Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-02-26

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis criticizes EU's Balkan policy

[02] Simitis calls ND policies a time-bomb for Greece's EMU strategy

[03] Greek foreign ministry officials to visit Ankara for talks

[04] Greek, Bulgarian and Turkish FMs to meet on March 5

[05] Portuguese premier to meet Simitis in Athens Monday

[06] Greek president expected to visit Israel in May

[07] Greek defense minister says Greek military presence in Kosovo will not increase

[08] Papandreou says great effort will be made on Cyprus by UN chief and Security Council members

[09] State Department critical of Turkey's human rights record, notes improvement in Greece

[10] Foreign ministry says Greece will continue cooperation with Iran

[11] SE Europe reconstruction agency board meeting on Monday

[12] Greek-Turkish business meeting considering creation of Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce

[13] Papantoniou, Diamantopoulou discuss education, employment issues

[14] Greek EU Commissioner says social sensitivity policies to be promoted at Lisbon summit

[15] Greek stocks fall on profit-taking

[16] Finance Ministry to auction T-bills worth 90 bln drachmas on Tuesday

[17] Greek wines to be presented in the US

[18] Alexandria's ancient shoreline the focus of Greek team's research

[19] Greek, Turkish Cypriot parties meet

[20] Slovenian Prime Minister to visit Cyprus

[21] Cyprus and Ukraine to strengthen bilateral relations

[22] The Athens dailies at a glance

[01] Karamanlis criticizes EU's Balkan policy

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

"The international community must re-examine overall a series of adopted or planned measures which effectively promote the de facto independence and, by extension, the secession of Kosovo from Yugoslavia and the sparking of a change of borders in the Balkans ... The solutions which have been adopted are inadequate and unstable. The violent incidents occurring daily cause further destabilization and may ignite unpleasant developments," he said in an address to a conference of the European Peoples' Party on democratization, stability and cooperation in Southeastern Europe.

Karamanlis expressed fears that the effect of the embargo against Serbia was more to consolidate the power of "mafia rackets" throughout the western Balkans rather than support citizens in their fight against illiberal and undemocratic practices.

He was critical in particular of the European Union and Stability Pact Coordinator Bondo Hombach.

"The real coordination cannot be made from a glasshouse in Brussels ... Mr. Hombach has not often honored us with his presence in Thessaloniki and no one in this city, which was supposedly made the base of the Reconstruction Organization, knows of any offices or achievements," he said.

He proposed the setting up in Thessaloniki of a secretariat for an Initiative for Democracy in the Western Balkans.

The conference is taking place behind closed doors.

[02] Simitis calls ND policies a time-bomb for Greece's EMU strategy

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

"It such policies were to be implemented, public deficits would spiral and the country would have to resort to borrowing again. They would lead it to violate the criteria for EMU and represent a time-bomb for Greece's strategy for joining the euro zone," he told the ruling PASOK party's Central Committee which conferred to approve candidate lists for the April 9 general election.

He described ND of continuously shifting positions and simply making empty promises.

"It has never maintained a steadfast position. It is a party with a flag of convenience, saying one thing today and another tomorrow," he charged.

Simitis said his party would base its election tactics on highlighting its achievements, consistency of positions, proposals for the future and its differences with the main opposition and its leader Costas Karamanlis.

Most positions on ruling PASOK's election slates filled: A conference of ruling PASOK's executive bureau concluded on Friday afternoon in Athens, with most spots on the party's upcoming election tickets filled.

According to reports, four current PASOK deputies will not vie for re-election, specifically, Agriculture Deputy Minister Paraskevas Fountas, Christos Economou (Trikala prefecture), G. Konstantinidis (Grevena) and N. Kokkinis (Lasithi prefecture on Crete).

Twenty-three members of PASOK's central committee will stand for election, including one-time health minister and cardiology professor Dimitris Kremastinos.

At present, some 12 spots remained opened on election lists, which are expected to be filled by either the central committee - set to convene in a few hours or in a few days.

