.
Upon arriving at the police station in the town of
Missolonghi, Andreas Kolyvas, 45, told the policemen "I brought
them here so that you can deport them."
The Albanians' identification papers were found to be in
order and Kolyvas was arrested.
[05] GREEK PRIME MINISTER COSTAS SIMITIS TO VISIT KOSOVO THIS
MONTH
Greece's Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to visit Kosovo on
July 27. According to reports, Finland. Which presently holds the
European Union's rotating presidency, is to submit a compromise
proposal to the General Affairs Council on Monday, concerning the
EU's Balkan reconstruction program's headquarters.
Reportedly, Helsinki will propose that the program's
administrative sector be established in Thessaloniki, with
Prishtina operating as a second seat for regional operations.
[06] GREECE TO SUPPORT TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT PROSPECT IN F.R.Y.
Foreign Minister George Papandreou announced yesterday that
Greece is willing to support the prospect of the formation of a
transitional government in Belgrade, following his Athens-held
meeting with the Serb opposition party leader (Serbian Renewal
Party), Vuk Draskovic who proposed the idea.
"The Greek government is willing to support this prospect and
mediate with (Yugoslav President) Slobodan Milosevic in order to
make possible a smooth transition," Mr. Papandreou said after
talks with Mr. Draskovic.
The Serb opposition leader proposed the replacement of Mr.
Milosevic
with a political figure belonging to the party of Milo Djukanovic,
the president of Montenegro, Yugoslavia's other federated
republic.
"This transitional scheme could work as a steam engine for
Serbia's
democratization, he stated."
"According to our constitution, all power is in the hands of
the federal government. The only solution, therefore, for
maintaining the federation is this government to be headed by a
political personality from Montenegro, which has a democratic
record unlike Serbia's," Mr. Draskovic added.
[07] GREEK FM RECEIVES YUGOSLAV OPPOSITION LEADER DJINDJIC TODAY
Zoran Djindjic, the leader of the Democratic Party (DS),
which heads Yugoslavia's opposition coalition Alliance for Change,
is to meet with Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou today
in Athens. Mr. Djindjic is presently vacationing in Greece.
Another Serb opposition leader, Vuk Draskovic, head of the
Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), met with Mr. Papandreou yesterday.
Mr. Draskovic proposed the formation of a transitional
government in Belgrade, headed by a leader from Montenegro.
[08] NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL HOLDS ITS SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The Minister of Macedonia-Thrace Yiannis Magriotis is to
declare the opening of the National Youth Council's Second
Assembly in Thessaloniki today, which will be held until Sunday,
July 18.
The session is will focus on human rights, racism and
xenophobia.
[09] SIMITIS: ANY THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS WILL BE
FACED WITH DRASTIC ACTION
The determination of the government to tackle the
unprecedented for the Greek society crime phenomena which are
caused by the economic immigrants, was expressed by prime minister
Kostas Simitis in statements he made after the meetings of the
cabinet and the governmental committee. Mr. Simitis stressed that
the priority of the government is to reinforce police both in
manpower and in means. He also called on the Greek citizens not to
conceal the illegal stay and employment of immigrants in Greece.
Mr. Simitis stated that security will be safeguarded and that
it should be made clear to everybody that Greece, with the
contribution of every citizen, must remain a hospitable country,
open and democratic.
Referring to the latest hostage situation, the prime minister
stated that it displayed the size of the problem and at the same
time, it showed that the measures taken so far have been
effective. He said that the Greek government has implemented and
continues to implement a series of measures among them, the
deportation of immigrants who are in the country illegally. Mr.
Simitis stated characteristically that anyone who does not respect
the law and order in the country does not have a place in Greece
and must go.
[10] THE IDENTITY OF THE BUS HIJACKER WAS REVEALED BY THE GREEK
POLICE CHIEF
The identity of the Albanian hijacker, who was holding
hostage passengers of an inter-city bus from the prefecture of
Kilkis for 30 hours and was killed yesterday by a police sharp-
shooter, was revealed today by Greek Police Chief Ioannis
Georgakopoulos.
He was identified as 26yearold Soufa Arbin or Ilia Markoj. He had
been arrested in Thessaloniki in 1993 because he had entered
Greece illegally. He was deported and but he managed to return
again.
The police has launched a thorough investigation on the
profile of the Albanian to determine if there is a basis for the
initial suspicions that he was not just a penal law violator.
Meanwhile, president Kostis Stephanopoulos will honor soldier
Nestoras Kokkalis, who was one of the hostages, with the
extraordinary action medal for the important role he played in the
police operation aimed at ending the hostage situation.
[11] THE GREEK CABINET MET TODAY
The crime problem and the safety of the citizens was at the
center of the governmental committee meeting today.
Prime minister Kostas Simitis stressed that the citizens must
feel safe and stressed that the government is determined to take
supplementary measures toward this direction such as, the
appointment of more police officers.
Before the meeting foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou
underlined the need to draw up a new immigration law concerning
the entry and residence of foreigners in Greece. In today's
meeting were also discussed issues concerning the ministries of
transportation and culture. The cabinet met after the governmental
committee meeting.
