A.N.A. Bulletin, 21/03/96

From: "Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada" <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN,

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Turkish statements throw shadow over EU Association Council

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday described as unacceptable a Turkish statement that it only recognized those international agreements which it has signed, adding that, although Greece would not call for a postponement of the EU-Turkey meeting next week, the fate of that meeting was in doubt because of Ankara's attitude.

"Turkey says it is bound by international treaties and accepts as valid those it has signed... This is the theoretical position for rejecting the 1932 Turkish-Italian agreement in its entirety, and therefore, a most clear claim, internationally, on the whole of the Dodecanese group of islands," Mr. Pangalos told reporters yesterday.

The consequences of such a position internationally were enormous, he said, adding that "it was not possible to conduct any discussion with the Turks on the basis of this position".

Such a position - expressed by Ankara to the representatives of the Italian presidency who visited it recently - is unacceptable internationally.

"In this way, we would be led to the third world war, as this would mean the opening up of all territorial disputes that existed in Europe for years. It is not possible to conduct any discussion with the Turks on the basis of this position," he said.

Mr. Pangalos said, however, Greece would not request postponing the European Union-Turkey Association Council meeting next week but that a successful meeting hinged on the General Affairs Council deciding on a common position.

"However, we have set out our positions: There must be a common Community position at the General Affairs Council (prior to the Association Council meeting), and we shall participate in the discussion for arriving at such a common position, proposing that our views are included. If this is accepted, there will be a common position. If it is not accepted, there will be no common position, and no Council meeting," he said.

"If the common position is adopted," he continued, "there is the issue of Turkey's financing, which is part of the EU-Turkey customs union, and on this particular issue, Greece has said that if Turkey makes a specific and self-evident statement (regarding respect for international treaties), our country will disengage the (financial) protocol.

"However, instead of this, Turkey is not only not moving ahead, but is ... giving theoretical basis to its designs, and setting them out in public," he said.

[2] Imia issue needs prudent handling, Reppas stresses

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday that prudence was needed in dealing with the issue of the Imia islets, the focus of a recent standoff in the Aegean between Greece and Turkey.

Referring to a visit to the islet by a Greek television crew on Tuesday, following claims last week by a local shepherd that he was prevented from tending his flock by the presence of a Turkish coast guard vessel, Mr. Reppas told reporters that "the issue of sovereignty is not resolved in this way".

The spokesman said that the government neither approved nor prohibited "such methods", just as it did not do so with respect to other areas of Greek territory.

Mr. Reppas said that when the TV crew visited the area there had been "a small concentration of Turkish forces (in the region) which, however, remained in Turkish territorial waters."

Responding to an article in yesterday's edition of the Athens daily 'Apogevmatini' claiming that Greece was not making use of European Union funds which included Imia, Mr. Reppas said that both the CORINE program which was approved in 1984 and the cur rent NATURA 2000 program had been promoted by the ruling PASOK party governments.

The fact that EU programs also cover Imia and other islets, he added, proves that the region in its entirety is under national and Community protection.

Replying to questions on an item of expenditure in the Turkish foreign ministry's budget for the purchase and transport of animal feed for livestock on Imia, Mr. Reppas said that "Turkey will do everything to find a way to establish its claims, since it is deprived of arguments based on international law and it refuses to follow the exhortations of many other countries and seek recourse to the International Court at the Hague."

"We did not expect anything different from Turkey, which often resorts to such subterfuges," the spokesman added.

[3] Negative business climate

Greece's island chambers of commerce yesterday expressed concern over the negative business climate in the Aegean following Turkey's provocations against Greek islands.

The fourth General Assembly of the Greek Islands Development Chambers Group (EOAEN) yesterday urged Greek and Turkish chambers to become "bridges of peace" and forums for international and inter-border co-operation.

Entrepreneurs operating on the Greek islands said they were willing to develop economic co-operation with their Turkish counterparts, adding however that "the neighboring state's provocative action, such as that over the Imia islets, discourage improvement and evolution of business contacts and relations."

