NEWS IN DETAIL

Gov't steadfast on farmers' blockade

"The government has exhausted all the margins of possibility in satisfying the demands of farmers," acting government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou told reporters after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis to discuss the crippling 19-day nationwide blockade.

Reports that the government was reconsidering or discussing certain demands only served to maintain the blockades, Nikolaou added.

"The position of the government is steadfast: it is clear and a given as it is clear and a given the statement of the prime minister for dialogue without blocks on the roads," Nikolaou said.

Earlier today farmers dismantled the roadblock on the Patras-Pyrgos national highway junction at Gastouni, but continued to block the new and old Athens-Patras national highways at Aigion, where the main bulk of the local farmers are concentrated.

Nikolaou said the government had exhausted all margins of showing goodwill and that the government was willing to enter talks with the farmers as long as the blockades ended and the roads opened.

"The government is aware of the existing problems facing the farmers, especially in the regions of Karditsa, Trikala and Farsala which suffered from a freak storm recently," Nikolaou said.

But, he added, the government "considers the greatest problem to be the future of Greek farming in general."

Stressing that dialogue would begin only after the roads opened, Nikolaou lashed out against the main opposition New Democracy party and the Communist Party of Greece.

Asked, he said he was holding the KKE entirely responsible for the crisis and said there was complete lack of communication with KKE officials.

Concluding, Nikolaou said the government did not intend to remain inert but ruled out the possibility of use of force to deal with the crisis.

Sources said that Wednesday was considered a crucial day, as it was hoped Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas would have some positive proposals on his return from Brussels. Tzoumakas is expected to broach the issue of EU support for Greek farmers whose crops had been damaged by adverse weather, and also the prospect of production subsidies and cotton prices, at today's meeting of EU farm ministers.

Government members expressed some optimism over the farmers' issue yesterday, although the government would like a quicker de-escalation and avoidance of a coincidence of farmers' and others' mobilisations, something which will be difficult to avoid.

Mr. Simitis was briefed last night on developments concerning the farmers' front by his close associates George Paschalidis and Theodoros Tsoukatos.

In Thessaloniki, meanwhile, road blocks remained in place at entry points to the city, despite a gradual relaxation of protests by farmers in Macedonia.

The road blocks had also left the prefecture of Rodopi without liquid gas and many industries were facing a lack of raw materials or were unable to export their products.

In the Peloponnese, the old and new national roads continued to be blocked at Aigio, with subsequent tension between protesting farmers and enclaved truck drivers.

Dissension in ND ranks over support for farmers

"I do not agree with showing solidarity with every form of mobilisation. The blockading of national highways is an unacceptable method," he said in an interview with the Sunday "Eleftherotypia" newspaper, adding indirect criticism of Mr. Evert for putti ng his party and personal interests before the national one.

Former New Democracy national economy minister Stephanos Manos also criticised the farmers' actions in an interview with the same newspaper, calling on them to "withdraw by themselves", and criticising Mr. Evert's statement last week that, "if the cost of their demands does not exceed 200 billion drachmas, they should be met".

Teachers, seamen begin strikes

The teachers rallied outside the education ministry while representatives met with Education Undersecretary Yiannos Anthopoulos, who pledged to discuss the demands - which includes the setting of a 250,000 drachma minimum monthly salary for new teachers - by the end of the week.

State secondary school teachers meanwhile are expected to participate in tomorrow's scheduled 24-hour strike called by civil servant unions.

Greek ports were also closed today following a 48-hour strike called by the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) demanding that their tax privileges not be abolished and other fringe benefits.

The stoppage, which will continue until 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, affects all ferryboat lines, while Greek ships currently abroad will hold 48-hour strikes as soon as they dock at the nearest port between December 16- 24.

The federation is also demanding improvements in the insurance and employment sectors.

Simitis pleased at Dublin EU results

What is positive for Greece, Mr. Simitis told a press conference, was the summit's conclusions on relations between the Union and Turkey, which reiterated the validity of the July 15 statement issued by EU foreign ministers which from now on would constitute the basis of discussions.

Mr. Simitis stressed that it was accepted that serious issues exist in relations between the EU and Turkey and mention is made of improving human rights. He said the fact the conclusions referred to Turkey's role in the Cyprus issue is important.

Following the ratification of the text, he said, French President Jacques Chirac termed the document "very harsh" which prompted the Greek prime minister to take the floor and say Greece believes that the document should be completely different and referred to latest developments, such as the crisis over the Imia islets and Turkey's attitude.

Diplomatic sources said the references to Turkey in the conclusions also constituted an indirect political reply to a letter addressed by Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller to Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring last week.

Another important development, Mr. Simitis continued, was the fact that the Madrid timetable has been confirmed in relation to Cyprus' accession to the EU.

ND welcomes 'first timid step in right direction'

EU calls on Turkey to work on Cyprus Aegean and human rights issues

According to the presidency conclusions, the 15 EU leaders invite the presidency "to continue its efforts following the Council's declaration of 15 July 1996 to promote an acceptable solution to the situation in the Aegean area in accordance with established international norms and to pursue contacts with the Turkish Government with a view to an early (EU- Turkey) Association Council".

The July 15 declaration inter alia calls on Turkey to refrain from using or threatening the use of force and to have recourse to the International Court at the Hague with regard to its territorial claims against Greece.

The conclusions also contain a call by EU leaders on Turkey to use all its influence to contribute to finding a solution to the Cyprus problem in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

Defence minister to attend NATO summit

Tsohatzopoulos said the issue of the NATO headquarters in Greece would not be put forward for discussion since "it is not yet mature for consultations."

Asked to comment on Turkey's efforts to enter the Western European Union "through the back door," Tsohatzopoulos said Turkey was an associate member of the WEU and could not be treated the same as full members.

"If this is attempted," Tsohatzopoulos said, "I will reiterate the positions I had put forward to the recent WEU Defence and Foreign Ministers Summit in Belgium.

Tsohatzopoulos had noted the need for an institutional framework to draw the line between the associate members and the ten members comprising the basis of the Union in order to ensure that control regarding political decision making is retained by the ten.

Ship runs aground

They said the "Devon Livestock 2", was en route to Romania and was not carrying cargo.

The crew -- 2 Egyptians, 4 Romanians and 8 Syrians - were picked up by the nearby freighter "Peter Metz" and transferred to a Coast Guard vessel which took them to shore.

A tugboat was trying to dislodge the "Devon Livestock 2", which had set sail from Libya two days ago.

Athens bourse to introduce new index

The new real time index will be designed by FTSE and calculated by the ASE. Called the FTSE-ASE index, it will be designed to create a basket of stock representative of the performance of the ASE and suitable for supporting derivative trading. The index will seek to caputre approximately 60-70 per cent of the available market capitalisation of the market and will consist of approximately 20-25 companies.

FTSE International is a private limited company owned jointly by the Financial Times Ltd. and London Stock Exchange, set up in 1995 to manage and develop the owners' stock and bond index products.

WEATHER

SPORTS

       OFI - Panahaiki             2 - 1
       Kastoria - Edessa           1 - 1
       Kalamata - Apollon          2 - 2
       PAOK - Pyrgos               1 - 1
       Ionikos - Xanthi            3 - 0
       Panathinaikos - AEK         2 - 0

Standings:

Olympiakos 29 points, OFI, Panathinaikos 26, AEK 23, Pyrgos 21, Panahaiki 19, Kalamata 17, Veria, Kavala 16, PAOK, Ionikos 15, Xanthi 13, Apollon 11, Aris, Edessa 10, Athinaikos 8, Kastoria 6, Heraklis 5.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.P.)

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