[03] Greek foreign ministry officials to visit Ankara for talks

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

The talks, due to start on Monday, will be based to a great degree on the non paper Foreign Minister George Papandreou delivered to his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem during the latter's official visit to Athens earlier this month.

The non paper includes ideas and proposals on granting know-how to Turkey and the transfer of Greek expertise on adjustment to European established practice on such issues as the environment, justice, domestic affairs and cooperation between customs authorities.

[04] Greek, Bulgarian and Turkish FMs to meet on March 5

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

Foreign Ministers of Greece George Papandreou, Bulgaria Nadezda Mikhailova and Turkey Ismail Cem will be visiting the towns of Plovdiv, Edirne and Orestiada in Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece respectively.

The meeting was scheduled for February 19 but it was postponed for technical reasons.

In another development, a ministerial meeting regarding tripartite cooperation between Greece, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) will take place in Korce and Ohrid on March 8.

[05] Portuguese premier to meet Simitis in Athens Monday

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

Guteres will attend a luncheon given in his honor by Simitis at noon on Monday, while official talks between delegations of the two countries are expected to get underway afterwards.

Portuguese Foreign Minister and President of the EU's Council of Ministers Jaime Gama will arrive in Athens on March 13 and then visit Ankara the next day.

Diplomatic sources at the foreign ministry did not rule out the possibility of a statement being made at the Lisbon special summit on Greece's accession to Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

[06] Greek president expected to visit Israel in May

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

The announcement comes on the heels of a one-day seminar in the northern Greek port city focusing on Greek-Israeli relations -- organized by the Institute of Defense Analysis with the participation of researchers and experts from both countries.

The trip will mark the first time a Greek head of state has officially visited the Middle East country since its founding, and is expected to underline the excellent relations enjoyed between the two countries.

On his part, Israeli ambassador to Athens Ran Curiel stressed that "relations between Greece and Israel have accelerated to unheard of levels over the past few years." He cited the upcoming Stephanopoulos trip as well as a previous visit by Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, while mentioning that talks have also begun between the defense industries of both nations.

Curiel noted that Athens could further aid in the ongoing negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, while in reference to Cyprus, he said his country is carefully watching procedures for a solution to the island republic's long-standing problem - "without, however, having any direct participation...If we can assist at some phase we will," he added.

In a videotaped message, Tsohatzopoulos stressed that "within the new international environment there exists a strategic convergence of our interests on a variety of sectors, which cover the greater region, the eastern Mediterranean, as well as the Balkans, Europe and the Black Sea area."

The Greek minister had visited Israel last autumn.

[07] Greek defense minister says Greek military presence in Kosovo will not increase

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

Addressing a press conference in Thessaloniki on the occasion of the presentation of a model for a new military hospital, Tsohatzopoulos said no extra soldier will be asked or obliged to go to Kosovo.

He said Greece has sent a force of 1,200 men, adding that on the basis of the quality and extent of this contribution, Greece is in third place among the total number of international powers having sent forces to Kosovo and constitutes a basic factor for pacification in the region.

"We should have no illusions that problems in the region will be resolved. There will be a need for international military presence and intensification of the need to support our neighboring peoples, which also constitutes a strategic concern for Greece," he said.

Commenting on the upcoming elections, Tsohatzopoulos said "PASOK will naturally be in government again and the minister will be the same", implying that PASOK will win the elections and he will inaugurate the new hospital sometime in the summer.

[08] Papandreou says great effort will be made on Cyprus by UN chief and Security Council members

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

Commenting on the Cyprus issue during a press conference in Irakleio, Papandreou said: "Surely, there will be a great effort by Kofi Annan and by the countries participating in the UN Security Council. It is very logical that there should be mobility, as well as ideas and proposals to enable us to see a solution at last to the problem of concern to us and, of course, it is our top foreign priority."

Papandreou said that a new conception has been created after the European Union Helsinki summit last December as to what Turkey's interests are.

"We cannot speak of a united Europe with Nicosia divided in the middle by a wall, such as that of Berlin," he said, adding that one cannot speak of a new era in Greek-Turkish relations without this having an impact on relations between the two communities on the island.

