THESSALONIKI'S TRADE FAIR MAY BECOME PRE-ELECTION BATTLEGROUND, FEARS MP Thessaloniki, September 5 (M.P.A.) Main opposition parliamentarian, New Democracy's Kostas Karamanlis stated today that Thessaloniki's 61st International Trade Fair, slated to open this Saturday, runs the risk of being turned into a pre-election battleground by the ruling party PASOK. Mr. Karamanlis, who gave his first interview today in light of the September 22 general elections, critizised the ruling PASOK party and its President, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, of being "idle" during its current three years in power, as it has not proceeded to carrying through with any major project in Thessaloniki. Regarding the name issue between Greece and FYROM, Mr. Karamanlis lashed out against all previous governments which he accused of having made serious mistakes in the handling of the matter, while he characterized as "irresponsible" the dialogue Greece embarked on with FYROM in the spring of '96. Mr. Karamanlis' stance on the issue is that a basic prerequisite for such talks to take place is for FYROM to adopt a different stance on the matter.

© 1996 Macedonian Press Agency