[4] Sea assistance convention not an open door for Turkish involvement in Aegean, Sfiriou says

The ratification by Greece of the convention on providing assistance at sea does not give Turkey the right to carry out search and rescue operations within the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR), Merchant Marine Minister Kosmas Sfiriou said yesterday.

Mr. Sfiriou was commenting on articles in the Greek press claiming that "windows" were open for Turkey to intervene in Greek waters in cases of shipwrecks.

"The convention on providing assistance at sea which was ratified unanimously by all the political parties on March 6 expressly refers to the private relations between assistance-givers and ship operators whose vessels are in need of help, while article 5 explicitly states that the convention is not prejudicial to any provision of Greek national legislation," Mr. Sfiriou said.

[5] Turkish planes infringe Athens FIR

Turkish aircraft violated the Athens Flight Information Region and national air space on nine separate occasions yesterday in various regions of the Aegean, reports said.

All Turkish aircraft were recognized and escorted out of Greek air space by Greek fighter planes.

[6] Simitis in Rome today for talks

Prime Minister Costas Simitis departs for a one-day official visit to Italy today.

The Greek premier will meet with Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro at noon, before meeting with Prime Minister Lamberto Dini one hour later. A dinner in Mr. Simitis' honor will follow their meeting.

According to reports, Mr. Simitis will discuss with the Italian leadership issues related to the European Union-Turkey Association Council, as well as methods for co-operation with Rome, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, on better realizing the Union's Mediterranean policy. A meeting chaired by Mr. Simitis was held last night with the participation of Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos and Press Minister Dimitris Reppas to better prepare for the trip. Mr. Romeos and Mr. Reppas will accompany the prime minister on his short visit.

[7] Stephanopoulos due in Tirana today

President Kostis Stephanopoulos is due to arrive in Albania today for an official two-day visit which will see the signing of a friendship and co-operation treaty.

Talks between the two sides will focus on education, telecommunications and transport issues. Mr. Stephanopoulos will be escorted by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.

Mr. Stephanopoulos and Mr. Pangalos will also have talks with Orthodox Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania and representatives of the Greek minority organization "Omonia."

[8] Proposed 1997 US budget maintains 7:10 ratio for military aid for Greece, Turkey

The administration of US President Bill Clinton on Tuesday submitted its 1997 budget request for Congressional approval which includes a proposal for a 7:10 ratio in military loan aid to Greece and Turkey and a $15 million aid package f or Cyprus. For the fourth consecutive year, President Clinton asked Congress to assure that Greece gets $7 million worth of military aid for every $10 million worth of military aid going to Turkey, and that Cyprus gets the full $15 million, according to Andrew Athens, president of the World Council of Overseas Greeks (SAE) and national chairman of the United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC).

The Clinton Administration's proposed budget for fiscal 1997 includes $122.5 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Greece and $175 million in FMF for Turkey.

The budget also includes $15 million in Economic Support Funds (ESF) for Cyprus, and $60 million in ESF for Turkey, maintaining the traditional amount for Cyprus and cutting by 40 per cent last year's $100 million request for Turkey, which was subsequently slashed by Congress to $35 million (with the Porter and D'Amato amendments). ESF is not counted in the 7:10 ratio, which applies only to military aid.

According to Philip Christopher, president of the Pan-Cyprian Association and the International Coordinating Committee-Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), "this year's request for aid to Turkey was significantly lower than previous years. Last year, as well as the year before last, the administration requested approximately $450 million in military aid and $100 million in economic aid for Turkey."

"This year the request for military aid (for Turkey) was down 60 per cent to $175 million, while the request for economic aid was down 40 per cent to $60 million," Mr. Christopher said.

[9] Senators protests arms sales

Nineteen US Senators, headed by Greek-American Paul Sarbanes, have sent a letter to President Clinton, asking the US government not to proceed with the sale of state-of-the-art Super Cobra helicopters to Turkey, in light of its recent threatening behavior in the Aegean, its continuing occupation of the northern part of Cyprus and the raids Turkish forces have carried out against the Kurdish population.

The letter states that as these helicopters are used by Turkey without taking into consideration the United States' concern for human rights, the sale of the Super Cobras could be interpreted as US acceptance of these actions.

The senators' letter also voices concern over the recent transfer of additional equipment from Turkey to occupied Cyprus, and referred to statements made by Turkish officials that the implementation of the Law of the Sea convention by Greece would constitute a cause for war.

The senators called on President Clinton to convey these concerns to his Turkish counterpart Suleyman Demirel during their meeting next week at the White House.

[10] Pangalos interview finally broadcast

The much-discussed television interview granted by Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos to Turkish journalist Mehmet Ali Birant was finally aired on Tuesday night, after a two-week delay.

The interview was aired by the satellite channel "Show TV" during peak viewing time, in the half-time of a football match. In his brief introduction, Mr. Birant noted that Mr. Pangalos' statements caused an outcry in Athens, and that the minister was accused of "selling out the islands".

In an article printed yesterday, Mr. Birant apologized for a mistake in the manner in which the Greek minister's statements were transcribed in the 'Sabah' newspaper, which caused misunderstandings and misinterpretations.

[11] Greece, Russia working towards closer ties, Pangalos says on return from Moscow

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said yesterday Greece's relations with Russia were entering a new, closer phase, and that his five-day visit to Sofia and Moscow had been "very beneficial".

Speaking to reporters on his return to Athens yesterday, Mr. Pangalos said progress towards European unification, defense and security in Europe, stability in the Balkans and in the southeastern Mediterranean, the Caucasus and the Middle East had been discussed in his talks in Moscow and the two countries had ascertained common positions on these issues.

A series of measures to aid the further development of economic relations and activities co-operation between Russia and Greece were also drafted, he said.

The same positive climate also prevailed in meetings in Bulgaria, both with the Bulgarian prime minister and foreign minister.

In Moscow earlier yesterday Mr. Pangalos told the ANA that Russia openly supported the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline that would carry Russian crude oil to Greece via Bulgaria.

Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin "openly supports advancement of the planned pipeline to carry Russian oil via Bulgaria to Greece, beginning in (the Russian Black Sea port of) Novorossyisk," Mr. Pangalos said after talks in Moscow.

Moscow, Mr. Pangalos said, had given reassurances on the flow of oil for the pipeline to be built from Russia to Greece, adding that the Russians appreciate the strategic importance of this project and want to work with Greece to have it implemented.

What remained to be done was to make a precise assessment of the project's cost and consequently its yield from a fiscal point of view, he told reporters in Athens.

The question raised in talks he had in both Russia and Bulgaria was not the participation percentages of these countries in the project but whether or not participation of the private sector would be accepted.

In Greece's view, private capital should also participate, while a certain percentage should remain in the hands of governments to enable them to exercise control.

Mr. Pangalos said this view was accepted by all, adding that special representatives of agencies and organizations exploiting petroleum from Russia, Bulgaria and Greece would meet within the month to find the way private capital would participate.

The project's economic yield had initially been studied for smaller quantities of oil than those currently desired for transport.

Mr. Pangalos stressed the ambition was that the pipeline would provide other Balkan countries with oil, including possibly countries in former Yugoslavia, maybe Albania and regions in southern Italy.

He said decisions would be taken by the end of the year.

[13] Moscow statements

In exclusive statements to the Athens News Agency (ANA), Mr. Pangalos said he and Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin discussed the various aspects of the pipeline project, including funding and technical details, noting that the Russian leader "has immense experience in the energy sector."

Asked whether the Russian premier had guaranteed the quantities of crude required for the operation of the pipeline, Mr. Pangalos said Mr. Chernomyrdin placed emphasis on the financial terms and manner of financing, which remained to be agreed among the three sides involved.

At the same time, Mr. Pangalos said that Greece and Russia would follow "a common course" on major international issues such as European unification, the continent's defense deployment, disarmament and security issues, as well as Balkan peace and economic co-operation and the situation in the Caucasus.

Mr. Chernomyrdin on his part stressed the "traditional good relations and friendship" between the two countries.

Mr. Pangalos said he had renewed Premier Costas Simitis' invitation to Mr. Chernomyrdin to visit Greece, while the Russian premier asked him to convey an invitation to Mr. Simitis to visit Russia.

[13] Greece, Belarus aim for closer ties

National Economy Under-secretary Emmanuel Beteniotis had talks yesterday with Belarussian Under-secretary for International Relations Nikolai Levchenko on the prospects for developing closer ties between the two countries. It was agreed that bilateral contacts at ministerial level should be intensified with the aim of signing a trade and economic agreement later this year. Mr. Levchenko invited Mr. Beteniotis to pay an official visit to Belarus sometime in the next few months.

[14] Andreas Papandreou to be discharged from hospital today

PASOK leader and former premier Andreas Papandreou is expected to leave the Onassion Hospital at around 2pm today for his Ekali district home after four months in hospital.

According to physicians treating the 77-year-old former prime minister, Mr. Papandreou's clinical condition is "very good," allowing him to be treated on an out-patient basis.

Mr. Papandreou's spokesman and former press minister Telemahos Hytiris verified Mr. Papandreou's scheduled discharge after visiting the ex-premier yesterday.

"The major news, which is being received with satisfaction from everyone, is that Mr. Papandreou is leaving the hospital," he said.

In response to a question on what Mr. Papandreou future political plans will be after his hospital exit, Mr. Hytiris answered: "Let's leave those (issues) for the moment, he can decide himself."

However, doctors continued to be cautious over the PASOK leader's imminent departure, saying even a minor headache will delay Mr. Papandreou's hospital discharge. Final medical tests, especially to gauge his respiratory function, are scheduled for this morning.

The former premier has been hospitalized at the Onassion, Greece's pre-eminent cardiological health care facility, since mid-November, spending most of his time in the hospital's intensive care unit. His critical condition also precipitated his resignation from the prime minister's post, and accession of a new PASOK government under Costas Simitis.

According to Onassion administration sources, only one television crew, a state-controlled ERT unit, will be led to the hospital's sixth floor to record a short statement by Mr. Papandreou. He will then reach the facility's garage by elevator, before de parting by limousine to his residence.

In response to press questions yesterday, doctors treating Mr. Papandreou said the PASOK leader should avoid active participation in politics the first month of his recuperation at home, where he will continue a program of respiratory physical therapy and kinesiotherapy. They also stated, however, that Mr. Papandreou will be able to be briefed on political developments and receive visitors at his north Athens villa.

Kidney dialysis will continue at his home once every 48 hours as medical equipment has been set up at the Agrabelis Street residence.

[15] Responses

Speaking to reporters after meeting with the prime minister yesterday, Education Minister George Papandreou said his father's scheduled departure today was good news.

"I believe we are all especially happy that he is leaving the Onassion, that he will be near us and that he will be able to enter a more tranquil period of his life outside the hospital," he said.

Asked what the former premier's role will be, he said:

"He (Andreas Papandreou) has defined it. He remains the president of PASOK. His position is compatible with his and the party's new functions."

He noted that he believes his father will be a position to prevent any exploitation of his exit from the hospital by certain political elements, which he did not specify.

In Thessaloniki, where he is attending a conference on combined forms of transportation in southeastern Europe, Transport and Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis welcomed the news of Mr. Papandreou's discharge.

[16] Tripartite justice ministers meeting slated for Thessaloniki soon

The justice ministers of Greece, Bulgaria and Romania will meet in Thessaloniki in a few weeks' time to coordinate legislative issues and the matter of exchanging prisoners to serve out their sentences in their own countries.

The meeting was agreed upon on the sidelines of yesterday's council in Brussels after contacts between Greek Justice Minister Evangelos Venizelos and his counterparts.

Yesterday's EU meeting concentrated mainly on the preparation of a decision for unified action against racism and xenophobia, the drafting of plans and agreements for extradition and on dealing with bribery concerning European Union employees and civil servants in member-states.

[17] SPORTS/SOCCER: Panathinaikos goes into semi-finals

In the second half of the quarter-finals for the European Soccer Champions League in Athens last night, Panathinaikos thrashed Legia Warsaw 3-0, and qualified for the semi-finals, where they will face Ajax, the Dutch champions.

Scorers: Warzycha (34th, 58th), Borrelli (72nd).

