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Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 00-10-07Macedonian 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.CONTENTS
[01] PAPANDREOU: NEW ERA FOR THE YUGOSLAV-EU RELATIONSBelgrade, 7 October 2000 (14:56 UTC+2)Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou stated upon his arrival at the Belgrade Airport today that a new era begins for Yugoslavia, the European Union and the wider region. Mr. Papandreou stated that it is important that he will be the first EU minister to meet with Voijlav Kostunica, Yugoslavia's president elect. The talks got underway a while ago at the Federation Building and the meeting is expected to last about an hour, while the two men will make statements after the end of the talks. The Greek foreign minister represents the European Union and his visit is regarded as the beginning of a procedure for Yugoslavia to become again a member of the international community. [02] ΚΟΕΝ: ΤΑ ΑΜΕΡΙΚΑΝΙΚΑ ΣΤΡΑΤΕΥΜΑΤΑ ΘΑ ΠΑΡΑΜΕΙΝΟΥΝ ΣΤΑ ΒΑΛΚΑΝΙΑΤύνιδα, 7 October 2000 (10:43 UTC+2)Η απομάκρυνση του Σλόμπονταν Μιλόσεβιτς από την εξουσία αποτελεί θετικό σημάδι για τη σταθεροποίηση των Βαλκανίων, ωστόσο οι αμερικάνικές στρατιωτικές δυνάμεις θα παραμείνουν στην περιοχή, τόνισε ο γραμματέας του υπουργείου Αμύνης των ΗΠΑ, Γουίλιαμ Κόεν, κατά τη διάρκεια της επίσκεψης του στην Τυνησία. "Οι ΗΠΑ και η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση υποσχέθηκαν να άρουν τις οικονομικές κυρώσεις που έχουν επιβληθεί στη Γιουγκοσλαβία και να την απεγκλωβίσουν από τον διεθνή αποκλεισμό της, εφόσον απομακρυνθεί ο Μιλόσεβιτς", ανέφερε χαρακτηριστικά ο κ. Κόεν, προσθέτοντας ότι η απομάκρυνση του Μιλόσεβιτς θα αποτελέσει παράγοντα σταθεροποίησης. Ακόμη ο κ. Κόεν επεσήμανε ότι με την απομάκρυνση του Μιλόσεβιτς και την άρση των κυρώσεων υπάρχουν ελπίδες για τη δημιουργία ενός θετικού περιβάλλοντος στη Γιουγκοσλαβία. Πάντως, αναφερόμενος ο γραμματέας του υπουργείου Αμύνης στην παρουσία των νατοϊκών δυνάμεων στην ευρύτερη περιοχή της Γιουγκοσλαβίας, επεσήμανε ότι στόχος όλων είναι η εξασφάλιση της σταθερότητας. Υπενθυμίζεται ότι τόσο στη περιοχή του Κοσόβου όσο και στη Βοσνία έχουν εγκατασταθεί 65.00 στρατεύματα, εκ των οποίων τα 11.000 ανήκουν στις ΗΠΑ. Τ.Σ. [03] THE SUMMIT MEETING OF THE MINISTERS OF DEFENSE FROM SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE OPENS IN THESSALONIKI ON MONDAYThessaloniki, 7 October 2000 (17:48 UTC+2)The annual summit meeting of the ministers of defense from south-eastern Europe will be held in Thessaloniki on Monday and Tuesday. The meeting will be attended for the first time by Croatia as the country will participate on an equal basis as the 10th member at the ministry cooperation level and as an observer in the multi-national force operation. After the end of the summit proceedings the south-eastern European ministers of defense will give a joint press conference. [04] NEGATIVE RECORD FOR GREECEThessaloniki, 7 October 2000 (17:25 UTC+2)Greece holds a negative record in the number of people drowned in the sea. According to figures provided by the merchant marine ministry, a total of 260 people, 187 men, 69 women and 6 children, have drowned from the beginning of the year until September 4. For the past 19 years, 295 people are drowned each year on the average, while most of them are over the age of 50. On February 7, 2000 a presidential decree was signed according to which a professional lifeguard must be appointed to every crowded beach or seaside but the measure was never implemented due to financial reasons or indifference. [05] THE INTERNATIONAL ONASIS AWARDS CEREMONY WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 7Athens, 7 October 2000 (16:22 UTC+2)Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos will award the International Onasis Prizes for the year 1999. The personalities that will receive the International Onasis Awards will be France's former president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who will be honored with the International Understanding and Social Contribution award, music composer Mikis Theodorakis will receive the Culture award and professor-researcher John W. Doran will receive the Environment award. All awards will be accompanied by the sum of US$ 250.000. The ceremony will take place at the Megaron Music Hall in Athens on November 7. [06] GREEK FIGHTER JETS IN TURKEYThessaloniki, 7 October 2000 (15:55 UTC+2)Greek fighter jets will land at a Turkish Air Base for the first time today since 1972. The Greek fighter jets will be in Turkey within the framework of a wide scale air and sea exercise code named "Destined Glory 2000" that will be launched on Monday. Six Greek F-16 fighter jets will arrive at the Turkish Air Base at Balikesir and will be accompanied by three C-130 transport planes carrying mechanics, personnel and aircraft spare parts. The Greek crews will stay at Balikesir for 12 days to take part in the NATO exercise together with their colleagues from Turkey, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Britain and the United States. In the exercise will also take part other 6 Greek fighter jets, a Navy cooperation aircraft as well as a marines mechanized company. [07] SIMITIS IS MOST FIT FOR PRIME