Referring to Kosovo, Papandreou said: "We are concerned over the situation because we are in the neighborhood. We are closely monitoring the situation with the peacekeeping force for a solution to the problem and the implementation of UN resolutions."

Papandreou expressed optimism that the ruling socialist PASOK party will win the general elections on April 9 "since our task is focused in the direction of making our country a reliable and moral power."

[09] State Department critical of Turkey's human rights record, notes improvement in Greece

WASHINGTON, 26/02/2000 (ANA- T. Ellis)

In the 72-page long section on Turkey, the authors say that despite the lifting of the state of emergency in the country's southeastern regions, the armed forces continue to exercise real influence on political life, murders and torture have not stopped, prison conditions are bad and the behavior of security forces towards demonstrators is brutal.

The report describes restrictions to the freedom of speech as a "serious problem," and notes that certain non-Moslem minorities, such as the Greek Orthodox, and to a lesser degree the Jewish and the Armenian, are often deprived of the right to the use of temples and other foundations. It also notes that Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos has repeatedly expressed his interest in the re-opening of the theological school on the island of Halki, which was shut down in 1972.

Regarding Greece, the report observes that the Greek state generally respects human rights and that progress is being made in areas where there are still problems.

It notes, nevertheless, that some religious discrimination continued and there were arrests of members of non-Orthodox creeds on charges of proselytization.

Jehovah's Witnesses continued to be subject to periodic checks by the authorities, even though they are recognized as a religion, the report said.

There are also references to police maltreatment of illegal immigrants.

[10] Foreign ministry says Greece will continue cooperation with Iran

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

Foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis conveyed the Greek government's congratulations to the people of Iran "for their steadfast adherence to democratic procedures and principles, as proved by the big turnout of Iranian voters, and of young people and women in particular, at the polls to elect their representatives at the Iranian Parliament."

"We hail the prevalence of renewal forces on a wide scale which confirms the substantive support by the Iranian people of President Khatami's reformist policy and we express the expectation that the new Parliament will contribute decisively to the further strengthening of the state of law in Iran," he said.

Beglitis said the Greek government is determined to continue and promote further its cooperation with the "friendly government of the Islamic Republic of Iran", both on a bilateral basis and in the framework of a constructive dialogue between the European Union and Iran.

[11] SE Europe reconstruction agency board meeting on Monday

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

The EU-affiliated agency's staff and offices are expected to transfer to the renovated premises of the former hotel Vienna in late March.

[12] Greek-Turkish business meeting considering creation of Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce

ISTANBUL, 25/02/2000 (ANA)

They said the creation of a Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce will aim at attracting European and, primarily, American capital for activation in the wider Balkan and Black Sea region, with emphasis placed on joint business formations. They added that Greece, being a member of the European Union and of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), will guarantee the chamber's credibility.

The joint Greek-Turkish work groups were created during the previous Greek-Turkish meeting in Athens last October and are discussing, among other issues, insurance, fiscal and banking matters, tourism, shipping, trade, industry and issues concerning small and medium-size enterprises.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate supports all efforts at rapprochement between Greece and Turkey: Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos on Friday received the group of Greek businessmen and said the Ecumenical Patriarchate supports all efforts aimed at further rapprochement between Greece and Turkey.

The President of the Greek-Turkish Business Council, Panayiotis Koutsikos, expressed the hope that the meeting will produce very positive results, adding that politicians of the two countries had done their duty and now was the time for businessmen.

[13] Papantoniou, Diamantopoulou discuss education, employment issues

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

"It is a very ambitious target that it must be achieved because we have entered a new era," Papantoniou said.

During the meeting, Papantoniou briefed the EU Commissioner over the country's EMU entry application procedures while Diamantopoulou briefed National Economy Minister over issues relating to the EU social fund.

Papantoniou said that Greece would spend 3.2 trillion drachmas in a program to upgrade the country's workforce and expressed the hope that negotiations would have been completed by May.

