NEWS IN DETAIL

Greece calls for immediqate EU initiatives in the Balkans

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou and ruling PASOK party secretary Costas Skandalidis called for the EU initiative while addressing a two-day Athens meeting of the European socialist parties whic h comprise the European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos spoke of a "security vacuum" in the Balkans caused by the collapse of communism and the EU's inability to put together a common foreign policy.

"A new Marshall Plan is needed which would support democratisation," he said, adding that EU nations themselves should find a different model of development for the 15-member union," Mr.Tsohatzopoulos said.

Mr. Papandreou appealed for immediate financial assistance to Albania and Bulgaria, "which are in the throes of a deep economic crisis" and the charting of a long-term EU policy for the Balkans.

This policy, he added, should aim at ensuring respect for borders and minorities, economic and technical assistance, regional cooperation and the protection of human rights. On his part, Mr. Skandalidis said "Europe needs a strong Greece. We shall remain dedicated to the international rules of peaceful cooperation for a Europe stretching from the Urals to the Atlantic."

He also called for "a social Europe of equal nations and sovereign peoples" to stand up against "the omnipotence of bank and stock exchange capital".

Defence Minister begins talks in Germany

Discussions during the meeting, to be held here this afternoon, are expected to include tensions in Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus issue and NATO's expansion eastwards.

German participation in the Greek armed forces' armament programme is also expected to be dicussed, with German interest in the modernisation of Hellenic Air Force's F-4 "Phantom" fighters by the DASA company, and the possible supply of submarines from German shipyards.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos, speaking from Frankfurt yesterday, said the issue of supplies concerns technical, economic and political criteria, stressing that the aim of his talks with Mr. Ruhe is "to find under what political terms we can cooperate in our armam ents programme."

Greece warns Turkey of territorial waters extension

"In the event that Turkey causes a new (military) incident, the Greek response, apart from a military one, will also be political, a response which will maximise the cost for Ankara, will be proportionate to the seriousness of the provocation and will be within the framework of implementing international agreements," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos the Thessaloniki Bar Association while speaking on the country's national defence policy.

Under the ratified International Law of the Sea, Greece has the right to extend its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles, while Athens has repeatedly stated that it will do so at an opportune time.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos described Turkey as the "number one threat to Greece", saying Ankara would stop at nothing to use force to alter the status quo in the Aegean.

Commenting on the possibility of Greek-Turkish differences being resolved by recourse to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos stated:

"I don't think there's much point in referring (the differences) to The Hague, because Ankara's logic is devoid of any perspective for a lawful settlement of the issue. Its logic is to impose its views on Athens."

On Turkey's claims against Greece in the Aegean, the national defence minister reiterated that Greece would never discuss so-called "grey zones" and islets over which it has sovereignty.

Finally, he strongly defended the Greece-Cyprus joint defence doctrine, saying that for the first time international organisations and major powers "feel the need to intervene in a different way in order to create prosects for a final solution of the Cy prus problem."

Teachers' strikes slated to continue

The striking teachers have organised protest rallies and marches in Athens for this morning and in the northern port city of Thessaloniki later in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, primary school and kindergarten teachers were scheduled to begin a third week of strikes today.

Athens mayor vows to complete his four-year term

Mr. Avramopoulos defended his choice to suspend his party activity during his tenure as the Greek capital's mayor, and reiterated his determination to complete his four-year term.

He also criticised the current political scene and implied that politicians were inconsistent.

"After elections we must honour and abide by what we say in the pre- election period," he said, stressing that "a climate of unity and agreement is needed."

The Athens mayor indirectly criticised ND members, saying that "the perception of power as it has been cultivated in Greece has led many down wrong paths."

Shopowners' strike today

The strike has been called over grievances related to fiscal legislation, financing issues, provisions on business premises, working hours and what the confederation has termed unfair competition from department stores and super markets.

Mysterious attack on foreign correspondent's home investigated

According to reports, BBC correspondent Robert Goro's wife, Diana, told police that two masked men, one of whom was armed, entered her apartment and sprayed mace into her face. Mrs. Goro said she had previously received a telephone call the same day, Valentine's Day, from a man claiming to have a delivery of flowers. She also told authorities that the two men searched the apartment for her husband, leaving only when they had verified he was not there. According to Mrs. Goro's statement, the men fired two shots into the air as they left the building, although this has not been verified by neighbours. An investigation is continuing.

WEATHER

SPORTS

Iraklis-AEK 2-2 Panathinaikos-Panahaiki 2-0 OFI-Xanthi 3-0 Kastoria-Kavala 0-1 Pyrgos-Aris 1-1 Veria-Athinaikos 1-0 Ionikos-Edessa 1-3 PAOK-Apollon 3-1 Kalamata-Olympiakos to be played today.

Standings: Olympiakos 48 Panathinaikos 45 AEK 43 OFI 40 Kavala 34 PAOK 32 Veria 31 Pyrgos 31 Panahaiki 28 Ionikos 27

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(C.E.)

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