NEWS IN DETAIL

Gov't sees end to farmers' protests

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas cited the example of farmers who had travelled to Mikro Vouno in Karditsa to protest at the nearby railway line.

Reppas said that the farmers withdrew when they saw that the location was being guarded by police.

Describing the withdrawal as ''a good sign'', Reppas said it showed that ''all sides wish to defuse the climate''.

A farmers' rally in Aigio, on the north Peloponnese coast, ended peacefully this morning. The farmers, fewer than had been expected at the rally, gathered in the town's main square before moving to the city police headquarters where they passed out carnations to police officers.

Local police have been reinforced with extra officers, as well as riot sqad detachments, in order to avert a repetition of last December's blockade of the main Patra-Athens highway and railway line.

Traffic in the region is moving normally.

Athens wants EU hopefuls to mind the rules

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas made the statement when asked to comment on remarks by US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns, who spoke of the need for Turkey to become an EU member.

Reppas pointed out that Turkey had not even replied to a declaration of 15 July 1996, calling on Ankara to accept fundamental EU principles.

''How can Ankara expect to see progress in its relations with the EU when it has not taken even such small steps?'' Reppas asked.

Coalition leader calls for talks on national issues

Constantopoulos told reporters he had visited Simitis in order to express his concern about political developments in the country and to propose ''a different approach to solving Greece's problems''.

He charged that the policies adopted by the government were creating ''conditions which undermine social cohesion and mislead public opinion'' with respect to foreign policy.

For these reasons, Constantopoulos went on, ''changes are needed in order to secure social consent and the charting of a national strategy for foreign policy''.

Constantopoulos underlined however that the initiative for tackling these problems belonged to the government.

The Coalition leader indicated a difference of views with Simitis, saying the prime minister ''replied in the name of the policies being implemented by the government''.

Insisting on the need for consultation between the political parties, Constantopoulos stressed the need for a national strategy and the formulation of ''a clever foreign policy'' so that Greece could successfully deal with ''the great movement observed on national issues and the pressures which will be brought to bear''.

Albanians arrested for hashish

According to the police, Kegi Perberi, 21, illegally entered Greece and met with a Greek accomplice, George Sotiriadis, 32, from Thessaloniki, in the northern town of Kastoria.

Both men were arrested while travelling in a rented car this morning.

Meanwhile, police in Pieria have arrested two brothers -- illegal immigrants from Albania -- as alleged members of a gang which has been smuggling hashish into the country.

The two were named as Armando and Hector Izeiri, 29 and 26 respectively.

They were arrested after agreeing to sell three kilos of hashish to an undercover policeman for 1 million drachmas. The brothers gave 18 grams of the narcotic to the policeman as a sample.

A rendezvous was arranged for last night near the village of Methoni, but the brothers realized it was a set-up and tried to escape in a car. They were arrested soon afterwards.

They told police that they had thrown the three kilos of hashish out of the window of the car as they were being chased, but despite a search it has not yet been found.

In another incident, police arrested seven Albanian illegal immigrants outside Kozani and seized 104 grams of heroin, a homemade explosive device and three electronic detonators.

When the police moved in on the group, two Albanians and two other persons, believed to be a Greek man and a woman, managed to escape.

The heroin, detonators and explosive device were found in a bag thrown away by one of the Albanians as he escaped.

Alternate FM in Davos

The agenda of the four sessions, to which 60 people have been invited, will focus on the fragile situation in the international finance system, social welfare systems in the 21st century and the repercussions of the genetic revolution in society.

Another subject for discussion will be the repercussions of technological changes in private undertakings as well as in society and politics in general.

Particular emphasis will be given to the globalisation of the economy and trade and the consequences for social cohesion.

The forum will be attended by the heads of state and prime ministers of a large number of countries, heads of international organisations and European Commission President Jacques Santer.

As usual, heads of state are expected to hold informal bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the international forum.

Foreign culture ministers arrive in Thessaloniki

The first meeting will take place this afternoon between Ministers of Balkan nations to discuss the foundation of an inter-Balkan cultural network. Immediately afterwards, Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos will host a meeting of his counterparts from Black Sea nations. Tomorrow, meetings of European Union and associate states and of Mediterranean nations will be held.

