NEWS IN DETAIL

Kaklamanis says EU National Parliaments ignorant of critical European Committee decisions

Speaking to reportes upon arrival in Athens, Kaklamanis said "...it appears that the National Parliaments are ignorant of regulations and critical decisions for the future of the peoples and citizens of Europe, which are being taken in Brussels."

The National Parliaments are not willing to accept a typically legalising role, Kaklamanis said, maintaining that the conclusions of the EU National Councils' Presidents Synod, to be held in Helsinki in June, should be endorsed by the Intergovernmental Conference and the Summit Council in Amsterdam.

Turning to Greek-Turkish relations, Kaklamanis said the Greek government "should win the international public opinion's support for the Greek cause, which is a cause of democracy and peace against turkish provocativenss, a great danger to stability in our region."

"At the same time," he said, "we should preserve as well as reinforce our internal unity and strengthen as much as possible our defence system."

Simitis stresses need for new agricultural policy

Speaking in Kileler, on the second day of his three-day tour of Thessaly, the premier said that those who struggled for the "agricultural idea" should be vindicated.

"The struggle continues," Simitis said. "It is harsh and it is difficult, but we must go on in order to vindicate those who struggled for the agricultural idea," he added.

Speaking later in Neapoli, the premier said that the government has given serious consideration to the problems of the farmers, leaving open the possibility for further measures to relieve farmers.

Simitis said implementation of the measures to which the government has committeed so far is estimated at 191 billion drachmas.

"We consider the problems and promote suitable solutions. We are always open to re-examining the issues in good faith," he said.

Speaking in Larissa, yesterday, Simitis called on Ankara to abandon its visions for the rivival of the ottoman empire, warning the neighbouring country that the cost of such designs against Greece will be much greater than any anticipated gain.

Simitis, who was speaking during a visit to the First Army, said Turkey had turned into "the greatest destabilizing factor in the Aegean, the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean, Caucasus and the Middle East."

Stressing that the status quo in the Aegean is "absolutely clear," Simitis reiterated Athen's position that it will not enter dialogue with Turkey on issues of sovereignty and the country's sovereign rights.

Simitis lashes out against striking teachers

"We respond negatively to requests who do not correspond to our goals," Simitis said during a speech on Thessaly's development prospects.

Simitis was speaking in Neapoli, on the second day of his three day tour of Thessaly.

Turning to other issues, the premier said the government insisted on the country's equal participation in the course of the European unification, which he described as "a basic option of strategic importance for the future."

Simitis said his government's economic plan has so far achieved to lessen the public deficit, de-escalate inflation as well as interest rates, and accelerate the course of development.

He said the government achieved the aforementioned without having to resort to cuts in social expenditure.

Greece will not accept Turkey's blackmailing tactic for a new share out in the Aegean, says Pangalos

"Greece is not going to accept the military and diplomatic pressures, the systematic blackmailing tactic which Turkey follows in order to achieve a new share out of the Aegean, giving up, to a lesser or greater degree, the Greek sovereign rights," Pangalos said.

Ruling out rumoured scenarios of an inevitable war with Turkey, Pangalos said that the Greek government works with deliberation, prudence, and cool- headedness in order to work out a peaceful solution to the problems constantly created by Turkey.

"A solution," he added, "in the framework of International Law, through the application of international treaties and the recourse of possible disagreements and different interpretations to an organisation with internationally recognised jurisdiction such as the international court at the Hague."

Regarding developments in Cyprus and especially the purchase of Russian- made S-300 missiles by the Cypriot government, Pangalos stressed "the right of every independent government to choose its means of defence."

Pangalos said those who claim that there is a problem, because the Cypriot government tries to limit the existing, huge imbalance of force, while Ankara continues to respond to demilitarisation appeals by the constant development of its offensive potential "are in bad faith."

The Greek Minister further expressed conviction that the joint diplomatic campaign of Greece and Cyprus will yield results, while Turkish efforts to intimidate the Cypriot leadership on the issue of the missiles purchase will fail.

Replying to rumours about a meeting with his US Counterpart, Pangalos refered to the on-going contacts between the Greek government and the US administration, placing emphasis on the interest exhibited by US Secretary of State Madelene Allbright in the region.

The Minister is visiting New York in order to attend the opening of the "Glory of the Byzantium," exhibition at the city's Metropolitan Museum and give a series of lectures at the University of Harvard.

ND conference sizes up leadership candidates

Supporters of leadership contender Costas Karamanlis yesterday cheered on as the local MP addressed the conference, causing the expressed displeasure of other leadership hopefulls.

This prompted the response of former Prime Miniter and chairman of the congress organising comittee, George Rallis, who said that the problem of unauthorised entry in the conference area had been blown out of proportion.

In his address to the conference, yesterday, Karamanlis called for more consensus and less reform in New Democracy.

Nephew of former President of the Republic and party founder Constantine Karamanlis, Costas Karamanlis opposed proposed amendment to the party charter, adding that it was more important for ND to implement decisions made in the past than to change basic charter principles.

Candidate Vyron Polydoras said that amendments to the party charter should guarantee for internal party democracy and "respect for the rights of the minority."

Addressing the conference, yesterday, ND leader and canidate for the party's leadership, Miltiades Evert said the party should prove that it was not overtly introvert.

"Party confrontations today are more difficult because differentiations are unclear. The Left has adopted our positions and is putting pressure on us," he said.

On the issue of the party's charter, Evert said he would discuss it with the other three candidates in order to formulate a common proposal.

Evert further proposed holding party referendums on important issues and improvements in the role of ND's parliamentary group.

The ND leader further proposed five-year leadership terms and the holding of party congresses every three years.

Addressing the conference, today, ND vice president, Ioannis Varvitsiotis called for a transformation from a party of leaders to a party of principles.

Varvitsiotis said he didn't wish to see the leader's position "stripped of its powers," calling for "safety valves" to be put in place.

Varvitsiotis stressed the importance of amending the party charter and the need to bring it in line with today's social reality.

Teachers to continue strike

"We will continue the struggle," the teachers'representatives told a press conference, "...since no solution has been found during our consultations with the Education Ministry."

The teachers' representative called for another meeting with the Education Minister, stressing that the positive development which had been noted in institutional issues could also prevail in other issues.

"This atmosphere could expand to all other issues, such as training," President of the teachers'federation OLME, Nikos Tsoulias said.

Regarding the financial requests, the teachers'representatives said they agreed with the Minister's decision for the establishment of a joint committee to examine the entire spectrum of the financial requests and submit a subsequent report.

Meanwhile, Education Undersecretary Ioannis Anthopoulos told reporters that the messages regarding the teachers' strikes were "optimistic," adding that following the settlement of wages, the teachers could return to their classes.

WEATHER

SPORTS

Cyclades '97 yacht race in July

Entrants to the competition will be restricted to the captains and crew of the participating yachts. The first stretch of the race, from Phaliro to Milos (81 nautical miles), will be held on July 5, to be followed by Milos- Ios (48 n.m.) on July 7, Ios- Serifos (43 n.m.) on July 10 and Ios-Serifos (55 n.m.) on July 12.

Sports subsidies slide

The total amount of subsidies is 10.46 billion drachmas, compared to 10.62 billion drachmas last year.

He said there will be a separate amount covering international sports events taking place in Greece and a prediction that federations whose athletes have distinguished themselves in Olympic Games will receive bonuses. The largest amounts will be allocated to basketball (1.4 billion), volleyball (1.1 billion), swimming-water polo (1.8 billion), soccer (1.2 billion), athletics (800 million), wrestling (730 million) and weightlifting (600 million).

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.S.)

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