NEWS IN DETAIL

Athens rejects German, British pressure over EU-Cyprus talk

''This effort by EU partners constitutes a new policy element which Greece rejects,'' government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said.

Greece, he added, is sticking to the fundamental agreement concerning Cyprus' accession which cannot be conditional on the Turkish Cypriots and even more so on Turkey ''which is linking Cyprus' accession with its own membership''.

Athens yesterday stood its ground in the face of strong pressure from Germany and Britain during an EU General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, which aimed to overcome objections to the involvement of Turkish Cypriots in the island republic's accession negotiations.

Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou did not accept compromise proposals by the Dutch presidency and the all-day session ended in a stalemate.

Reppas underlined today that EU policy on Cyprus' accession was clearly set out in the decision of 6 March 1995, by virtue of which the Community reconfirmed Cyprus' suitability to become a member and its will that the island republic should join during the next stage of enlargement.

In view of yesterday's developments, the spokesman added, EU enlargement eastwards would become more difficult, since Greece intended to impede the process for as long as its EU partners insisted on the stance expressed in Brussels on Monday.

Reppas said that the stance of its EU partners in effect also exerted pressure on Greece in view of the undertaking of initiatives for a settlement of the Cyprus problem ''as well as the desire of certain parties for the commencement of dialogue between Greec and Turkey''.

''What is important however is that the pressure is dealt with... and it is being dealt with,'' Reppas said.

Asked to comment on statements by British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind who expressed the view that a settlement of the Cyprus problem was a prerequisite for its accession, Reppas said the two issues were entirely different.

He expressed the hope however that the Cyprus problem would be resolved before the island republic's accession to the EU ''which in Greece's opinion should take place in accordance with the agreed time framework''.

Following yesterday's stalemate in Brussels, the EU-Cyprus Association Council will convene today without a joint statement by the 15-member Union concerning a structured dialogue between the EU and Cyprus.

Yesterday, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said Greece condemned Britain and Germany's "underhanded and hostile" behaviour towards Cyprus, which, he said, "we will resist".

Mr. Pangalos said the two countries' governments attempted to include in the text a phrase which renders the Turkish Cypriots as "parallel negotiators" with the European Union.

"The Community does not belong to anyone," Mr. Pangalos said, adding that "we will not accept masters. If some have misinterpreted our moderation as a sign of weakness or faint-heartedness, the time has come for them to see that they have made a major mistake."

He said such positions will not be included in the joint statement of the 15 EU member-states and warned that if there is no joint position and a comprehensive Association Council with Cyprus, "it will be difficult for all the remaining association councils (with eastern European countries) which have been scheduled to proceed."

Mr. Pangalos noted that the participation of the Turkish Cypriots is not an issue, as Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides has already invited them to fully participate in the Cyprus delegation.

Athens bourse continues record-breaking run

Turnover today totalled 33 billion drachmas, led by investor interest in construction (+5.34%) and banks (+5.06%).

The general price index began to edge towards the 1,400 mark yesterday, closing at 1,366.92 points (+2.55%), after breaking the 1,300-mark on Thursday last week, the first time in six years.

Turnover yesterday set a new record of 34.7 billion drachmas.

Profits on the bourse have increased by 50.86 percent since the beginning of the year and the significant capital inflows are attributed mainly to the fall in interest rates, which has made stocks more attractive than state titles and bank deposits.

More than 600 billion drachmas has been transacted on the bourse since the beginning of the year.

Greece, Lithuania agree to strengthen ties

Kaklamanis said the Greek Parliament would do all it could to assist Lithuania in its effort to join the European Union and would soon ratify an agreement providing for cultural cooperation between Athens and Vilnius.

Brazauskas said the help of the Greek Parliament would be useful, since the Lithuanian Parliament had only six years of experience.

The Lithuanian president, accompanied by Foreign Minister Algirdas Saudargas, arrived in Athens for a two-day official visit yesterday.

Meanwhile, the mayors of Piraeus and Vilnius, Stelios Logothetis and Algirdas Tsoutselis respectively, signed a twinning agreement in Piraeus this morning.

Athens reacts strongly to threats by Turkish Cypriot extremists

The Turkish Cypriot Grey Wolves threatened to seize Greek Cypriot property and settle the abandoned town of Famagusta.

"Appropriate measures must be instituted, not against (Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf) Denktash, who is acting as an intermediary, but against the Grey Wolves, their political mentors and leaders," he specified.

Defence Undersecretary in South Africa for talks

During his stay, Apostolakis will meet with South Africa's Alternate Defence Minister Ronald Kasrils and sign a cooperation protocol concerning the sector of defence equipment and technology.

Informed sources said that in addition to issues of general interest, the two officials will discuss the possibilities of joint production of an attack helicopter.

Apart from Greek and Cypriot interest in the helicopter, Britain has reportedly ordered 99.

According to the same sources, Apostolakis and Kasrils may also discuss the construction in Greece of three MEKO-200 class frigates for the South African navy.

Apostolakis is being accompanied on his visit by representatives of Greek defence industries.

Evert says he will contest ND leadership

He has set out his political platform in a six-point plan for the centre- right and what he called liberalism with a social conscience.

Mr. Evert will be facing competition from George Souflias, an experienced ND cadre and former minister, and possibly from Kostas Karamanlis, who has been proposed by a group of 30 ND deputies as a unifying figure representing the "forties" generation.

Mr. Karamanlis is a nephew of veteran statesman, former President of the Republic Constantine Karamanlis.

Perama workers to blockade merchant marine ministry

Workers are protesting what they called "the government's inflexible reluctance to take favourable measures for saving the shipyards."

The ministry will be blockaded from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. from tomorrow until Sunday.

The protesting workers have vowed to continue their mobilisations if their demands are not met, while a coordinating commitee of Piraeus public bodies sent to the development and merchant marine ministries the findings of a study describing Perama as a declining area, and calling on the government to adopt measures.

Garbage collectors begin strike

POP-OTA representatives reiterated their claim for contracted staff to be granted permanent status and the doubling of lump sum severance pay from 1.3 to 2.6 million drachmas.

Flynn discusses Athens` EU funds absorption rate

Earlier, he had met Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the leaderships of the labour, education and health ministries.

In the framework of the second Community Support Programme CSP, Ecu2.5 billion have been earmarked for Greece in the human resources sector. The funds must be absorbed until 1999.

Mr. Flynn said the fourth year of implementation has been entered with only 23 per cent of the funds having been absorbed, while transitional programmes are still being implemented. He said there were positive legislative settlements, but there is a lack of structures to apply decisions.

He said ministries should improve their operations in order to increase absorption rates.

Mr. Flynn said that if Greece does not ultimately succeed in absorbing all its share for human resources support, the funds will not be lost but will be conveyed to other programmes in the country.

Parts of ancient bronze statues caught in fishing nets

MAS head Dimitris Kazianis said the antiquities found in the sea region northwest of the island were a bronze head of natural size and part of a bronze leg which might belong to the same statue.

MAS also received the bronze leg of a horseman from a statue of supernatural size and part of a bronze dolphin of natural size. The statues date back to Hellenistic times.

Dogfight organisers convicted

They were also ordered to pay fines ranging from 100,000 to one million drachmas.

The four were arrested earlier this month in the Imathia prefecture for organising illegal gambling on dogfights, a case that attracted widespread publicity throughout the nation.

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