Macedonian Press Agency: Brief in English, 97-01-22

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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, January 22, 1997

TITLES

[01] GREEK PREMIER IN ROME, ISSUES STERN WARNING TO TURKEY

[02] SEAMEN'S STRIKE RESULTS IN FOOD AND MEDICINE SHORTAGES IN ISLANDS

[03] F.R.Y.: RALLIES CONTINUE IN BELGRADE, TAXI DRIVERS CREATE CHAOS IN STREETS

[04] U.S.: FLIGHT MORATORIUM IS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR PROGRESS IN CYPRUS ISSUE

[05] CYPRUS WILL CERTAINLY PROCEED WITH MISSILES PURCHASE, IN SPITE OF RUMORS

[06] BULGARIA: PRESIDENT-ELECT PETER STOYANOV TAKES OFFICE TODAY

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] GREEK PREMIER IN ROME, ISSUES STERN WARNING TO TURKEY

Rome, January 22 (MPA)

The Premier condemned Turkey's expansionist policy and called on Ankara to abandon its efforts to create a fait accompli in the Aegean. Also, he stated that Turkey must respect International Law and International Treaties.

[02] SEAMEN'S STRIKE RESULTS IN FOOD AND MEDICINE SHORTAGES IN ISLANDS

Piraeus, January 22 (MPA)

The seamen's strike has brought on a series of problems, especially for the islands where medicines and fresh foods supplies are already becoming scarce.

The Undersecretary of Labor Christos Protopapas asked the seamen to allow one ferry boat to sail for the remote islands in order to ship fresh foods.

He emphasized that the government does not want conflict among the social groups.

The Supreme Court's prosecutor has instructed the country's district attorneys to arrest all trouble-makers at the ports or those who proceed to block roads.

[03] F.R.Y.: RALLIES CONTINUE IN BELGRADE, TAXI DRIVERS CREATE CHAOS IN STREETS

Belgrade, January 22 (MPA)

Yesterday, the capital city's taxi drivers blocked the streets, creating a bottleneck effect in the center of town.

Meanwhile, many supporters of Zajedno have reported that they were beaten by the police in various areas of Belgrade.

[04] U.S.: FLIGHT MORATORIUM IS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR PROGRESS IN CYPRUS ISSUE

Nicosia, January 22 (MPA)

Mr. Burns stated that the U.S. official Carey Cavanaugh, following his recent meetings with Cypriot, Greek and Turkish officials, had received indications that the involved parties would work hard on the moratorium issue, but no progress has been noted as of yet.

"We are very disappointed since the parties were unable to carry through with this measure which has been on the table since July 1996, under various forms," Mr. Burns stated, adding that "we were encouraged by some positive statements we heard in Nicosia, Athens and Ankara last week, but, unfortunately, when the Greek and the Cypriot leaders met in Athens last Sunday, they didn't manage to reach a final agreement on this."

Moreover, the State Department spokesperson stated that an agreement for the moratorium potentially offers an alternative solution for the deployment of missiles in Cyprus.

Commenting on the common statement issued by Turkish President Suleiman Demirel and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Mr. Burns called on the Turkish government to stop the dramatic statements and the threats.

"Mr. Clerides' assurance that the (S-300) missiles system will not be deployed during the following 16 months is very significant and, as such, it should give all the parties the opportunity to work on their differences without dramatic statements and threats," Mr. Burns said.

[05] CYPRUS WILL CERTAINLY PROCEED WITH MISSILES PURCHASE, IN SPITE OF RUMORS

Nicosia, January 22 (MPA)

In an interview broadcast on Russian television, the manager of the missiles manufacturing plant in Russia said that Cyprus' order had been cancelled because Nicosia had not made an advance payment on the order.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr. Michaelides characterized the plant manager's statements as unfounded and pointed out that the 16-month waiting period prior to the missiles' deployment on the island is necessary for the system's production.

Government circles in Athens also state that the first payment for the missiles purchase will be made this week.

Also, Russian Embassy adviser Sergei Rubov said that he was not aware of any cancellation of the order, while, a short while later, Russian Ambassador Georgi Muratov admitted that he has indeed heard these rumors, which he refuted.

It was reported a few days ago that the advance payment, approximately 22 million Cypriot pound, will be deposited as soon as the Cypriot Parliament approves the funds.

[06] BULGARIA: PRESIDENT-ELECT PETER STOYANOV TAKES OFFICE TODAY

Sofia, January 22 (MPA)

Mr. Stoyanov is called on to decide if the Socialists will be given the order to form a new cabinet. He has already openly said that he favors early elections in order to salvage the country from the economic crisis.

Meanwhile, Stoyanov's predecessor Zhelyu Zhelev, a self-declared opponent of the Socialists, refused to give them the mandate to form a new government. The opposition now demands that the voting be held in March.

Meanwhile, according to BBC reports, the country's national currency, the lev, has taken a nose dive, skewering Bulgaria with economic, banking and social problems, coupled with a skyrocketing unemployment rate.

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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