[12] THE INDIRECT TAXES WILL BE LOWERED IN AUGUST
The indirect taxes on fuel will be lowered in August as the
government resorts to emergency measures to stop the price
increases and their unfavorable effect on inflation.
However, the lowering of indirect taxes is estimated to cost
about 75-80 billion drachmas, according to a newspaper report
published today.
It should be reminded that minister of national economy and
finance Yiannos Papantoniou had given assurances recently that the
lowering of the indirect taxes will take place in the fall and
possibly in September.
[13] THE PAPANDREOU-DJINDJIC MEETING WAS CANCELED
The scheduled meeting of Greek foreign minister Giorgos
Papandreou with Serb Democratic Party leader Zoran Djindjic has
been canceled.
Mr. Djindjic is currently in Greece on vacation.
[14] THE BODY OF A MAN, POSSIBLY THAT OF THE MISSING US
BUSINESSMAN, HAS BEEN FOUND
The body of a man has been located off the coasts of Lavrion
in Athens and it is likely that it could be the missing US
businessman who fell off a cruise-ship near the island of Egina.
An autopsy will be made tomorrow.
[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS
[15] UN REPRESENTATIVE FOR KOSOVO IN PRISHTINA, OUTLINES AGENDA
Bernard Kouchner, the Secretary-General's new Special
Representative who
will also head UNMIK, the United Nations Interim Administration
Mission in
Kosovo, arrived in Pristina yesterday, where he outlined his
agenda.
He stated that his priority is to "make sure that immediate
humanitarian needs are met. Second to ensure essential public
functions, specifically law and order. And third to lay the
foundation for economic recovery and development. It's simple, but
ambitious. The job can be done."
As the highest international civilian official in Kosovo, Mr.
Kouchner will
oversee the UN-led international operation designed to heal the
wounds of conflict and ultimately create a democratic form of
autonomy.
The United Nations itself will set up the civil
administration, the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will be in charge of
humanitarian assistance, the European Union will be responsible
for reconstruction and the Organization of Security and
Cooperation in Europe will overview democratization and
institution-building.
[16] UN ACTING SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE MEETS WITH RUGOVA
The United Nations acting Special Representative Sergio
Vieira de Mello, met with Kosovo Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova
who returned to Kosovo earlier yesterday, greeted by a crowd of
3,000-4,000 Kosovars chanting "Rugova, Rugova."
The two men discussed steps by the United Nations to put the
civil administration in place and discussed Friday's planned first
meeting of the Kosovo Transitional Council.
[17] ANNAN: FOR KOSOVO TO SUCCEED, BALKAN REGION MUST RECOVER
For Kosovo to really succeed, the Balkan region as a whole
must be brought
back to health, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated
yesterday.
During an address at Comenius University, the oldest college
in Slovakia, where he is on an official visit, Mr. Annan said
reconstruction in Kosovo would
require recovery in the region as a whole.
The Secretary-General said a key challenge in Kosovo would be
engaging the
various political groupings in rehabilitation and reconciliation,
which would improve as a sense of security takes root.
"This sense of security must take root among Serbs and other
ethnic groups no less than the Kosovar Albanians, for we aspire to
a multi- ethnic Kosovo."
Mr. Annan said Kosovo would not be rebuilt in a month, or a
year and the
Balkans would not be restored by one organization or one group of
Governments. The ability of the United Nations, or other
organizations to do the job would depend entirely on the will of
Member States to pledge the resources, he added.
Mr. Annan, who arrived in Bratislava yesterday, is on the
first visit by a
Secretary-General to Slovakia since it became independent in 1993.
[18] MINOR ACCIDENT OCCURS AT CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR STATION
A minor accident occurred yesterday at the Chernobyl nuclear
power station which was assessed at level one on the seven-grade
international scale of nuclear
emergencies.
According to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass, when a
special equipment was being removed after it had measured the
diameters of technological grooves in the third nuclear reactor,
one of the elements - a suspended tube 80 millimeters in diameter
and three millimeters thick, was deformed.
The radiation level after the accident does not exceed the
permissible norms. Neither radioactive discharge into the
environment, nor exposure of the personnel to radiation have been
registered, the Chernobyl press service reported. The third
nuclear reactor was stopped for maintenance check on July 1,1999.
The accident occurred as a result of a human error when an
operator set the equipment in motion without making sure that the
operation to disengage the equipment from the elements of the
reactor had been completed.
No technological or transportation operations will be
conducted on central premises until an investigation into the
causes of the accident is over and measures taken to remedy the
situation.
[19] THE SERB OPPOSITION CONTINUES THE MOBILIZATIONS AGAINST
MILOSEVIC
The leaders of the Serb opposition issue daily appeals to the
Serb people to participate in the mass anti-government rally that
will be held in the center of Belgrade, while the opposition
demonstrations continue in many cities across Serbia.
However, Yugoslav federal minister without a portfolio Goran
Matic stated that the western mass media blow out of proportion
the anti-government demonstrations that are being held in Serb
cities and exaggerate regarding their importance.
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