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Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-03-14Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCYThessaloniki, March 14, 1997TITLES
NEWS IN DETAIL[01] CRISIS REACHES TIRANA, TEN DEAD, OVER 100 INJUREDTirana, March 14 (MPA)The crisis has spread throughout Albania, as the government's forces are unable to control the capital, Tirana. According to reports, ten persons were killed and over 100 were injured during exchange of fire that occurred last night in the capital.Reports bring Albanian President Sali Berisha as having left the country, while his family is said to have fled to Italy. Meanwhile, the Tirana state-owned radio station began its broadcast again this morning after it had gone off the air last night, but there was no mention of the conflicts that ripped the city apart throughout the night. A.F. [02] GREECE'S UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN TIRANA TODAYAthens, March 14 (MPA)Greece's Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis is to travel to Tirana today, along with Franz Vranitski, the representative of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe.Msgrs. Kranidiotis and Vranitski will meet with government officials, as well as with representatives of the rioters. This will be the first time that representatives of the international community will meet with the rioters. The Albanian crisis is to be at the center of talks during today's informal ministerial council of the European Union, where Greece's Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos will also be present. A.F. [03] EUROPARLIAMENT ASKS THAT WANTED NAZI ALOIS BRUNNER BE ARRESTEDBrussels, March 14 (MPA)In a resolution tabled after an initiative of Greek Eurodeputy Nikos Papakyriazis (PASOK) on behalf of the Parliamentary Group of the European Socialist Party, the European Parliament asks for international cooperation that would lead to the arrest of wanted WWII Nazi criminal Alois Brunner.According to persistent press reports, Brunner is said to be living in Damascus, Syria. A.F. [04] GREECE WILL SEND ARMY REGIMENT TO ALBANIA IF INT/L ORGANIZATION DECIDES SOAthens, March 14 (MPA)Greece's General Staff leaders have proposed to the National Defense Ministry that an army regiment be sent to Albania within the framework of an multinational force, if an international organization decides to do so.Meanwhile, an attempt to get about 40 Greeks out of Albania is currently under development. Speaking to the Macedonian Press Agency, the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Konstantinos Bikas stated that there are three navy ships currently stationed near Dyrachio and are waiting to be given orders to sail into port so that they can receive the Greek passengers. At the same time, a crowd a Albanian residents are currently at the port, threatening to take over the ships so that they can escape to Greece or Italy. Considered as an alternative is to send a transport aircraft C-130 although this is deemed as difficult since the Tirana airport is closed and is in the hands of the armed rioters. Mr. Bikas said that the situation in Albania is out of control, with almost all civilians being armed. A.F. [05] GREEK EU COMMISSIONER PAPOUTSIS RECEIVED BY PRESIDENT CLERIDES IN CYPRUSNicosia, March 14 (MPA)Greece's Commissioner in the European Union Christos Papoutsis was received by Cypriot President Glakfos Celrides in Cyprus today, where the two men discussed issues concerning Cyprus, the island's accession to the EU and the overall developments in Europe.Mr. Papoutsis is to also meet with the President of the Cypriot Parliament Spyros Kyprianou, Archbishopric Chrysostomos, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and Trade, Industry and Tourism, Alekos Michaelides and Kyriakos Christofis, respectively. A.F. [06] GREEK-AMERICAN MISSIONARIES AND ARCHBISHOPRIC CLERICS ARE IN ALBANIANew York, March 14 (MPA)Missionaries of the Archbishopric of America and Greek- American clerics are in Albania along with their families, among the 2,000 U.S. citizens who are currently in the crisis-torn country, according to the Archbishopric.The Archbishop of America Spyridon expressed his concern over the developments in Albania and said that he hopes that the clerics will be able to overcome this crisis and return home safely. According to reports given from the US Embassy in Tirana, the US citizens are being removed from Albania through airlifts. A.F. [07] BRITISH SPECIAL ENVOY TO CYPRUS: USEFUL THE CONTACTS WITH CLERIDES, DENKTASHNicosia, March 14 (MPA)Britain's special envoy for the Cyprus issue Sir David Hannay has characterized as "very useful the contacts he had yesterday with the Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and the Turkish- Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.In a press conference, Sir Hannay stated that the direct talks are to begin before the end of the first six months of 1997, although he did not specify an exact date. The British diplomat stated that much ground has been covered and characterized the possibilities of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem as being "the best they have been in a long time." Moreover, Sir Hannay emphasized the significance of both sides taking "goodwill measures" and referred to the need to reduce the tension, following last summer's episodes and the Cypriot government's decision to purchase the Russian-made anti- missile system S-300. Referring to the international effort to resolve the Cyprus issue, Sir Hannay said that it is a "coordinated one" and added that it has began taking "shape and substance" stressing that the principal aim is to strengthen the initiatives taken by the United Nations for the Cyprus issue. [08] CYPRUS ISSUE DISCUSSED BY EU OFFICIALS, US, BRITAIN AND UN ENVOYSNicosia, March 14 (MPA)The Cyprus issue is being discussed in Brussels today by European Union officials and envoys from the United States, Britain, and the United Nations.Representing the US is the State Department's Director of the Office of Southeastern European Affairs Carey Cavanaugh, representing Britain is Sir David Hannay, and from the UN is the alternate Secretary-General Mr. Pendercost, the special envoy Han Sung Ju and his alternate Gustav Feishel. Representing the EU is Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek. [09] EPISODE ERUPTS AT ALBANIA-FYROM BORDERSkopje, March 14 (MPA)An episode erupted last evening at the Albania-FYROM border "Kiafasan" when seven Albanian armed guards attempted to enter FYROM's grounds.According to FYROM's Defense Ministry, the armed Albanians were confronted by FYROM's soldiers who forced them to return to Albania. No injuries were noted in the episode. The Albania-FYROM borders remain closed since last night and FYROM is allowing entrance only to its citizens or citizens from other countries except Albania. 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/Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |