NEWS IN DETAIL

Simitis to visit Moscow this week

He told a press briefing that after Moscow, Simitis would go to Budapest for the summit meeting of EU and Eastern European socialist leaders which begins on Saturday.

The summit topics, Reppas said, included the progress in the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) and the course of EU enlargement.

Asked whether on the sidelines of the Black Sea conference Simitis would meet with Turkish Premier Necmettin Erbakan, Reppas said ''We do not know whether Turkey will be represented by Mr. Erbakan'', noting, however, that social events always took place ''at which the leaders exchange greetings and thoughts''.

Reppas also said the Presidents of the Ukraine and Azerbaijan as well as Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin had asked to meet with Simitis on the sidelines of the conference in Moscow.

He noted that his personal intervention in the dispute over the Aegean islet of Imia last January had averted a military conflict, which he said would have been catastrophic for the interests of both the USA and NATO. The US, he added, was in favour of this dispute being referred to the International Court at the Hague and above all was strongly opposed to 'superficial' territorial claims, such as Turkey's questioning of Greece's sovereignty over the island of Gavdos a few months ago.

Mr. Clinton called the continued division of the island of Cyprus unacceptable and condemned the unjustified killing of Greek Cypriots near the buffer zone. US financial aid for Cyprus ($15 million annually), he added, would continue.

The Central Committee convened on Friday to discuss party reconstruction and assess the results of the September general election which renewed PASOK's four-year mandate on September 22.

"What is important about the September elections is that PASOK has won and it is now the master of the game for another four years. This is a great victory," the premier said.

Mr. Simitis said on Saturday that despite a diversity of views at the sessions, the general assessment followed the same direction.

Endorsing National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos's call to "march on together," the premier hinted that he would try to ease internal party opposition.

His statement was seen as an effort to normalise internal opposition at the top of the party following a long and, at times, turbulent period before elections.

Answering to certain statements that PASOK's election win was a "pyrrhic victory," Mr. Simitis said it would be wrong to base conclusions on numbers.

"If we only look at the numbers we will be led to wrong conclusions or even conclusions without meaning," he added.

The prime minister described as "positive" the fact that the traditional right wing voters which voted for PASOK have caused a "shrinkage" in support for the main opposition New Democracy party.

The prime minister said PASOK would be able to win back the traditional PASOK voters, "who voted for the parties of Left because they were displeased with the government's economic and social policies," if it directed action towards implementation of it s stated programme "which responds to the needs of the people."

Turning to other issues, Mr. Simitis said relations between the party and the government should be characterised by "unity."

He said the Central Committee would reconvene to discuss the government's economic policy prior to submitting the 1997 budget in Parliament.

Addressing the sessions on Saturday, Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said the September election win "was a vindication of the choice to proceed with early elections."

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the election victory provided the starting point for a common effort which is necessary for better administration on the part of the government and "an ideological and political hegemony, necessary to serve the national and social in terests," on the part of the party.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said Greece was entering a "critical period regarding national issues, defence ability and the development effort," adding that "we should undertake initiatives and adopt a tough stance," regarding what he termed as "efforts coming fr om outside."

Evert expected to announce a June ND Congress this week, and to attack 'enemies within the walls'

According to the same sources, the ND leader will reiterate his refusal to proceed with new internal party elections and will lash out against those "disputing the 37,000 elected party officials."

Mr. Evert, the sources said, will note in his speech that "the enemy is within the walls of New Democracy - those aspiring at the perpetuation of party introversion..."

The ND leader will elaborate on the ten basic ideological differences between New Democracy and PASOK and will attack the government as "a government of hypocrisy and heavy taxes".

Michael Pauli, deputy director for Western European affairs at the Israeli foreign ministry, explained that the exercise would be in search and rescue techniques and would not be in any way a combat exercise.

Meanwhile, Mr. Pauli emphasised that any joint exercise carried out by Israel with Turkey, Greece or Cyprus would not be directed against any third country.

He also noted that delays in implementing a Greek-Israeli accord signed in December 1994 were due to the Greek side, for which the accord was not a major priority.

Conference on stability in SE Europe begins in Athens today

Secretary-General of European Affairs Stelios Perrakis will open the conference. Ambassador Dimitris Kypraios is head of the Greek delegation to the meeting.

The conference aims at "rehabilitation of trust and dialogue between the parties involved, prevention of tension and crises and ensuring stability in the region."

In particular, the conference will consider measures to facilitate the flow of goods and people, encourage technical and scientific cooperation and eliminate "hostile progaganda."

Police officer suspended

After his arrest, Theofanis Makris, 50, was suspended.

Police said Makris received the sum of 35,000 drachmas from each immigrant.

Meanwhile, Public Order Minister George Romeos said he would fight those police officers which constitute an offence to the efforts and the work of their colleagues.

Drug arrests

Brothers Ilias and Christos Naskas were first detected trying to sell narcotics in the Lamia area. Undercover police posing as buyers arranged with the two brothers to buy 50 kilos of hashish for 15 million drachmas.

The two were arrested early this morning when they arrived at a previously- arranged hand-over point.

WEATHER

SPORTS

Apollon Athens - Olympiakos Piraeus 0 - 3
Panathinaikos Athens - Edessa       4 - 1
Pyrgos - Kastoria                   2 - 1
Veria - Panahaiki Patras            4 - 0
Ionikos - Aris Salonique            4 - 1
OFI Crete - Kavala                  1 - 0
PAOK Salonique - Athinaikos         1 - 0
Heraklis - Xanthi                   0 - 0
Kalamata - AEK Athens               to be played today

Standings

Olympiakos Piraeus      13 pts
Pyrgos                  13
Panathinaikos Athens    12
Ionikos                 11
Panahaiki Patras        10
OFI Crete                9
Xanthi                   8
PAOK Thessaloniki        8
AEK Athens               7
Veria                    7
Kalamata                 5
Aris Thessaloniki        4
Athinaikos               4
Kavala                   3
Kastoria                 2
Heraklis Thessaloniki    2
Edessa                   1
Apollon Athenes          1

FOREIGN EXCHANGE (Buying)

(M.P.)

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