Diamantopoulou said that the next EU summit in Lisbon would be significantly important because the Commission and EU leaders would seek to set indices on the use of Internet and computers by small and medium-sized enterprises.

[14] Greek EU Commissioner says social sensitivity policies to be promoted at Lisbon summit

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

Diamantopoulou, who was addressing the international trade unions conference organized in Athens at the initiative of the Athens Labor Center, said social sensitivity policies, and employment issues in particular, will constitute from now on an inseparable element of economic stability policy in the framework of the EU.

Speaking later at a dinner given for reporters, Diamantopoulou said the Lisbon summit will be a social Maastricht where social sensitivity policies will be promoted with the clarity with which economic stability policies were set at Maastricht.

[15] Greek stocks fall on profit-taking

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

Dealers said losses in international stock markets depressed sentiment.

The general index ended at 5,203 points, off 0.60 percent. It started the session with gains of up to 1.10 percent to fall later below the 5,200 level.

Turnover was a low 189.07 billion drachmas.

Shares in the Insurance sector resisted pressures to score gains.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.39 percent lower at 2,848.59 points, while the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index fell 0.33 percent to 842.02 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 9,822.78 -0.21% Leasing: 1,145.60 -2.38% Insurance: 3,326.93 +0.43% Investment: 2,538.65 -0.10% Construction: 2,977.96 -1.98% Industrials: 3,055.43 -0.91% Miscellaneous: 6,384.32 -1.71% Holding: 5,756.07 -0.36%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 1,287.00 points, off 0.41 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 210 to 132 with another six issues unchanged.

Athinea, Texapret, Lambropoulos, Sarantopoulos, Metalplastic ended at the day's 10.0 percent limit up, while Pantechniki, Druckfarben, Macedonian Plastics, Vis (c) and Ergodata suffered the heaviest percentage losses.

Hellenic Telecoms, Panafon and ETBAbank were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): Alpha Credit: 25,750 National Bank: 24,300 Commercial Bank: 23,320 Ergobank: 28,250 Eurobank: 12,800 Heracles Cement: 10,115 Hellenic Petroleum: 4,230 Intracom: 15,700 Minoan Lines: 8,120 Hellenic Telecoms: 10,050 Panafon: 5,720 Titan Cement: 16,205

Futures end lower in derivatives trade: Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished lower on Friday in line with the stock indices on which they are based.

On the Athens bourse, the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.38 percent down; and the

FTSE/ASE Mid 40 for medium capitalization stocks closed 0.33 percent lower.

Turnover from futures fell to 8.7 billion drachmas from 9.4 billion drachmas a day earlier and 7.3 billion drachmas on Wednesday.

A total of 1,167 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20, showing turnover of 6.7 billion drachmas.

The contracts ended as follows: expiring March at 2,879.75; expiring April at 2,898; expiring May at 2,939; and expiring June at 2,920.

Futures traded on the FTSE/ASE Mid 40 numbered 567, posting turnover of 2.0 billion drachmas.

Contracts closed as follows: expiring March at 878; expiring April at 890; expiring May at 897; and expiring June at 917

Bonds trade briskly, yield spread noses down: Bonds in the domestic secondary market on Friday traded briskly with turnover more than doubling, dealers said.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.42 percent from 6.41 percent a day earlier and 6.43 percent on Wednesday.

The paper's yield spread over German bunds was 98 basis points, against 100 basis points in the previous session and 99 basis points on Wednesday.

Trade through the central bank's electronic system totalled 102 billion drachmas from 45 billion drachmas a day earlier and 36 billion drachmas on Wednesday.

In Friday's trade, buy orders accounted for the bulk of turnover and sell orders the remainder.

Analysts said there was little room for the yield spread over bunds to drop in the near future, and that even a central bank rate cut of 75-100 basis points, anticipated in March, would have little impact on the market.

The yield spread has been fluctuating between 96 and 100 basis points, usually at the higher end of the range.

Drachma slides further despite central bank intervention: The drachma fell sharply against the euro in the domestic foreign exchange market on Friday, despite higher interbank rates after the central bank soaked up liquidity earlier this week.

