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Athens News Agency: News in English, 96-12-02

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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


NEWS IN ENGLISH

ATHENS, Greece, 02/12/1996 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

  • Minister visits flood-stricken areas in Xanthi
  • Protesting farmers still blocking roads
  • Oil slick noted in Piraeus
  • Simitis to address OSCE summit today
  • George Papandreou raises issue of alleged torchings of Greek forests by Turkish saboteurs
  • President Stephanopoulos calls for more information on EU convergence
  • 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.)


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