The foreign guests will attend a concert this evening given by Greek mezzo- soprano Agnes Baltsa with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. On Saturday night, the official opening ceremony will be held in the Macedonian Studies Centre Theatre, currently being restored.

Major tourism conference open in Athens

The main objective of the two-day conference is to brief delegates but it is expected to provide an opportunity to promote Greece, prior to the new tourist season, since ASTA, with over 28,500 members, has a great influence on tourism developments worldwide.

The conference was addressed by Greek National Tourist Organisation (GNTO) general secretary Vassilis Kourtesis, US Ambassador in Athens Thomas Niles, ASTA president Mike Spinelli and the managing director of Greece's national carrier Olympic Airways, Iordanis Karatzas.

Niles stressed that the movement of tourists between Europe and the American continent must be two-way, while Spinelli underlined the prospects for attracting a greater number of tourists to the region from the US, particularly on cruises.

Karatzas emphasised OA's plans to increase the number of services from Athens to New York and to double flights to Canada.

Kourtesis urged better cooperation between the state, local government and professionals in the tourism sector in order to deal with the increase in the number of arrivals to the Mediterranean basin, particularly to coastal areas and nature reserves.

CoE's Parliamentary Assembly approves resolution on Cyprus

The resolution calls for an extra Cypriot deputy to be added to the one Cypriot representative already in the body, as well as a Turkish Cypriot deputy to attend sessions when discussions focus on Cyprus-related issues.

The resolution was amended prior to the vote by Cypriot, Greek and British deputies.

The report also calls for the demilitarisation of Cyprus, requesting that both sides resume dialogue and accept the measures proposed by the UN Security Council for de-escalation of tensions accross the island's dividing line.

Contact group tells Ciller `good will` steps neccessary for EU entry

It was apparent that so far no progress had been recorded in yesterday's meeting of the informal five-member contact group with Turkey, which focused on EU-Turkey relations.

Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini pointed out that the problem of human rights, Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus and Kurdish problems remain serious obstacles to the acceleration of Turkey's entry.

Mr. Dini dwelled in particular on the importance of Turkey's relations with Greece.

"Greece exercises, and can exercise up to a point, the right of veto. We don't believe that the right of veto can be extended on issues of negotiations or dialogue. Every member of the EU has the right of veto only on the issue of full accession by another country," he said.

Mr. Dini provided a reminder of the July 15, 1996 statement by the Council of Ministers, calling on Turkey to respect the principles of international law in relations to other nations and their sovereignty and territorial integrity; to avoid the use or threat of using violence, and to seek recourse at the International Court of Justice at The Hague on issues of territorial disputes.

French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette stated: "There are no obstacles to Turkey's possible entry in the EU to begin with, but certain difficulties remain and we must solve them."

His German counterpart Klaus Kinkel agreed, but added that there are also difficulties to Cyprus' entry as long as the Cyprus problem is not solved.

The United States is opposed to the imposition of new conditions regarding Turkey's accession to the European Union, US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said yesterday.

He added that US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told her Dutch counterpart presiding over the EU, Hans van Mierlo, and European Commission Vice President Sir Leon Brittan that the US attributes great strategic importance to Turkey.

"The United States would not favour creating any artificial or any new conditions that might prevent Turkey from playing a full role in Europe," he said, adding "we are in favour of full inclusion by Turkey in western institutions."

Turkish trade unionists on official visit to Greece

The two countries' trade union organisations referred to ties of friendship and cooperation, expressing a conviction that the consolidation of a climate of friendship and cooperation between the two countries would contribute decisively to their develop ment.

In this context they said peaceful investments would be given a great impetus if capital spent on armaments was channelled to them. The two organisations wish for a speedy and peaceful solution to the Cyprus issue and committed themselves to work for Balkan trade union cooperation.

Treasury bill rates fall below 10 per cent

Specifically, 9.8 per cent for three months (from 10 per cent), 10.1 per cent for six months (from 10.30 per cent) and 10.9 per cent for one year (from 11.10 per cent).

It is the first time that interest rates on treasury bills fell below the psychological barrier of 10 per cent and paves the way for a new fall in bank interest rates.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.S.)

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