Gerry Adams says Sinn Fein wants negotiated peace settlement
NEWS IN DETAIL
Minister visits flood-stricken areas in Xanthi
Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis today
visited the flood-stricken prefecture of Xanthi, where heavy rainfall over
the weekend left three people drowned and caused widespread damage.
Laliotis is scheduled to have meetings with local groups and visit the
worst-hit regions.
Macedonia-Thrace Minister Philippos Petsalnikos is already in the region to
coordinate relief and mopping up efforts after what is believed to be the
worst flooding in 50 years.
A special team has begun estimating damage to homes, stores, farms and
roads while emergency relief of 200,000 drachmas has already begun to be
disbursed to victims of the flooding.
Residents of the villages of Genisia and Pygadia who lost their homes in
the weekend flooding are being housed in hotels and daycare centres in the
city of Xanthi.
Initial reports say the floods have destroyed some 10,000 stremmata of
cotton, corn and clover crops.
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 continue protests for fourth day
A meeting Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas was to chair with
farmers' groups at the ministry today to find ways to lift the blockades on
national roads that has effectively cut the country in two was cancelled as
representatives said they could not confer with the minister over specific
issues while farmers were blockading roads.
The issue of the continuing protests will be discussed at a meeting later
today attended by Tzoumakas, Public Order Minister George Romeos, ruling
party PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis and Minister to the Prime
Minister's Office George Paschalidis.
Meanwhile, acting government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou today expressed the
government's understanding for the farmer's problems.
Nikolaou called on the farmers to show the same good faith and willingness
for dialogue as the government, adding that the recently-tabled 1997 budget
would resolve many of the farmers' problems.
"The government," Nikolaou added, "cannot solve in a few days problems
created over many years not can it solve certain problems which directly
imply a change in European agricultural strategy".
"The government nor the Greek people should feel they are, or be held,
hostage to mobilisations," he said, clarfiying that this was in no way a
threat to the protesting farmers.
As the protest went into its fourth day, Tzoumakas called on representatives
of farmers in Thessaly to another meeting later today but farmers in the
region have rejected the offer, calling on Tzoumakas to go to Larissa for
talks.
Farmers in the northern prefectures of Thessaloniki, Imathias, Pella and
Pieria cut off western Macedonia from the city of Thessaloniki yesterday in
their ongoing protests for cheaper fuel and increased subsidies.
Transport to northern Greece is at a standstill as national bus company
lines (KTEL) are prevented from passing the blockades and the farmers have
also blocked the railway line at Larissa.
Farmers have placed road blocks at a number of points on the Athens-
Thessaloniki national highway.
Another group of farmers have threatened to block access to Thessaloniki's
Macedonia Airport but there has been no such action as yet.
Farmers in Aigion, in the Peloponnese, yesterday blocked both the new and
old highways and the railway line in the town and there were reports that
that they will block the Patras-Pyrgos road.
Meanwhile, there were concerns about the continuing supply of dairy and
fresh food produce.
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.
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.
The Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SEBE) said today that
export firms were facing inestimable damages due to the continuing blockade
of roads by farmers.
"Many members are facing serious difficulties in meeting deliveries and the
danger of the cancellation of orders from abroad if the blockade of the
country's major roads continues," an announcement said.
Exporters of fresh produce were expected to face enormous problems in the
next few days, it added.
SEBE said it understood the problems facing the farmers but that protests
of this kind "damaged the national economy" and called on farmers'
representatives and the agriculture ministry "to find a mutually acceptable
solution as soon as possible".
Oil slick noted in Piraeus
The Hong Kong flagged freighter "B.T. Navarino" today caused an oil slick
of some 500 sq.m in the sea region near the Skaramangas Shipyards.
The slick was noted by a yacht sailing in the region as well as a
helicopter flying overhead.
The Coast Guard said the slick would dissolve on its own and not cause
lasting pollution but the captain of the ship would be penalised.
Simitis to address OSCE summit today
A Greek delegation headed by Prime Minister Costas Simitis arrived in the
Portuguese capital yesterday evening to attend a summit conference of the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which opens in
Lisbon 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 Greek forests torchings
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, in a meeting in Istanbul on
Saturday with Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen, raised
the issue of reports that the Turkish ultra-nationalist group "grey wolves"
has been involved in the setting of forest fires on Greek islands.
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.
Stephanopoulos cites lack of gov't information concerning EU convergence, Maastricht
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Saturday said there had
been a lack of information on the part of the government regarding the
consequences of economic convergence with the European Union and the
results of Greece's efforts to meet Maas tricht Treaty criteria.
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
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams spoke to the ANA yesterday on the nature of
the struggle in Northern Ireland, his expectations of a peace process and
his vision of a united Ireland.
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.
Asked to comment on the Cyprus issue, Mr. Adams said:
"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
Main opposition New Democracy party vice-president Ioannis Varvitsiotis
said in an interview with the "Vima" newspaper on Sunday that one solution
to the party's problems would be for both ND leader Miltiades Evert and its
honorary president, Constantine Mitsotakis, to withdraw.
"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.
Serres police said they arrested three members of a Bulgaria-based
international drug smuggling ring operating in Greece, Cyprus and other
countries.
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
Wet and windy with local rainrfalls in most parts of the country Temperatures
in Athens will range from 11-16C.Same for Thessaloniki where temperatures
will range from 4-13C.
SPORTS
Weekend results of the Greek First Division soccer championship after 10
matches:
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.
Standings: points
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
Closing rates (buying) U.S. dlr 239.628, Can. dlr.177.370, Australian dlr.
194.035, Pound sterling 403.228, Irish punt 403.446, Cyprus pd 516.832,
French franc 45.938, Swiss franc 184.398 Belgian franc 7.574, German
mark 156.066, Finnish mark 52.050, Dutch guilder 139.138, Danish Kr.
40.722, Swedish Kr. 35.775, Norwegian Kr. 37.408, Austrian Sh. 22.179,
Italian lira (100) 15.833, Yen (100) 210.582, Spanish Peseta 1.852,
Portuguese Escudo 1.546.
(M.P.)