The Bank of Greece sold almost 230 million euros on Friday in order to meet heavy demand for the European single currency, but the drachma still finished down.

The intervention followed a similar move this week when the central bank absorbed cash in order to slow the drachma's depreciation.

As a result, short-term interbank rates had jumped by about 100 basis points, helping to stave off market pressure for a faster depreciation of the drachma than the central bank was willing to allow.

Nevertheless, at the central bank's daily fixing on Friday, the euro was set at 334.050 drachmas from 333.840 drachmas a day earlier and 333.900 drachmas on Wednesday.

Since the start of the year, the drachma has lost 1.12 percent against the European currency.

Also at the fixing, the US dollar was set at 338.180 drachmas from 335.770 drachmas in the previous session and 332.150 drachmas on Wednesday.

In late trade, the greenback jumped to 341.1 drachmas on robust US economic data.

[16] Finance Ministry to auction T-bills worth 90 bln drachmas on Tuesday

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

The auction includes a 12-month T-bill issue, worth 40 billion drachmas, a six-month issue, worth 25 billion and a three-month issue worth 25 billion drachmas.

All issues have an issue and settlement date of Friday, 3 March 2000. The ministry has set commissions of 0.45 pct for the 12-month issue, 0.25 pct for the six-month and 0.15 pct for the three-month issue.

The ministry also announced a public offering for a new issue of tax-free savings bonds, March 1-3.

The ministry has sold more than one trillion drachmas worth in this category of state securities.

[17] Greek wines to be presented in the US

NEW YORK, 25/02/2000 (ANA/M. Georgiadou)

The event will be organized by the European Wine Council, a non-profit organization aiming at promoting European wines in the US.

[18] Alexandria's ancient shoreline the focus of Greek team's research

Athens, 26/02/2000 (ANA)

In fact, diving apparatus appears to be unnecessary, as several of ancient Alexandria's monuments and the remnants of the city Alexander the Great founded can be seen from coastline's edge, underneath the rising Mediterranean - some two meters over the past two millennia, as researchers note.

"Alexandria's shoreline today sits on the ancient ruins, while the ancient shoreline is located at this moment under the sea's surface," the head of the Greek maritime archaeological team in the Egyptian city, Haris Tzalas, told the Athens daily "Eleftherotypia".

The team has so far covered a narrow stretch of shoreline some 14 kilometers long, known in antiquity as the "towards Elefsina sea", roughly where the eastern portion of the ancient harbor stood. Numerous stone anchors and deep engravings have piqued researchers' interest in the specific area, now believed to have been a massive quarry instead of a fish tank

[19] Greek, Turkish Cypriot parties meet

NICOSIA, 26/02/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Officials from the two parties, who met here on Friday at the initiative of the Turkish Cypriots, said in a joint declaration that Cyprus' accession process to the European Union "will act as a catalyst for a solution and will benefit both communities" and expressed hope that Turkish Cypriots will participate in this process.

The parties also said they will work for free and unhindered bicommunal contacts and invite foreign embassies on the island to help in this direction.

The declaration, issued after the talks, said the solution of the Cyprus issue should be based on the application of the principles of human rights.

The two parties decided "to establish close cooperation both in Cyprus and abroad in their efforts" to establish a bicommunal, bizonal federation.

On Turkish Cypriot participation in the EU accession process, the parties expressed hope that the Turkish Cypriot community "will respond positively and will participate in the negotiations."

So far Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has rejected an invitation from President Glafcos Clerides to nominate representatives to join the Cypriot negotiating team.

The joint declaration expresses the determination of the parties to back bicommunal contacts, which Denktash has blocked for the past couple of years, and seek help from foreign diplomats to realize such contacts.

"We hope that we can create, together with the Turkish Cypriots, a broader public opinion among the Cypriot people which would enable the leadership to be positive in the (peace) negotiations for the goal we are both working for," Nicos Anastasiades DISY leader said after the meeting.

