NEWS IN DETAIL

The province of Xanthi was declared in a state of emergency yesterday, with the government's "Xenocrates" contingency plan applied in stricken areas, while authorities said fire brigades in the regions received hundreds of calls from people trapped in flooded homes and shops.

Gale force winds in the northwest Aegean resulted in an interruption of ferry services from Kavala to Thasos and other islands in the northwest of the country.

The floods are believed to be the worst in the last 50 years.

Eastern Macedonia-Thrace secretary general Athanasios Lagos yesterday announced government measures for the support of flood-stricken victims.

Under the measures, all affected residents in the devastated areas will be transported to hotels if they so wish and will be supplied with foodstuffs, while an emergency stipend of 200,000 drachmas per family will be made available in order to cover bas ic necessities.

Gale force winds will continue around the country today.

Farmers' mobilisations intensify throughout country

All road communications were cut off at various points on the road from Lamia to Trikala, Karditsa and Larisa by farmers from the Domokos region, reports stated.

Earlier yesterday afternoon, farmers with about 100 tractors gathered at the Malagra bridge in the prefecture of Thessaloniki and blocked the Thessaloniki-Athens national highway. Traffic was being diverted to the old national road, although it was reported that farmers would block that highway as well later.

Stockbreeders from Larisa joined the protests, while Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas called a meeting with the "PanThessaly Struggle Committee" for this afternoon in an effort to end the mobilisations.

Their demands included additional benefits, to the tune of 90,000 drachmas per stremma, to be awarded from the budget to cotton producers, as well as untaxed fuel and a 50 per cent reduction in electricity bills for agricultural use.

It is estimated that if all demands are met, the budget would be burdened by another 300-400 billion drachmas.

Evert

However, according to information, the government is examining the possibility of providing an emergency financial bonus to farmers whose crops were damaged by adverse weather conditions.

Statesman George Papandreou remembered

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos said:

"George Papandreou had a singular, sparkling eloquence, who impressed the people with his genuine patriotic and social ideas. He was unswerving in his democratic ideals until his death..."

Papandreou was born in 1888 in Achaia prefecture and died in 1968.

Simitis to address OSCE summit today

The summit's agenda will concentrate on European security issues, as well as the OSCE's relations with Russia.

Diplomatic sources said the Greek premier, who is due to address the summit today, is not expected to hold meetings with either Turkish President Suleyman Demirel or the president of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Kiro Gligorov, although informal social meetings have not been ruled out.

Greek-Turkish relations are not on the summit agenda, although Mr. Simitis may brief his counterparts during scheduled bilateral meetings.

Mr. Simitis is accompanied by Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas.

G.Papandreou raises issue of Grdeek forests torchings

According to diplomatic sources, Mr. Oymen denied any involvement in the matter on the part of the Turkish state, and said he would soon make an announcement on the controversial issue.

According to the same sources, Mr. Papandreou stressed that a simple statement would not be suffice, and requested from the Turkish official an in-depth investigation into the charges.

ND calls for more measures to deal with AIDS epidemic

ND also suggested that an information centre be established with a 24-hour telephone hotline, an increase in the number of hostels for those infected with HIV, and institution of home care for AIDS sufferers.

Since 1984, when records began being kept on the disease, 25.5 million teenagers and adults and 2.4 million children have been infected with HIV throughout the world.

In Greece, 1,421 cases of AIDS have been reported, while 726 people have died of the disease.

Stephanopoulos cites lack of gov't information concerning EU convergence, Maastricht

Speaking at events in Patra to celebrate the city's patron saint, Agios Andreas, the president spoke of the dilemma facing the Greek people, as well as the other Europeans.

"We are told by the powerful of Europe...that we must fulfill the conditions, the so-called criteria of convergence..." the president said, noting that not enough information has been given on what sacrifices must be made, and for how long the nation must w ork toward these goals.

He stressed that in order for the Greek people to become involved in the government's objectives, it was up to the government to provide more information than it had already. If it was able to convince the Greek people of the need for this effort, then they would be more willing to make the necessary sacrifices, he added.

Gerry Adams says Sinn Fein`s primary objective today is a negotiated pease settlement

The controversial Northern Ireland leader had arrived in Athens to promote his autobiography.

Asked what he expected from peace negotiations, Mr. Adams emphasised the importance of "conflict resolution." He added that although Sinn Fein's ultimate goal was Irish independence and an end to British rule, its current primary and strategic objective was a negotiated peace settlement.

Mr. Adams expressed disappointment with British Prime Minister John Major's stewardship of the peace process in Northern Ireland, but feels he still has a chance to help bring about peace.

Turning to Sinn Fein's relations with the Republic of Ireland, Mr. Adams said:

"There have been certain tensions but these are almost natural and understandable," he said.

Irish unity

Cyprus problem

"Sinn Fein's policy supports the right of people to self-determination and it believes that problems are to be resolved through negotiations involving all the peoples of the island and the leadership."

Varvitsiotis offers resignation of both Evert,Mitsotakis as solution to ND crisis

"It is a solution for both Evert and Mitsotakis to leave. Besides, the experiment with younger (leaders) has been tried elsewhere and has succeeded," Mr. Varvitsiotis said.

The ND vice-president appeared pessimistic about a solution to the party's problems being found during a forthcoming party congress, and said he believes Mr. Mitsotakis is being affected by ND deputy Dora Bakoyianni, who is also his daughter, due to her intention to contend the party's leadership.

Following a tip-off, police arrested 38-year-old Costas Karabatzidis on the Serres-Drama national road. A search of his vehicle revealed roughly 11 kilos of hashish, which he said was for two musicians he expected to meet on the Serres-Thessaloniki high way.

Police investigations are continuing in Athens, Thessaloniki and European capitals for the arrests of other suspects.

WEATHER

SPORTS

Panathinaikos - PAOK  5 - 0
Aris - AEK            3 - 2
Veria - Pyrgos        2 - 0
OFI - Apollon         3 - 0
Kavala - Panahaiki    1 - 0
Heraklis - Kalamata   2 - 5
Kastoria - Athinaikos 1 - 0
Xanthi - Edessa       O - 1
Ionikos - Olympiakos  match to be played today.

Olympiakos    23
Panathinaikos 23
OFI           22
AEK           20
Pyrgos        17
Panahaiki,
Kalamata      16
Veria,
Kavala        15
PAOK          13
Ionikos       12
Xanthi,
Aris          10
Edessa         8
Athinaikos,
Apollon        7
Kastoria,
Heraklis       5

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

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