[18] Tsohatzopoulos sure MP's request for discussion of FYROM name issue will be satisfied

Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos was confident yesterday that the 20 PASOK deputies who have called for a discussion on the issue of an acceptable name for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) would get their wish.

"Within the framework of a national strategy, an opportunity will be given to us to exhaustively discuss the issue of Skopje's name at the competent party bodies," he told reporters yesterday.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis told the leadership of the PASOK Parliamentary Group on Tuesday it was not quite time for a discussion of the issue by the deputies, who had requested that issue be discussed by PASOK's Parliamentary Group and Central Committee before any initiative is undertaken by the government.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said everyone had the right to express their personal position and opinion on national issues.

"It must be clear," he said that "the goal is to achieve a successful handling of the Skopje recognition issue. This is a difficult goal requiring responsibility, stable direction, substantive dialogue and common party line between us - as far as this is possible - for broader acceptance and support."

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said he hoped that when the issue did come to the Parliamentary Group for discussion "we will be able to reach the greatest understanding possible."

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said later that the government was not troubled by the written statement signed by the 20 PASOK deputies as they were entitled to freely express their opinions.

He added that the government did not feel weaker due to the free expression of opinion by 20 loyal deputies. Mr. Reppas did not rule out the convening of party organs, as requested by the 20 deputies, "in order to deal with the issue in the best possible way."

Education Minister George Papandreou echoed Mr. Reppas' statements, saying the government was not "threatened in any way" by the deputies' request, when he spoke to reporters after meeting with the premier.

"I believe the issue which they brought forth is related to procedures they want followed. Concerning the substance, I do not know if they (deputies) have expressed any specific position. Let us wait to see the results of negotiations before we rush to conclusions," he said.

In Thessaloniki, Transport and Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis said that time was on Greece's side and Athens should not hasten to sign any compromise agreement.

Replying to questions from FYROM journalists, Mr. Kastanidis said Athens must develop close diplomatic, economic and trade relations with Skopje for many reasons.

"But this does not mean that Greece should act in haste on the name issue. Time is our ally and Greece must avoid any compromise on this issue and maintain its known national position," Mr. Kastanidis said.

[19] Milosevic visit to Skopje postponed

A widely reported visit by Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic to Skopje has been postponed for next week, according to press dispatches from the neighboring country. No reason for the alleged postponement was given, however, while local media in FYROM have cited "unofficial" sources for the reports. Reports have been circulating over the past few days that the Serbian leader was to have arrived yesterday or today for talks with leader Kiro Gligorov.

[20] Cyprus socialist leader meets with Simitis on Cyprus developments

Prime Minister Costas Simitis held talks yesterday on developments in the Cyprus issue with Cypriot socialist EDEK party leader Vassos Lyssarides.

Mr. Lyssarides said after the meeting that they discussed the prospects and role of the Greek and Cypriot elements on shaping developments and the setting of the Cyprus question.

He said the issue of the joint defense doctrine was not raised because he had discussed it with Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis, but noted that Mr. Simitis had already stated the government's commitment to speeding up implementation of the defense doctrine.

Replying to a questioner on the meeting he had with PASOK leader Andreas Papandreou, Mr. Lyssarides said he was pleased that his "great friend" had at last managed to overcome his health problems.

Mr. Lyssarides also met with Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, Cyprus' accession to the European Union and the forthcoming inter-governmental conference (IGC) in Turin.

Referring to the forthcoming EU-Turkey Association Council meeting on March 25-26 , Mr. Tsohatzopoulos underlined that Greece "will act according to the conditions which will be shaped, although our country has already made its position clear on the matter."

Commenting on recent statements by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that Greek Cypriots missing since Turkey's 1974 invasion of the island had been murdered by Turkish Cypriot irregulars, Mr. Lyssarides said:

"When Rauf Denktash says that (Greek Cypriot) fighters were killed, it was under his instructions.

"We must not fall into the trap of absolving Turkey and the Turkish army of their responsibilities because a number of the missing have been sighted in the hands of the Turkish army, nor into the trap that in this manner the issue of the missing is closed, just because Denktash has admitted that they were murdered."

If full details concerning each missing person are not given, the issue cannot be laid to rest, Mr. Lyssarides said.