Turkish Cypriot leader of the PUM, Izzet Izcan, said both parties "are going to work together on these fundamental issues", such as the solution of the Cyprus question and bicommunal contact.

He said a Cyprus solution should be based on the UN resolutions and should be a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution which will safeguard the unity and territorial integrity of the country.

[20] Slovenian Prime Minister to visit Cyprus

NICOSIA, 26/02/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Drnovsek, who will be accompanied by his country's Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, will also meet with Head of the Negotiating Team for Cyprus' Accession to the European Union George Vassiliou, Acting President of the House of Representatives Nicos Anastasiades and Mayor of Nicosia Lellos Demitriades.

The Slovenian Foreign Minister will have a separate meeting with his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides.

Slovenia's Prime Minister and the officials accompanying him will leave Cyprus on Monday afternoon.

Both Cyprus and Slovenia started substantive accession negotiations with the European Union in November 1998.

[21] Cyprus and Ukraine to strengthen bilateral relations

NICOSIA, 26/02/2000 (CNA/ANA)

The ministers signed two agreements, on trade and economic cooperation and an air transport, and initialed a protocol to further develop consultations between their ministries.

Tarasyuk said his country is ready to do all it can to promote a just and viable solution of the Cyprus question and both ministers agreed that the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-violation of national borders and respect for human rights must be respected without preconditions.

According to an official press release issued here on Friday, the two ministers exchanged views on a wide range of international issues, bilateral relations and their prospects and established an identity of views on various matters, particularly matters relating to the regions of the Mediterranean and the Black sea.

Kasoulides, who paid a two-day official visit to the Ukraine, conveyed a message from President Glafcos Clerides to the Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma.

[22] The Athens dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS(Mitsis): "Andrianopoulos on the threshold; after Stephanos Manos (of the Liberals) the road opens for him at the New Democracy party".

AKROPOLIS: "Four billion drachmas to be spent by PASOK for out of town voters".

APOGEVMATINI carried an exclusive under the front-page headline: "what the provinces vote; 7 opinion polls in key prefectures; everything 'points' to a New Democracy victory".

ATHINAIKI: "While the political party leaders show indifference... foreign agents are searching for the (pink) video-tapes - what the dark centers of the embassies in Athens are planning".

AVGHI: "Ericsson (the telephone manufacturer) plays the role of a kidnapper...".

AVRIANI: "A balance of terror and polarization: ALCO opinion poll shows PASOK is ahead with three percentage units".

CHORA: "Bargaining with (former New Democracy cadre and minister) George Souflias".

ELEFTHEROS: "Thorn crowns for Simitis".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Right-wing lions with the 'National Alliance".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "An uprising over the retroactive contributions to the Social Security Foundation (IKA)".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA also front-paged the results of an opinion poll carried out for the newspaper under the headline: "75 percent of the voters consider the (April 9) elections as very significant; 44 percent of them identify themselves with their party".

ESTIA: "Manos (of New Democracy) or (PASOK's) Yiannopoulos, is the dilemma", a reference as to who will be the Justice Minister after the April elections.

ETHNOS: "Greece's application to join the EMU will be submitted on March 9 - And now, the breather".

EXOUSIA: "Simitis counter-strikes with surprises in the State Deputies candidacies".

KATHIMERINI: "The economy is a 'closed' card; what are the government's aims; how the Central Bank reacts".

LOGOS: "March 9 is a milestone with the closing of the circle of Greece's great effort to join the EMU".

NIKI: "Karamanlis gives everything; now they are imploring Souflias (to rejoin the N.D. party)".

RIZOSPASTIS: "The government fully agrees with the NATO Secretary General's demands; they're dragging the country into NATO's dangerous plans".

STO KARFI: "New Democracy turns into an arena...the bull (a reference to Liberals leader Stephanos Manos) goes berserk...; Manos regrets....

TA NEA: "Upheaval in the candidate lists of both PASOK and New Democracy".

TO VIMA: "The 35-hour work-week creates 65,000 new jobs".

VRADYNI: "Costas Karamanlis is the master of the game; a strategy of triumph; after Manos, Samaras".

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