NEWS IN DETAIL

The election was called the week after Mr. Evert announced his resignation on the evening of Sept. 22, following ND's loss in the general election to PASOK. Prominent ND cadres Stephanos Manos and Dora Bakoyianni, the daughter of honorary ND president C onstantine Mitsotakis, had originally announced their candidacies, only to subsequently bow out in favour of Mr. Souflias.

Specifically, 193 ND members will vote for the new president - 108 newly elected deputies, nine Eurodeputies and 76 electors chosen from ND's prefectural organisations.

The premier yesterday discussed matters relating to his participation at the summit with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Undersecretary Christos Rozakis.

Mr. Reppas was also asked about Greece's position on the issue of an extension being given for EU member-states to participate in procedures for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

"Greece is interested in participating in the founding group of EMU and we must work in this direction. The government's position is that those countries which do not satisfy the prerequisites for admission to EMU at the present moment should participat e as soon as they do satisfy the conditions, and they should not be excluded from the first group," he said.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the French government by French defence ministry official Daniel Berthault at a ceremony at the national defence ministry also attended by French Ambassador in Athens Bernard Kessedjian.

Commenting on the agreement, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said that it gave a "long-term perspective to the upgrading of Greece's defence industry, which is a primary target of the government, and it will soon be implemented at a rapid pace".

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos clarified that the agreement would soon be extended to cover also Mirage 2000 aircraft, with EAB maintaining not only French and Greek planes of this type, but also those in service with other countries.

Tsohatzopoulos meets with Russian defence ministry undersecretary

Ways were also examined of modernising and utilising older weapons systems in Greece.

In another development, British Permanent Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sir John Cole held talks with Mr. Tsohatzopoulos at the defence ministry and extended an official invitation to him to visit Britain. Their talks focused on armament procurements.

"There is no problem, hesitation or restriction concerning the holding by Greece and Cyprus of the scheduled joint exercise, which will take place in the coming days on an enlarged basis with the participation of all the services of the Greek armed forces," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said after two hours of talks with his visiting Cypriot counterpart Costas Eliades.

"We have had no discussion with anyone about the way in which to hold the exercise and our cooperation is going ahead as planned," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said.

During his talks with Mr. Eliades, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said, "we ascertained that the conditions for the implementation of the doctrine are constantly improving".

"The holding of the 'Nikiforos' and 'Toxotis' exercises will contribute in the best possible way to safeguarding the effectiveness of the two countries' defence capabilities," he added.

The two exercises will be held on Greek and Cypriot territory from Oct. 4- 8.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos announced that he would visit Cyprus in November in order "to shape the basis for more determined steps in the defence cooperation between the two countries."

Mr. Eliades said that there had been an exchange of views on the course and prospects of the joint defence doctrine which he described as a "historic development".

The implementation of the doctrine, Mr. Eliades said, is aimed at deterrence and strengthening Cyprus' negotiating position in any political dialogue for a peaceful and viable solution to the Cyprus problem.

Mr. Eliades said that Nicosia accepted dialogue also at a military level, but only on the condition that it was with the Turkish commander of the occupation forces in northern Cyprus and without the participation of the Turkish Cypriot military commander.

In addition, he said, there was also interest on the part of three EU countries - Britain, France and Germany - whose ambassadors in Nicosia had met with President Glafcos Clerides and expressed interest in undertaking an initiative to promote efforts f or a settlement. "As far as the Greek government is concerned, the initiatives are welcome, provided they lead to a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem," Mr. Reppas said.

Spyridon notes that religious leaders cannot ignore political, national concerns

"A prelate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is first and foremost a religious leader. He is interested in and shares all the problems of his flock. Therefore, if his flock has political or national anxieties and concerns, the religious leader cannot ignor e them," he added.

The Archbishop said he had already two or three telephone contacts with US President Bill Clinton, who expressed a wish to meet with him soon.

"It would be most welcome if contacts with President Clinton were many and frequent," he added.

The funds are to be provided for the restoration of the ancient Philippoi area, maintenance and protection of outdoor antiquities on the island of Thasos, renovation of neo-classical buildings and promotion of monuments in Drama, Paggaio, Kavala and Ko motini, among others.

Another 440 million drachmas will be provided for studies to develop the beaches at Imerou, Rodopi and Proskyniton, Komotini, restoration of the Komotini Archeological Museum and the utilisation of cultural areas on the northeastern island of Samothrace .

Roughly 150 million drachmas have been slated for the restoration of the Philippoi archeological site, with projects due to be completed by next spring.

Thirty-five companies and technological foundations from all over the world have already announced their participation.

Speaking at a press conference, Polytechnic Rector Nikos Markatos, the editor of the magazine, Costas Kavathas, and ELPA's special secretary Dionysios Nengas, stressed the need to experiment with modern anti- pollutant technologies, particularly in a cit y with heavy atmospheric pollution such as Athens. Organisers said the purpose of the conference is the presentation of the latest achievements in science and technology.

US embassy's commercial section organising visit to int'l packaging exhibit

Papantoniou meets with ADEDY leadership

Following a meeting between the ADEDY presidium and the minister, ADEDY president Yiannis Koutsoukos said that wage-earners and pensioners expected to receive increases slightly above the rate of inflation next year and that the government would apply a new wage-scale without, however, being drawn on when.

Mr. Koutsoukos said that he had briefed the minister on ADEDY's positions on the course of the economy, with particular emphasis on the need for growth, and had proposed that priority be given to the modernisation and reform of public administration and that there should be the necessary changes to ensure meritocracy, transparency and objectivity.

He added that he had raised the issue of collective bargaining in the public sector but that, he stressed, the government was not ready to adopt this because there was no necessary institutional framework. He said Mr. Papantoniou confirmed that there would be a two-year dialogue on the social security system and that any changes to it would be valid as of the year 2000. As far as incomes policy goes, the minister reiterated that wage increases would be above the inflation rate.

National Mortgage Bank to issue new bond loan

The loan, which includes three expiry dates linked to a specific series of drachma bonds, will be completed through a currency exchange agreement that Barclays will conclude with the National Mortgage Bank.

The Greek bank is expected to increase its liquidity with the loan and acquire the ability to offer new investment products, primarily to institutional investors.

Int'l meeting held on the transport of fresh fruit

The meeting was also attended by the two companies operating the railway ferries of Varna and Odessa.

According to an announcement by the Greek Railways Organisation (OSE), the results of the meeting were very positive, since a reduction in transfer and freight costs and the creation of a centre for refrigerated carriages in northern Greece was decided, scheduled to be placed at the disposal of interested shippers.

Another important decision is the participation of companies using the Varna-Odessa ferry in the agreement on transport from Greece to former Soviet countries, since they provide an alternative for transport to these countries from Greece.

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