Agreement reached on settling Iraqi debt to Greece
NEWS IN DETAIL
Gov't says farmers' road blockades will be dealt with 'decisively'
The government warned late last night that all efforts to blockade the
country's transport network would be dealt with "decisively", as reports
earlier said 500 tractors blockaded the Athens-Thessaloniki national
road.
"It is useful to reiterate that every effort to block the transport network
will be dealt with decisively. We call on these groups of farmers to halt
(their) occupations; to end mobilisations of this type. Solutions to
problems are derived from agreeme nt and cooperation, not with arbitrary
actions and the blockading of roads," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
said.
About 500 tractors late yesterday night blockaded the Athens to Thessaloniki
highway near the Mikrothives site, implementing Wednesday's threat by the
Pan-Thessaly Coordinating Committee that that they would block the national
roadway if a meeting with the prime minister did not take place.
Another 1,000 tractors from other areas later reached the location through
country roads and fields.
Earlier, scuffles broke out at Neo Monastiri, near Almyros, Magnesia
prefecture, when farmers manually removed three police patrol cars blocking
the road in order to open the way for their tractors.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Reppas reiterated that Prime Minister Costas
Simitis would only meet with protesting farmers of Thessaly, who began a
new round of mobilisations this week, if their coordinating committee
stopped blocking national roadways.
Commenting on protesting farmers' demands for a meeting with Mr. Simitis,
the spokesman also wondered whether such a meeting would be worthwhile.
"Any meeting under these conditions would be a meeting for appearance's
sake only and the government says no to this," he added.
Thessaloniki farmers
Protesting farmers in Thessaloniki prefecture parked about 60 tractors on
the Halastra Bridge near the Malagra highway toll post yesterday, without
blocking traffic.
When police tried to block the road leading to the bridge, protesting
farmers simply drove their tractors across fields. Police then allowed them
to continue, provided they did not obstruct traffic.
VOA licence approved
Parliament yesterday ratified an agreement for the operation of Voice of
America installations in Greece which have been operating without a licence
since 1978.
Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, who recommended approval, said
the agreement was within the framework of Greece's good relations with the
United States.
He added that "these stations do not have the political role they had in
the past, while also promoting our vital interests in the region".
However, smaller opposition parties, including the Communist Party of
Greece (KKE), the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos), and
Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) reacted against the decision.
The agreement also provides for concession of 400 hectares in northern
Greece for use by the VOA station.
Greek positions on EU enlargement discussed
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday chaired a meeting of
ministry officials focusing on Greece's positions regarding the enlargement
of the European Union.
The meeting took place with the participation of the ministry's secretary
general responsible for community affairs, Stelios Perrakis.
The task force's work for Greece's preparation in view of EU enlargment
includes analysis of positions by EU countries and bodies, preparation of
Greek positions on the enlargement -- given that the first phase of the
enlargement will include Cyprus --and coordination of the administrative
units invloved.
Solana expresses NATO concern over Cyprus
NATO Secretary General Javier Solana yesterday expressed the alliance's
concern over Cyprus.
"We are very concerned about the situation in Cyprus," he told reporters
yesterday in Ankara.
Mr. Solana was speaking at a press conference at the end of his 24-hour
visit to Turkey.
"Arms in Cyprus are sufficient. We wish to de-escalate tensions," he
added.
Arsenis meets with Athens University faculty senate
Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis met yesterday with members of the
Athens University's faculty senate and discussed his recent proposals
regarding free access to universities. Speaking after the meeting, Mr.
Arsenis expressed his satisfaction with the talks, while Athens University
Rector Petros Gemtos said that two open university departments will begin
operating at the university in September.
Replying to reporters' questions regarding lost teaching hours caused by a
continuing teachers' strike, the minister said he would discuss ways to
make up for lost time with the teachers when schools reopen, and did not
rule out lessons being held on Saturdays.
Gov't urged to begin talks with striking teachers
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday called
on Prime Minister Costas Simitis to start direct talks with striking high
school teachers in an effort to resolve demands that have kept schools shut
for the last three weeks.
Following a meeting with the administrative board of the Federation of High
School Teachers, Mr. Evert said the government's present stance would not
persuade teachers to return to work. On Wednesday, teachers decided to
extend their strike for a fourth week -- and primary school teachers for a
second week -- to press demands for higher pay.
The strike has seriously disrupted school curriculums, with concern now
being voiced about how pupils will make up the lost time.
