NEWS IN DETAIL

In a letter to his Turkish counterpart Tansu Ciller delivered on November 28, Mr. Pangalos outlined his views on the entire spectrum of Greek-Turkish relations and Ankara's relations with the European Union (EU).

The full text of the letter was published in yesterday's newspaper "To Vima".

Mr. Pangalos reminded Ms Ciller of Greece's repeated expressions of support for Turkey's orientation towards Europe, in particular, Greece's signing of the EU-Turkey customs union agreement.

However, he noted that Turkey had not given a positive reply to the principles contained in the EU's "Turkey declaration" of July 15, 1996, principles which chiefly concerned (respect for) international law. This, he noted, should be the foundation for EU-Turkey relations and (its acceptance) was mandatory in order that difficulties in those relations, as well as bilateral relations, be ironed out.

With regard to Turkey's human rights record, Mr. Pangalos said:

"If these measures (proposed by the European Union) are not adhered to by your government fully and consistently, then Turkey's human rights record will deteriorate, potentially leading to further criticism by public opinion in many nations as well as by international organisations."

Bilateral relations

"...In addition, Greece has stated that negotiations on issues concerning its sovereignty are inconceivable and a dialogue on those issues is unacceptable," he stressed, adding his concern at what he called Turkey's "selective approach" to the principles of international law and to its own responsibilities as laid down in international treaties.

Mr. Pangalos went on to note violations of Greek air space by Turkish air force planes, Turkey's repeated claims on Greek territory and its refusal to refer the question of the Aegean continental shelf to the International Court at The Hague.

"It is therefore clear," he continued, "that while Greece is making no claims on the sovereign rights or territory of Turkey, those issues which Turkey describes as bilateral are in fact solely concerned with Greece's own sovereign rights and territory. "

Cyprus issue

Nevertheless, he expressed agreement with his Turkish counterpart that the will of all the sides involved was necessary to resolve the Cyprus issue.

"...if Turkey could become more approachable with regard to the ..Cyprus issue, it would greatly assist the international community's efforts and would have beneficial repercussions on future relations between the EU and Turkey as well as between Turkey and Greece," he said.

Farmers threaten escalation of 11-day protest

Representatives of the farmers, who decided to escalate their protest, say the roadblocks will stay in place until the government decides to satisfy their demands.

Today, mainland farmers will be joined by members of 17 agricultural associations in the Cretan prefecture of Iraklion, who have said they will close the highway between the island's two main cities of Iraklion and Hania.

However, Iraklion Federation of Agricultural Associations President Aristidis Schinarakis stated yesterday that the federation did not support the move.

Meanwhile, a counter-protest was made by frustrated foreign truck drivers trapped on Greece's roads, in the form of a roadblock of their own near Aigani, north of Larissa yesterday. The Greek farmers' protest committee was reportedly negotiating with th e foreign drivers.

Transport and Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis, speaking from Thessaloniki yesterday, said the blockades are costing the transport sector two to 2.5 billion drachmas daily.

Mr. Kastanidis said there are sectors of the Greek economy which are being threatened with financial ruin.

Over the 11 days that the blockade has lasted, the farmers' mobilisation has cost the railways, long-distance bus services, tourist buses and truck drivers a total of 22 billion drachmas, the minister said.

Replying to a journalist's question as to how the government will react if the farmers do not respond to the appeal to open the roads, Mr. Kastanidis said "the government wants to avoid in every way the problem being solved in a manner which does not belong to the sphere of politics."

" If this does not happen, then the cabinet, which will meet on Tuesday, will have very important decisions to take."

Agriculture Undersecretary Dimitris Sotirlis, speaking on 'Flash' radio station yesterday, said the government will take initiatives in Brussels for better prices for cotton and larger quantities of the crop.

Britain plays `worst role` in Cyprus says Greek FM

Mr. Pangalos is quoted as saying "the UK plays, unfortunately, as regards the Cyprus problem, the worst possible role, for a long time....which is against any solution. "

The Greek minister said he would raise this issue at a meeting with Britain's Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind, during his forthcoming visit to London.

Mr. Rifkind is scheduled to visit Cyprus on December 16-17 to meet Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

His plan to meet Mr. Denktash in the occupied part of Cyprus has provoked anger in Cyprus.

House President and former Cyprus President Spyros Kyprianou has asked Mr. Rifkind's visit to Cyprus to be postponed until London clarifies its true intentions on Cyprus.

Rifkind's planned meeting with Denktash strongly criticised

Mr. Rifkind is the first foreign minister of a country who wants to meet Mr. Denktash in the occupied areas.

When former British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd visited Cyprus, on the occasion of the Commonwealth Summit in October 1993, he had a joint meeting with Mr. Clerides and Mr. Denktash at the Ledra Palace Hotel, situated in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia.

Mr. Pangalos rejected Mr. Rifkind's position that a solution to the Cyprus problem must be found before the start of membership talks with the European Union.

Leading Turkish businessman urges better commercial relations

"We can't have bad relations with all the countries neighbouring Turkey.... We must make a strategic decision and decide to solve the problems," Rahmi Koc, president of Turkey's biggest business conglomerate, told the Athens daily "Kathimerini".

"I believe that we must improve our relations with Greece,"he added.

Accompanying the business delegation are the publishers of newspapers such as "Hurriyet", "Millyet" and "Sabah", as well as the leaders of the Liberal Party and the TURK-IS union.

Greek-Turkish business annual transactions are currently valued at $400 million . "If they reach the two billion dollar mark, then politicians will find it difficult to upset bilateral relations," added Mr. Koc.

Mr. Koc is to be guest speaker at the "presidents' dinner" tomorrow organised by the Kantor business consultants' firm. The annual dinner has become an institution for communication between business circles from both countries.

Further EIB support for energy sector

Of that amount, 26.4 million ECU goes for the construction of a fifth thermal unit, with a net capacity of 335 MW at the Aghios Dimitrios power station, bringing total installed capacity there to some 1,550 Mwe. Aghios Dimitrios, in the Ptolemais region, is already the largest power station in Greece. It is predominantly supplied with lignite by the Southfield mine, with sufficient reserves to meet the power station's needs for the next 50 years. The new unit helps protect the environment by producing heat for the district heating network of the nearby town of Kozani.

WEATHER

SPORTS

Olympiakos - Panathinaikos 1 - 0
AEK - Ionikos              2 - 1
Panahaiki - Kastoria       3 - 0
PAOK Salonique - Veria     0 - 0
Xanthi - Aris Salonique    3 - 2
Apollon - Heraklis         4 - 1

Standings:

    Olympiakos     29
    Panathinaikos  23 11
    AEK Athenes    23 11
    OFI            22 10
    Panahaiki      19 11
    Pyrgos         17 10
    Kalamata       16 10
    Veria          16 11
    Kavala         15 10
    PAOK Salonique 14 11
    Xanthi         13 11
    Ionikos        12 11
    Apollon        10 11
    Aris Salonique 10 11
    Edessa          8 10
16. Athinaikos      7 10
17. Heraklis        5 11
  . Kastoria        5 11

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(C.E.)

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