MINISTER ACCORDING TO AN OPINION POLLAthens, 7 October 2000 (15:41 UTC+2)Kostas Simitis continues to be regarded as most fit for the post of the prime minister. According to an opinion poll conducted by the polling company V.PRC and published by the Athens newspaper "TA NEA", prime minister and governing socialist party of PASOK leader Kostas Simitis is regarded as more fit for the premiership with 36.2% compared to right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis with 33.2%. However, 23.5% state that none of the two is fit for the post. The government's picture is negative as just 28.3% of those questioned expressed satisfaction with its policy. New Democracy is leading PASOK in the intent of vote with 35% and 32.5% respectively. [08] THE GREEK PRESIDENT WILL VISIT LATVIA AND ESTONIAAthens, 7 October 2000 (15:27 UTC+2)Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos will make a formal visit to Latvia on October 9-11 and to Estonia on October 11-13. He will be accompanied by undersecretary of foreign affairs Ms. Laiou and undersecretary of national economy Mr. Zaphiropoulos. [09] KARAMANLIS: THE TIME HAS COME FOR YUGOSLAVIA TO TAKE THE PLACE IT DESERVESAthens, 7 October 2000 (15:15 UTC+2)Right-wing main opposition party of New Democracy leader Kostas Karamanlis speaking in a meeting on "The intergovernmental conference and the future of the European Union" welcomed Yugoslavia's course to democratization and called everyone to respect the will of the Serb people. Mr. Karamanlis said that the time has come for Yugoslavia to take the place it deserves in Europe, while the time has come for Europe as well to prove in action that it can and must stand by Yugoslavia. He also stated that the dialogue held within the framework of the intergovernmental has to move further and bring specific tangible results. [10] THE PAPANDREOU-KOSTUNICA MEETING WAS HELD IN A WARM ATMOSPHEREBelgrade, 7 October 2000 (19:19 UTC+2)The meeting of Greek foreign minister Giorgos Papandreou with Yugoslavia's president elect Voijslav Kostunica in Belgrade was held in a warm atmosphere. After the meeting, Mr. Kostunica stated to Mr. Papandreou that he came at a historic moment for Yugoslavia as the transfer of power was made in a peaceful manner. Mr. Kostunica praised Greece for the help it has offered to Yugoslavia and appeared certain that Greece will be on Yugoslavia's side in its efforts to become again a member of the European family. He stressed that what happened in his country is the work of the people and this success would not have been possible without the help from the Greek friends. He said characteristically that when things were tough and the pressures mounted only Yugoslavia's Greek friends were there, adding that Greece as a neighboring country and as an EU member was the only window to the world for Yugoslavia. He underlined that the following period will be difficult with many obligations and democratic changes, adding that Yugoslavia will be opened to the world as the EU will be opened to Yugoslavia, while he concluded that those issues were discussed in the meeting he had with Mr. Papandreou. Mr. Papandreou congratulated Mr. Kostunica on behalf of the Greek government and the Greek people for his success in the presidential elections and his significant contribution in the democratic change in Yugoslavia. He stressed that this change makes all the Balkan countries proud and added that now the international community must respond to the message sent by the vote of the Serb people and offer assistance to their efforts for reconstruction, democratization and the restoration of their country's economy. Responding to questions by reporters on the future relations of the Yugoslav government with former president Slobodan Milosevic, Mr. Kostunica stated that the EU was expecting the democratic change in Yugoslavia, that a peaceful transfer of power took place and that now everybody must be satisfied. The same tone was used by Mr. Papandreou as well, stating that the backing of Yugoslavia in its efforts for democratization comes first especially in those difficult days. Mr. Kostunica stated that the political priority is to consolidate democracy and hold early elections at the republics' level as no change is possible without them, adding that it would have been easier if Montenegro's governing political parties participated in the Democratic Opposition of Serbia. He also said that the economic priorities will be the restoration of the economy that was destroyed by the international sanctions and the effects of the NATO bombings, pointing out that the contacts with EU representatives are sending encouraging messages regarding the lifting of the sanctions and the offering of EU assistance. Mr. Papandreou stated that the EU general affairs council will meet on Monday and the tendency existing in the EU is to proceed with the lifting of the sanctions, adding that already he had contacted his French counterpart Hybert Vedrine on the issue. At the end of the meeting, Mr. Papandreou delivered to Mr. Kostunica the formal invitation of Greek president Kostis Stephanopoulos to visit Greece. Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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