NEWS IN DETAIL

Premier optimistic major works will be completed on schedule

Speaking to reporters at the environment, town planning and public works ministry after a two-hour meeting with the ministry's political leadership, Mr. Simitis said he was satisfied by the progress of works despite certain difficulties and "friction".

For most of the approximately 7,000 works in progress, Mr. Simitis said funding, estimated at 4.2 trillion drachmas, has already been secured. In those cases where available finances remained inadequate the necessary funds will be raised in cooperation with the environment,town planning and public works ministry and the national economy ministry, he added.

The premier did not rule out participation of the private sector in the financing of major works.

"It is an issue which has been discussed by the cabinet and inner cabinet. But we must find ways to ensure that it would be to the benefit of the works and not increase their cost," he said.

Athens metro

"We are determined to stick to our contractual agreements. There is a contractual framework which is binding on all parties carrying out works in Greece. It is not possible whenever such parties realise that they have not made accurate calculations to d emand amendments, modifications and revisions. Contracts must be adhered to," he noted.

Mr. Simitis said all related Community funds will be absorbed, adding that "no source or Ecu which will have been planned for will be lost."

New campaign to inform int'l public opinion on Greece

The aim of the 11-member council, to be chaired by the general secretary of the press and media ministry, is to recommend methods for better informing public opinion outside Greece and guidelines for the relations which should be developed with international mass media.

Commenting on the information campaign begun by the government Mr. Reppas said it was an effort aimed at Greece's "rebirth", with a new face as an element of its international image. "This face will present Greece as an EU member state, as a factor for peace and stability in the region," Mr. Reppas said.

This, he added, will put an end to the impression often prevailing in international public opinion that Greece is "a country which begins and ends at the boundaries of the bi-polarism of Greek-Turkish relations..."

Holbrooke arrives Monday on unofficial visit

Kati Marton will be honoured for her work as president of the International Committee for Protection of Journalists by the Costas Kyriazis International Centre. Her group has been particularly active in pressing for the safety of reporters in Turkey and former Yugoslavia, according to the centre.

The award to Ms Marton will be presented by Artemis Kyriazis, the president of the centre and widow of Athens publisher Costas Kyriazis.

Other recipients include the BBC World Service programme broadcast out of Athens, the London-based "European" newspaper's Sunday supplement "Magazine", and the London School of Journalism.

Holbrooke's exact itinerary for the unofficial visit has not been released. Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas has confirmed that the ex-State Department official will visit Athens, but said he did not know of any scheduled meetings with Greek officials.

Clerides wants only peaceful solution to Cyprus problem

However, he firmly stressed that Cyprus will continue its armaments programme for as long as there are Turkish troops on the island, adding that Nicosia insists on its proposal for the entire island's demilitarisation.

In an address at the War Museum yesterday President Clerides expressed the readiness of Nicosia to accept a rational "compromise", but not a "surrender" of the island.

Mr. Clerides referred to the need of implementing the Greece-Cyprus joint defence doctrine, adding once again that "when the various initiatives being planned for the Cyprus issue are activated, we will take care to see that no actions will take place which might create tension."

He warned Ankara that if Turkish troops dare to impose a solution they will find Cyprus fully prepared, reiterating that whatever settlement of the Cyprus problem should be based on a Cypriot state composed of two politically equal communities "in an in ter-communal bi-zonal federation." However, he clarified that the federation solution would not be chosen if the occupation army was still there. Referring to the issue of security and the physical and national survival of the two communities, President Clerides said that it can only exist in the framework of a federal Cypriot Republic "where an international force will be stationed with mandate terms from the Security Council." He did not elaborate on who will compose the force.

German initiative denied

Iran offers to mediate between Greece, Turkey

The press release referred to the visit to Athens this week by Iranian First Vice-President Hassan Habibi, saying that the aim of the three-day visit was to examine forms of widening cooperation between Tehran and Athens in various fields.

Iran's Alternate Foreign Minister for European and US affairs Mahmoud Vaezi told IRNA, the state news agency, that strengthening Greek-Iranian relations was not directed against any other nation, specifically not Turkey.

Internet for overseas Greeks

High school teachers vow to continue strike

Specifically, representatives from the Union of Secondary School Teachers (OLME) told a press conference they would not end their strike if wage increases and other claims were not met, namely, appointment of an extra 6, 000 teachers in schools,reduced numbers of students in classes and resolution of all pension and social security issues.

The press conference came a day after primary school and kindergarten teachers decided to end their three-week-old strike and return to classrooms.

Jan-Oct 1996 current accounts deficit rises

In October 1986, the current accounts deficit reached $646 million, compared to $627 million in the same month of 1995.

OTE to unveil new mobile phone in September

Making the announcement yesterday, OTE president Dimitris Papoulias said that a subsidiary - COSMO-OTE - had already been set up and would be responsible for the organisation's cellular phone activities.

Mr. Papoulias said the subsidiary's share capital would total 100 billion drachmas, of which half would be paid in from OTE's own capital while the remainder would be borrowed funds. OTE will be entering the Greek mobile phone market with a par tner, to be selected after evaluation of offers from three companies - Airtats, Telenor and Orange.

The offers, he added, would be submitted by the deadline of February 28 and the competent evaluation committee would convene prior to March 10 and give its recommendation to OTE's board of directors. The successful bidding company will purchase 30 per cent of COSMO-OTE's shares. The mobile phone market in Greece is currently divided between two companies -Telestet and Panafon.

Athens court convicts eight suspects in MAVI case

The eight had been accused of being members of the Northern Epirus Liberation Front (MAVI).

The court found all eight guilty but converted the charge from a felony to a misdemeanour and acknowledged the fact that they had no prior convictions.

After the court's verdict the defendants appealed their sentences and were released.

All eight had also been initially charged with participation in a bloody incident which took place in the village of Episkopi, Albania, in April 1994, in which a clash at an Albanian army recruiting centre there had left three Albanian soldiers dead and two wounded.

However, the eight suspects were later acquitted of the charge.

WEATHER

SPORTS

Athens among 2004 Olympics favourites

The IOC will announce a short-list of four or five Olympic contenders in Lausanne on March 7.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

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