Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-03-05

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, March 5, 1997

TITLES

[01] ALBANIA: FIRST BATTLES BEGIN, SALI BERISHA ORDERS ATTACK ON AGII SARANTA

[02] SIMITIS: ALL MEASURES TO PROTECT GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA HAVE BEEN TAKEN

[03] GREEK PREMIER ASKS SALI BERISHA TO PROTECT GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA

[04] PRESIDENT OF OMONIA SAYS THAT GREEK STORES WERE PILLAGED IN DROPOLIS

[05] INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO RESOLVE CRISIS IN ALBANIA

[06] EUROPEAN PEOPLE'S PARTY SAYS TURKEY'S REQUEST TO ENTER EU IS

[07] WE SHOULD SEND OFFICIALS TO TIRANA, SAYS GREEK FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] ALBANIA: FIRST BATTLES BEGIN, SALI BERISHA ORDERS ATTACK ON AGII SARANTA

Argyrocastro, March 5 (MPA)

At the same time, the armed civilians in Agii Saranta are organizing their defense with the aid of former military officials who were dismissed form the armed forces when President Sali Berisha came to office.

Gunshots were heard throughout last night at Agii Saranta where government forces and armed protesters opened fire against one another. The situation in Vlore continues to be out of control.

Also according to reports provided by the Greek minority living in Albania, the troops opened fire last night in Delvino and said that there were several victims among the city's residents.

Meanwhile, the Albanian government's spokesperson has officially denied reports that those organizing the riots are persons who belong to the country's Greek minority. A.F.

[02] SIMITIS: ALL MEASURES TO PROTECT GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA HAVE BEEN TAKEN

Athens, March 5 (MPA)

Moreover, the Premier stated that the problem in the neighboring country is an issue of democracy, peaceful development of the political life and human rights. However, Mr. Simitis added that the crisis in Albania is an issue that not only concerns Greece and is certainly not an issue limited to the Greek minority.

Referring to his telephone conversation held this morning with Albanian President Sali Berisha, Mr. Simitis said that the Albanian head of state assured him he will do whatever possible to avoid the creation of a negative climate in regards to the Greek minority. A.F.

[03] GREEK PREMIER ASKS SALI BERISHA TO PROTECT GREEK MINORITY IN ALBANIA

Athens, March 5 (MPA)

The Greek-Albanian border is being fortified and strong police forces are also being stationed there in order to avert a possible incoming wave of immigrants. Corfu's port authorities are to take additional guarding measures, according to Minister of Merchant Marine Stavros Soumakis.

Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos will submit a proposal to the Socialist International meeting today wherein he will ask that ways be found to end the crisis in Albania. The European Commission will also tackle the same problem today. A.F.

[04] PRESIDENT OF OMONIA SAYS THAT GREEK STORES WERE PILLAGED IN DROPOLIS

Thessaloniki, March 5 (MPA)

"The looters destroyed everything," Mr. Labovitiades told the Macedonian Press Agency. "They stole goods and kept shooting in the air throughout the night, but we're not going to play their game, we remain calm and determined to protect our estates and families."

The President of Omonia added that the situation is Albania is "bad" and the presence of armed policemen and troops in the streets is heavily felt. Mr. Labovitiades added that the Sali Berisha regime is trying to present the country's Greek minority as being one of the "subvertive factors" responsible for the situation in the south's larger cities.

Meanwhile, an MPA correspondent currently in Albania, said that two Albanian villages lived by Greeks -Georgousates and Vrysera- were quiet last night, as opposed to the night before when they were pillaged by armed looters. Both of these villages were protected throughout the night by police and army forces. Nevertheless, the Greek-origin villagers are quite alarmed and want to abandon their houses and flee to Greece. A.F.

[05] INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO RESOLVE CRISIS IN ALBANIA

Brussels, March 5 (MPA)

Dutch Foreign Minister Hans Van Mierlo is to travel to Tirana today, while the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) announced today that Austria's former chancellor Franz Vranitski has been commissioned to Albania in order to find ways to restore order and promote political dialogue among the opposing forces.

Both the EU and the United States, as well as Russia, have asked the Albanian government to begin negotiations at once with all of the country's political forces in order to rise above the deadlock and overcome the threat of civil war. A.F.

[06] EUROPEAN PEOPLE'S PARTY SAYS TURKEY'S REQUEST TO ENTER EU IS "UNACCEPTABLE"

Brussels, March 5 (MPA)

[07] WE SHOULD SEND OFFICIALS TO TIRANA, SAYS GREEK FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER

Athens, March 5 (MPA)

Moreover, Mr. Papoulias said that he thinks Albanian President Sali Berisha is down to his last card and added that the only salvation for Albania is to form a government of national unity which would lead to democratic elections. A.F.

Complete archives of the Macedonian Press Agency bulletins are available on the MPA Home Page at http://www.mpa.gr/ and on the U.S. mirror at http://www.hri.org/MPA/

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