NEWS IN DETAIL

Prime Minister Costas Simitis has issued a call of unity to PASOK cadres, stressing that differing opinions and views are acceptable and necessary as long as they do not lead to a negation of the collective will and decisions.

In his address to ruling PASOK party's central committee session Friday evening, the prime minister included several points of self-criticism for the party, a strong attack against the main opposition New Democracy party, and a discreet reference to a critical statement of 11 PASOK deputies before last Tuesday's confidence vote in Parliament, interpreted at the time by the premier as hostile and as an effective call for fresh elections.

He said the confidence vote, which the government won after the '11' withdrew their statement before voting in favour, "consolidated PASOK's central position on the political scene, making it clear that rallying round the party's goals cannot be opportu nistic, circumstantial, conditional or negotiable.".

Mr. Simitis defined the three basic milestones for PASOK in the near future, namely, the party's congress in March, Euro-elections in June and national elections in the year 2000. He said he felt honoured to be leading a party which fielded a host of views and ideas.

"I wish to promote new paradigms in political life, which are more useful and more creative, even more difficult to apply," he added.

The PM appealed for the session to send a strong message of decisiveness and avoid the trap of introversion, looking instead, to the future without hesitation and ready to carry out bold work, symbolising the new era.

V. Papandreou addresing PASOK Central Committee

Development Minister and member of PASOK's central committee on Saturday said that this was the moment of common responsibilty for PASOK, so as to confront its "bad self". She added that it was time for all to speak honestly between them, since the luxury of continuing as in the past does not exist, "if this is not achieved the responsibilities of all will be huge". The development minister said that it is not enough for the party bodies to just conveen, they should be transformed to bodies of co- decision and co-responsibility, since this is the only way for the dividing lines to fall.

Papandreou also said that the one-way street to theEconomic and Monetary Union, should not create an attitude of destabilisation, since the aim is the modernising of the country with a humane face.

October inflation falls to 4.7%

Year-on-year inflation fell sharply to 4.7 per cent in October from 5.2 per cent the previous month, the National Statistics Service (NSS) announced on Friday, predicting a further drop in November due to the price reduction of heating oil. In view of the October inflation figure, it now appears that the government's target of 4.5 per cent by the end of December is attainable. The figure might be even lower at the end of the year if the tax cuts on car purchases announced by the government earlier this week have immediate effect in the automobile market.

Athens comments on S-300 future

The Cyprus problem is one of invasion and occupation by foreign forces, not one relating to the installation of a missile system, the Greek government said on Friday. Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas made the comment when replying to reporters' questions on press reports claiming that Russian- made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles scheduled to be installed on Cyprus might eventually be deployed on Crete. Nicosia's plans to install the defensive missile system have been criticised by the United States and several European Union countries which say it will lead to greater tension in the region.

Holbrooke expected in Athens soon

Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. special envoy, is expected to visit Athens and Ankara soon, U.S. Ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns said on Friday. Burns, speaking in Thessaloniki after meeting with the Thessaloniki Prefect, did not say exactly when the visit would take place. He added that U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had also expressed a desire to visit the region and that efforts were under way to scheduled her trip. Albright was scheduled to visit Greece in May this year but a heavy work schedule led to the cancellation of the trip.

2004 Olympics Athens confernce

An international conference on November 11 organised by the Organising Committee of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee will be addressed, among others, by IOC marketing director, Michael Payne.

The managing director of the Athens 2004 organising committee, Costas Bacouris, said yesterday that the conference on the "Image and Identity of the Games" was the first step towards dialogue on developing the image of the venue - Athens.

The conference will be attended by professionals occupied in advertising and communications who will be briefed on the procedures for composing the image which will reflect the identity of Athens in the past, the present and in the year 2004.

Stock exchange ends week up 4.9%

Greek equities ended the last trading session of a very positive week slightly higher on the Athens Stock Exchange. The general index ended 0.06 percent higher to 2,255.74 points for a net gain of 4.29 percent on the week. Traders said the market had already banked on a sharp drop in October inflation and was awaiting Bank of Greece's moves on interest rates next week. Trading was heavy with turnover at 57.3 billion drachmas. Volume was 12,864,000 shares. Lambrakis Press Organisation was the most heavily traded stock rising 25.7 percent in its maiden appearance on the market. Ideal, Hellenic Telecoms and Teletypos also recorded heavy volumes.

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