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Thessaloniki 8 September (M.P.A.)
Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis in a press conference covering all issues, expressed optimism that PASOK will be the winner in the September 22 elections with a large majority of votes, while he stated that Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair shows that Greece follows the road to economic growth and international cooperation. Mr.Simitis criticized New Democracy stating that it has launched a sensationalism pre-election campaign offering benefits without taking into account the costs involved. He said that in the 1990 pre-election campaign New Democracy had promised 100 thousand new jobs and instead 120 thousand people were left unemployed, stressing that the government of PASOK has created 150 thousand jobs and in the next 4 years they will be increased to 330 thousand. To mr.Evert's accusations that he is backed by "big interests", he said that he will not respond to slander and called anyone supporting this allegation to present evidence proving it. Responding to the question on a possible dialogue with the left, mr.Simitis stated that PASOK is not seeking to rob the left of its votes and said that after the elections the dialogue with the citizens and all the political forces will continue for the solution of the country's problems. The Prime Minister clarified that if PASOK wins the elections no new taxes will be imposed and will continue the implementation of its economic and development policy. On the issue of privatizations, the Prime Minister stated that the procedures in the Banks of Crete and Attica must be completed. Referring to the incident in northern Cyprus, in which a turkish soldier was killed and another one was injured, the Prime Minister stated that he was briefed on the situation by the Minister of Defence, the greek Embassy in Cyprus and representatives of the Cypriot government and pointed out that after the guns of the greek-cypriot National Guardsmen were checked it was evident that there was no shooting from the greek-cypriot side. He also pointed out that the exploitation of the incident by Turkey shows that it seeks to justify its stance in the recent killings of the two greek-cypriots in Derinia. Mr.Simitis also referred to the continuing turkish aggressiveness and underlined the need to handle the situation with determination. Responding to the question on a possible turkish military intervention in Iraq, mr.Simitis announced that he has sent a letter to US President Clinton pointing out that the observance of international law and treaties is necessary, stressing that any turkish intervention will constitute violation of international treaties. Mr.Simitis said that the so-called "stabilizing" role of Turkey in the region is not a true fact, but on the contrary, this country constitutes a distabilizing factor. The Prime Minister said that Greece will continue its diplomatic activity in the UN and in other international organizations in order to expose Turkey's role and to promote the greek positions. On the skopjan issue, mr.Simitis stated that a policy has been formed with the signing of the interim accord and the negotiations in the UN on the issue of FYROM's name. Earlier, in the meeting the Prime Minister had with President of HELEXPO-Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, mr.Antonis Kourtis and members of its Board of Directors, characterized the exhibition as especially successful, saying that it has fulfiled its goal namely, to promote the achievements of the greek economy and its relations with foreign economies and also, to present all around the world the work taking place in the country.
PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS' PRESS CONFERENCE IN THESSALONIKI'S 61ST INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR Thessaloniki 8 September (M.P.A.)
Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis in a press conference covering all issues, expressed optimism that PASOK will be the winner in the September 22 elections with a large majority of votes, while he stated that Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair shows that Greece follows the road to economic growth and international cooperation. Mr.Simitis criticized New Democracy stating that it has launched a sensationalism pre-election campaign offering benefits without taking into account the costs involved. He said that in the 1990 pre-election campaign New Democracy had promised 100 thousand new jobs and instead 120 thousand people were left unemployed, stressing that the government of PASOK has created 150 thousand jobs and in the next 4 years they will be increased to 330 thousand. To mr.Evert's accusations that he is backed by "big interests", he said that he will not respond to slander and called anyone supporting this allegation to present evidence proving it. Responding to the question on a possible dialogue with the left, mr.Simitis stated that PASOK is not seeking to rob the left of its votes and said that after the elections the dialogue with the citizens and all the political forces will continue for the solution of the country's problems. The Prime Minister clarified that if PASOK wins the elections no new taxes will be imposed and will continue the implementation of its economic and development policy. On the issue of privatizations, the Prime Minister stated that the procedures in the Banks of Crete and Attica must be completed. Referring to the incident in northern Cyprus, in which a turkish soldier was killed and another one was injured, the Prime Minister stated that he was briefed on the situation by the Minister of Defence, the greek Embassy in Cyprus and representatives of the Cypriot government and pointed out that after the guns of the greek-cypriot National Guardsmen were checked it was evident that there was no shooting from the greek-cypriot side. He also pointed out that the exploitation of the incident by Turkey shows that it seeks to justify its stance in the recent killings of the two greek-cypriots in Derinia. Mr.Simitis also referred to the continuing turkish aggressiveness and underlined the need to handle the situation with determination. Responding to the question on a possible turkish military intervention in Iraq, mr.Simitis announced that he has sent a letter to US President Clinton pointing out that the observance of international law and treaties is necessary, stressing that any turkish intervention will constitute violation of international treaties. Mr.Simitis said that the so-called "stabilizing" role of Turkey in the region is not a true fact, but on the contrary, this country constitutes a distabilizing factor. The Prime Minister said that Greece will continue its diplomatic activity in the UN and in other international organizations in order to expose Turkey's role and to promote the greek positions. On the skopjan issue, mr.Simitis stated that a policy has been formed with the signing of the interim accord and the negotiations in the UN on the issue of FYROM's name. Earlier, in the meeting the Prime Minister had with President of HELEXPO-Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, mr.Antonis Kourtis and members of its Board of Directors, characterized the exhibition as especially successful, saying that it has fulfiled its goal namely, to promote the achievements of the greek economy and its relations with foreign economies and also, to present all around the world the work taking place in the country.
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© 1996 Macedonian Press Agency