Greek consumers' average purchasing power ranks last in EU
The real purchasing power of the average Greek citizen is estimated at 66
per cent of the corresponding purchasing power of the average European
citizen, placing Greek consumers last in a list of European Union
counterparts, according to European Communities Statistics Service
(EUROSTAT) figures.
Portuguese consumers rank second from bottom, with real purchasing power
estimated at 67 per cent of the average.
According to the figures, the average Luxembourg citizen enjoys the
greatest real purchasing power in Europe, recorded at 69 per cent over the
average European purchasing power, followed by Danish citizens, whose
purchasing power is estimated at 16 per cent over the average.
Germans have a buying power that exceeds the average European purchasig
power by 11 per cent, followed by Austrian consumers with a buying power of
8 per cent over the average European.
The British have an estimated 96 per cent buying power of the average
European figure, followed by the Irish with 93 per cent and the Spanish
with 77 per cent.
The highest growth rate was recorded in Ireland, exceeding 10 per cent of
GDP, followed by Finland with 4.2 per cent. Greece ranked 12th on the list
with a GDP increase of 2 per cent, followed by Belgium, Germany and Austria,
which recorded lower rates.
Agreement reached on settling Iraqi debt to Greece
The Gunpowder and Cartridge Company (PYRKAL) and the Greek state have not
waived their claims concerning a $53 million debt owed by Iraq, Defence
Undersecretary Dimitris Apostolakis told Parliament yesterday.
Replying to a question tabled by main opposition New Democracy deputy
Dimitris Kostopoulos, Mr. Apostolakis said an agreement had been reached
for a settlement of the debt under favourable terms for Greece. Iraq, he
added, has acknowledged its obligations regarding both the main debt and
default interest.
Mr. Apostolakis said Iraq had agreed to pay off the debt in cash when the
embargo against Baghdad is lifted, and until then it would be paying
instalments in kind, with crude oil and other products.
Finance undersecretary affirms budget targets
The 1997 budget will be implemented and there will be no margins for any
changes, Finance Undersecretary Nikos Christodoulakis said yesterday.
"It is in the country's interest for budget targets to be met and any
demands and challenges have tot take this into account," he told reporters.
Mr. Christodoulakis added that incomes policy would be applied through the
application of the new wage scale, which would burden the budget with 152.5
billion drachmas.
He said that the government's stance on collective bargaining with public
utilities and organisations (DEKO) workers was that incomes policy in
accordance with inflation targets would be applied.
Revenue inflow rates for January were satisfactory, he added, showing an
increase of 14.02 percent in comparison to the same month last year.
Telephone exchange
The telephone exchange 111 will provide the latest reports on soccer
football pools (Propo), and the Lotto, Proto, and Propo-gol games on a
nationwide basis as of April 2.
Results of horse races and state lottery tickets will be available on the
numbers 1148 and 1145, respectively.
WEATHER
Sunny to locally cloudy with scattered rain in most parts of Greece with
light snowfalls in the mountainous regions in the northern and western
parts of the country. Locally cloudy in the eastern Aegean with northerly
winds getting stronger later in the day. Athens will be sunny to partly
cloudy with possible rain in the evening with temperatures between 5-13C.
Thessaloniki will be cloudy with occasional showers and temperatures
between 2-6C.
SPORTS
Greek athletes win five Special Olympics medals
Greek athletes have won five medals (three gold, one silver, one bronze) so
far at the Special Winter Olympics being held in Toronto.
In the 50-metre speed skating event, Thanassis Tsarouhas, 19, won the gold,
George Kaplanis the silver, Panayotis Baklatzis the bronze medal, while
Mihalis Koutsikos came fourth in the event. Georgia Loutzi won the gold in
the women's speed skating even t, as did Christina Koutsikou in the girls'
event.
Their achievements are considered particularly impressive since there are
only two ice rinks in Greece, both in Athens, according to their coach
Marcella Karameri, physical education teacher at the Theotokos Foundation.
Around 2,000 competitors from 75 countries are participating in the
games.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Closing rates - buying US dlr. 257.047
Pound sterling 421.719 Cyprus pd 520.800
French franc 46.146 Swiss franc 180.514
German mark 155.714 Italian lira (100) 15.851
Yen (100) 207.953 Canadian dlr. 190.841
Australian dlr. 196.446 Irish Punt 413.287
Belgian franc 7.548 Finnish mark 52.546
Dutch guilder 138.637 Danish kr. 40.878
Swedish kr. 34.803 Norwegian kr. 39.710
Austrian sch. 22.122 Spanish peseta 1.843
Portuguese escudo 1.553
(C.E.)