Mr. Lyssarides met later with Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos who briefed him on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus problem within the framework of the European Union.

Mr. Romeos said they had also discussed prospects for initiatives by the EU and the United States for a settlement of the problem. During his visit to the US at the end of the month, Mr. Romeos added, he would have the opportunity to brief overseas Greeks on the course of the Cyprus problem.

Mr. Lyssarides said that "on the broader issues of Hellenism as well as the more specific issues of Cypriot Hellenism, both sides are on the same wavelength... they have the same views and perceptions and a rational approach to the issues involved."

[21] Cypriot exhibitions at Parliament dedicated to Elytis

Cypriot Education and Culture Minister Claire Angelidou yesterday dedicated two exhibitions, one entitled "Cyprus: 9,000 years of civilization" and another of artifacts dating from the EOKA Cypriot 1955-59 struggle against British colonial rule, to the late Nobel laureate poet Odysseus Elytis, who died on Monday.

The exhibitions were officially opened last night in the Parliament building by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and are being held as part of events marking 150 years of parliamentary democracy in Greece.

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis noted that the housing of the exhibitions in the Parliament building is a symbolic act aimed at demonstrating the indivisible character of the Hellenism of Cyprus and of Greece.

Mr. Stephanopoulos also spoke of the common history of Greece and Cyprus, and expressed the belief that the two countries will also enjoy a joint future.

[22] Youth Against Racism Week begins today

A week-long series of events against racism was kicked off yesterday with the awarding of the "George Yennimatas Prize" to several recipients, including Education Minister George Papandreou and persecuted Turkish writer Yaser Kemal, for their fight against racism.

The prize is awarded to individuals whose work is characterized by efforts for the protection of human rights.

In his address at the awards ceremony, Mr. Papandreou also referred to education reforms regarding the Greek Moslem minority in Thrace and the pending establishment of "a forum for inter-cultural education".

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General for Youth, Panos Tsiligaridis, called for social resistance to racism, xenophobia and intolerance, in view of the Europe-wide "Youth Against Racism Week", which officially begins today.

Mr. Tsiligaridis told a press conference yesterday that non-governmental organizations have increased their efforts in recent years through participation in a national committee against racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance.

In addition, the United Nation's Information Center director in Athens Mirka Gontika also briefed reporters on international agreements which ensure the rights of national and social minorities.

[23] Share nominalization draft decree signed

A draft presidential decree on the nominalization of shares of SA companies participating in state projects or procurements worth more than one billion drachmas was signed yesterday by the national economy, finance, development and environment, town planning and public works ministers and sent to the Council of State for processing.

The bill sets out details and the procedure for the nominalization of all of the shares.

The plan anticipates sanctions for offenders, such as forfeiture of the right to vote and the non-payment of dividends.

According to an announcement by the national economy ministry, the government intends to take additional legislative measures, after consulting the other political parties, to fully safeguard the principle of name shares.

[24] DEP unveils ambitious five-year plan to consolidate market position

Public Petroleum Company (DEP) president Christos Verelis and managing director Manolis Daskalakis yesterday outlined an ambitious five-year investment plan, the implementation of which will further strengthen the group's position in the market.

The plan includes expansion in the broader Balkan region, oil exploration ventures in Greece and participation in consortiums abroad, a 47-billion-drachma investment by the Hellenic Refineries (ELDA) subsidiary, and a 48-billion-drachma investment by the EKO subsidiary, including the new polypropylene factory. In distribution, the plan envisages the capture of a 20 per cent market share by the year 2000, with 25 billion drachmas invested by EKO, and six billion by ELDA.

Concerning rising fuel prices, Mr. Daskalakis said the price of oil was at a three-year record high, at $20 per barrel, compared to the $16 price which prevailed for quite some time.

Responding to reporters' questions, he said that realignments in the Greek market, as a result of differentiation in the international market (Mobil and BP merger), and the recent ARAMCO - Motor Oil agreement do not pose a problem for DEP's activity, b ut on the contrary make it more necessary.

He said the DEP Group pre-tax profits in 1995 reached 23.2 billion drachmas, while the company had maintained a 60 per cent share in the fuels market in Greece.

