Greece to Shorten Peacekeepers' Stay in KosovoGreece Monday agreed to cut short the period of Greek soldiers' stay in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo as multinational peacekeepers.In an interview with the "TA NEA" newspaper Monday, Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said that all applications by Greek peacekeepers in Kosovo to cut short their six-month tour will be satisfied. Tsohatzopoulos added that one in 10 senior and junior officers and three in 10 soldiers serving in Greece's contingent in Kosovo wished to cut short their tour and return to Greece. Greece currently has a total of 1,481 soldiers stationed in Kosovo, and all of them are volunteers. One of its soldiers who had served in Bosnia is reportedly being treated for leukemia, or the Balkan syndrome. Tsohatzopoulos revealed that U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had recently asked them to contribute to avert exploitation of the depleted uranium (DU) issue for political reasons. Criticizing NATO's decision to escalate the bombings in Yugoslavia, which led to the use of the depleted uranium ammunitions, the Greek defense minister called for NATO's " financial participation" in restoring the environment in the region. He also stated that Greece will, at the European Union's General Affairs Council on January 22, call for a thorough action plan to handle the repercussions of the war in Yugoslavia. |
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