Macedonian Press Agency: Brief News in English, 97-05-30

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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, May 30, 1997

TITLES

[01] "17 NOVEMBER" CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASASSINATION OF SHIPOWNER

[02] GREEK PREMIER TO TRAVEL TO SWEDEN ON WORKING VISIT NEXT WEEK

[03] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO SOFIA TODAY

[04] "THE ECONOMIST" SEES A WINNER IN PASOK

[05] STATE DEPARTMENT: US WILL TAKE INITIATIVE ON CYPRUS IN 1997

[06] FYROM: GOVERNMENT GAINS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FROM PARLIAMENT

[07] RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE UKRAINE

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] "17 NOVEMBER" CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ASASSINATION OF SHIPOWNER

Piraeus, May 30 (MPA)

The organization members forwarded a written declaration at an Athens daily, wherein they claimed the responsibility for the killing. In their eight-page letter the terrorists also characterize the privatization of the state-owned Elefsina shipyards (they were bought by Peratikos five years ago) as a scandal and warn that in the name of the people, they will not allow shipowners to incessantly steal the public's money.

Also, "17 November" criticizes the Premier Kostas Simitis and his government for the handling of the Imia crisis.

Peratikos, forty-two, was ambushed on Wednesday afternoon in broad daylight, outside his offices in Piraeus. His family had bought the Elefsina Shipyards in 1992 from the Greek state, but Peratikos decided to close down the mammoth business three years later, as it had accumulated a debt of 27 billion drachmas.

"17 November" is a "phantom" terrorist organization that has claimed responsibility for a series of murders and bombings in Greece throughout the 1980s. It was most recently suspected of having launched an anti-tank rocket at the US Embassy in Athens in early 1996, although, it never claimed responsibility for that incident.

Prime Minister Kostas Simitis has expressed his sorrow over the event and stated that he is expecting a detailed report from the Ministry of Public Order. A.F.

[02] GREEK PREMIER TO TRAVEL TO SWEDEN ON WORKING VISIT NEXT WEEK

Athens, May 30 (MPA)

Mr.Simitis will be the honored guest at a formal dinner to be hosted by Sweden's Premier Mr. Person on June 3.

The following day, the Greek Premier will meet with his Swedish counterpart and will also be received by the leader of Sweden's Parliament Brigitta Dahl.

On Thursday, June 5, Mr. Simitis will meet with the King of Sweden, Gustav, and will later depart for the city of Malmoe where he will attend a conference of the European Socialist Parties, which is to be held until June 7. A.F.

[03] MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO SOFIA TODAY

Athens, May 30 (MPA)

Mr. Karamanlis will meet with the Bulgarian Premier Ivan Kostov and will also be received by the President of Bulgaria's Parliament Iordan Sokolov.

In the evening, Mr. Karamanlis will be received by Bulgarian Defense Minister Georki Ananiev. A.F.

[04] "THE ECONOMIST" SEES A WINNER IN PASOK

London, May 30 (MPA)

In its most recent edition, the magazine emphasizes that the Greek government's financial policy during the1997-2002 period will be in pursuit of Greece's accession to the Economic and Monetary Union.

Also, the article assesses that once the efforts to curb public deficit are underway, the government is to grant heightened attention to controling inflation and achieving the drachma's parity against foreign currency. The article does add that the reduction in public deficit will largely depend on improving public administration and combating tax evasion.

According to "The Economist", the strict monetary policy and the control of wages will result in limited consumption growth, while, during 1997-1999, the Gross National Product is to float at a 2.5% annual rate which is to be fueled by public investment increases, mostly from EU funding and higher incentives for the private investors.

Moreover, the article mentions that the primary risk for Greece's political stability is a potential crisis in its relations with Turkey. A.F.

[05] STATE DEPARTMENT: US WILL TAKE INITIATIVE ON CYPRUS IN 1997

Lisbon, May 30 (MPA)

Mr. Burns said that Washington intends to dynamically intervene in the developments concerning the island, and added that his country supports the direct talks between Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Commenting on Mr. Burns' statements, Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said that if the US' approach to the issue is based on the UN's resolutions and aims for their enforcement, then "this would be a very good development." A.F.

[06] FYROM: GOVERNMENT GAINS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FROM PARLIAMENT

Skopje, May 30 (MPA)

Prime Minister Branco Cervenkovski proceeded to reshuffle his government on Wednesday, with over one third of its members being replaced or re- assigned. According to FYROM's constitution, reshuffling one third of the government's members requires a vote of confidence from Parliament.

Replacing Ljubomir Frckovski as Foreign Minister is the up-to- now Defense Minister Blagoi Hanginski, whose place will be taken by Lazar Kitanovski.

In all, ten ministers from the Social-Democratic Union were appointed, four from the largest Albanian minority party PDP and one from the Socialist Party. A.F.

[07] RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN ON OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE UKRAINE

Moscow, May 30 (MPA)

Paving the way for the aforementioned accord was the agreement reached between the Ukraine and Russia concerning the issue of the former Soviet fleet that was stationed at the Black Sea.

The Russian Prime Minister Victor Cernomyrdin characterized the signing of the accord with the Ukraine as bearing historic significance.

"We are certain that these talks will develop as planned and that the two leaders will sign the friendship accord which will turn a new page in the history of our countries."

President Yeltsin, prior to his departure for Kiev, said "the arrangement achieved between our two countries constitutes the premise of a very significant accord." 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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