Meanwhile, the New Democracy party said in a statement yesterday that fuel prices in Greece increased independently of oil prices internationally, and called on the government to inform the public on the profits of distribution companies.

The VAT-inclusive sale price of gasoline will increase as of today by 1.70 drachmas per liter and of diesel oil by 2.80 drachmas per liter, the Public Petroleum Corporation (DEP) said yesterday.

[25] Tzoumakas promises answers to farm problems at next inner cabinet meeting

Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas said yesterday that the problems of the agricultural sector will be discussed and decisions taken during the meeting of the inner cabinet next Tuesday.

Mr. Tzoumakas made the statement during yesterday's meeting of the Panhellenic Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives (PASEGES), noting that the problems need comprehensive solutions and not a simple ad hoc handling of the crisis.

Decisions are expected to be taken on the increase in farmers' pensions, measures for stock-breeding and a 200 million drachma payment to tomato producers on the island of Crete for losses due to bad weather.

Mr. Tzoumakas informed the PASEGES meeting on the latest developments in the EU agriculture ministers' council in Brussels, which met on Monday and Tuesday.

He said the council decided on the disbursement of an additional 22 billion drachmas to stockbreeders and an increase in the quantity of feta cheese given as aid. The minister also said the European Union has undertaken to cover the total cost for storing of surplus feta.

PASEGES President Nikos Liolios said that the meeting was not satisfied by the answers provided for dealing with the problems. He added that for this reason, the three leading agricultural organizations, PASEGES, GESASE and SYDASE, are to convene today in order to decide on the form their mobilizations will take.

At the end of the meeting, PASEGES approved a resolution listing the sector's main demands. These include: measures for the effective dealing with problems in stock-breeding; measures for the reduction of the inflated cost of agricultural production; measures for the increase of income in the sector; the solving of farmers' insurance and pension problems; the regulating of farmers' debts; and the planning and implementation of a unified national agricultural policy.

[26] Kastanidis stresses need for environmentally friendly transport

The private car is losing ground to other more environmentally friendly means of transport, and it is the European Union's policy to promote forms of combined transport in the future, Transport and Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis said in his opening address to the First Conference of Combined Transportation and Transiting in Southeastern Europe in Thessaloniki yesterday.

European Union transport ministers, he said, attribute special significance and priority to the development of such combined means of transport, having determined the main transportation axes in central and eastern Europe at the Pan-European Conference in Crete in March 1994.

Mr. Kastanidis also referred to the Greek government's initiative to point out the need for financing an Italian proposal aiming to link the countries of the Alpine region with the Middle East.

He stressed the importance of Greek participation in the 14 Inter-European Networks, two of which - the Egnatia highway across northern Greece and the Athens-Thessaloniki double railway line - are already under construction.

Finally, Mr. Kastanidis announced the creation of a large national goods transit center in Thessaloniki, similar to the one already planned west of Athens.

[27] GSEE will be able to approve collective labor agreement

The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) has found a way to overcome the deadlock that recently arose over the signing of the new 1996-97 collective labor agreement.

The confederation faced a minor crisis when GSEE Secretary-General George Mavrikos, who belongs to the ESAK labor grouping affiliated to the Communist Party of Greece, and his alternate refused to sign the agreement.

However, a plenary session yesterday said a close scrutiny of the GSEE's charter showed that the new agreement could be signed by the president alone.

President Christos Protopapas is expected to sign the agreement by the end of the month.

[28] Local government employees call strikes

The Pan-Hellenic Federation of Local Self-Administration Employees decided yesterday on a 24-hour strike to take place on March 27, a 48-hour strike to begin on April 1 and a protest march to the interior, public administration and decentralization ministry.

The demands of municipal and community workers around the country include the hiring of permanent staff, increased overtime rates, the payment of family bonuses to both spouses and the payment of a 18,000 drachma bonus to all employees, instead of the 8, 000 drachma bonus they are currently receiving.

During the second day of the 48-hour strike, the federation will convene in order to "evaluate the situation and intensify the struggle in the case of negative developments on the government's side."

End of English language section.