EIB approves funding for Rio-Antirrio bridge
NEWS IN DETAIL
Defiant farmers reject premier's appeal
The government and farmers yesterday dug their heels in over the blocking
of national and provincial highways, which is now evolving into a drawn-out
stand-off likely to run well into the holiday season.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday stood firm in the face of farmers'
demands, setting as a prerequisite for an "institutional dialogue" their
lifting of nation-wide road blocks which have caused widespread disruption
to domestic and international traffic for almost two weeks.
Speaking on television after a four-hour cabinet meeting on the subject,
Mr. Simitis said that both he and Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas
wished to have a discussion with the farmers' official representative
bodies.
"But there can be no such dialogue when extreme forms of struggle are being
used and the country's road network remains blocked," Mr. Simitis said,
promising that as soon as the roadblocks were lifted, the government would
take initiatives for "an insti tutional dialogue with all."
Mr. Simitis said the government was taking measures "at the limits of the
economy's capacity" while acknowledging that problems had accumulated for
some years in the agricultural sector.
Referring to the repercussions of the farmers' protests, Mr. Simitis said
the possibilities for tackling the structural problems of the agricultural
sector were being diminished, the export of farm produce was being
obstructed, a problem was being created for the economic life of towns and
cities, the distribution of livestock products and supplies to enterprises
were being impeded and "citizens with health problems are being prevented
from travelling."
Farmers' reactions
Responding to the premier's statements, the farmers decided to intensify
their protest action and called on their colleagues throughout the country
to "join the fight" and buttress roadblocks.
A statement issued after a meeting of the Struggle Coordinating Committee
at the the large Viokarpet roadblock near Larissa said farmers would not
give in before being vindicated, and called on party leaders to visit the
region and discuss their problems.
The Committee's chairman, Mr. Patakis, said that farmers would not give in
if the government did not meet at least six of their 14 demands. The
Coordinating Committee is to meet anew today to determine any further
course of action.
No shortages on Christmas market
Meanwhile, Development Undersecretary Michalis Chrysohoidis provided
assurances yesterday that the Christmas market would not face shortages,
and that supplies and prices were continuing at normal levels.
Minor problems were observed in the distribution of fuels, milk and a
number of raw materials.
Farmers who had blockaded the Irakleion to Hania highway on Crete on Monday,
suspended their mobilisations and lifted the blockades at midnight
yesterday.
The Patras Port Authority announced yesterday that extra ferry routes to
Corinth and Piraeus are taking place at unscheduled times, depending on the
evolving situation. Anyone interested should contact STRINTZIS LINES, tel.
(01)- 622602, and MINOAN LINE S, tel. (01)- 427100.
2,000 workers laid off
In a related development, the Vice-President of the Panhellenic Association
of Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Dimitris Maratzidis told the ANA that
over 2,000 workers in fruit standardization and export companies had been
temporarily laid off since the st art of the farmers' protests almost two
weeks ago.
Mr. Maratzidis said many businessmen in the branch were considering taking
legal action against "all persons responsible" for the financial losses
they have incurred. "Each day that passes, we are losing orders from major
supermarkets in Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. Meanwhile, the
Spanish are rushing to fill the gap.
He said that the farmers' protests were not only hitting companies active
in the processing, standardisation and export of fruit and vegetables but
also the producers themselves.
"This is because the refrigerated trucks stranded in northern Greece and
heading for abroad were loaded with fruit and vegetables which will reach
European markets at a considerably increased cost, due to the delays, and
also because of the higher freight charges since in some cases the trucks
have had to travel from Piraeus to Thessaloniki by ferry-boat," Mr.
Martatzidis said.
Most of the workers laid off are believed to be in the prefectures of
Imathia and Pella, where many of the fruit standardization and export
companies are based.
British Foreign Office appeal
The British Foreign Office, speaking in relation to 100 British transport
lorries blocked in northern Greece, said it had contacted all sides
involved in the dispute, appealing for a quick end to it.
"It is regrettable that 100 British lorry drivers have been entangled in an
internal dispute," the statement said.
In a travel directive issued, the Foreign Office warned that the strike
began by port workers yesterday is likely to have an immediate affect on
the Patras - Italy route.
`Greece will not accept Turkey`s entry to EU,WEU` through the window
NATO's Council of Foreign Ministers session, which ended yesterday, focused
on the alliance's enlargement eastwards and on its restructuring, Foreign
Minister Theodoros Pangalos told reporters after the meeting.
Mr. Pangalos also spoke of Turkey's attempts to use NATO's ministerial
session to impose the upgrading of its participation in the European
Union's defence wing, the West European Union.
NATO's final communique, issued yesterday, "expresses its satisfaction over
the constant intensification of its cooperation with the WEU".
Commenting on the communique, Mr. Pangalos said NATO's institutional
segregation from the WEU is clear, adding that Greece will not accept
Turkey's entry "to the European Union and the WEU through the window."
The foreign minister said that in his address at the ministerial session,
he reiterated the proposal submitted by Greece for the creation of a
conventional mechanism as part of NATO to resolve possible differences
among member-states.
Speaking at a press conference at the end of the session, NATO Secretary-
General Javier Solana refused comment on the Greek proposal, but said that
in general, NATO has procedures for resolving problems among member-
states.
Allied headquarters issue
On the question of allied headquarters Mr. Pangalos said Greece did not
accept a proposal by Turkey according to which the duties of either NATO's
air or naval subheadquarters could be transferred from Naples, Italy, to
Izmir and in exchange Turkey accept the creation of an allied inter-branch
regional headquarters in Larisa, Greece, on condition of an alternating
Turkish and Greek commander.
Mr. Pangalos said that this proposal had been made in the past, making it
clear that Greece will not consider it, particularly considering the
current tension in Greek-Turkish relations.
Simitis in The Hague on last stop before Dublin summit
Prime Minister Costas Simitis leaves today for The Hague on the last stop
of his tour of European capitals before the Dublin summit.
Mr. Simitis has already visited other European countries as part of his
tour and has met representatives of the Irish European Union presidency in
Athens. Similar trips have also been undertaken by Foreign Minister
Theodoros Pangalos and Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou.
The prime minister arrives in Dublin tomorrow to represent Greece at the
European Council which signals the end of the Irish EU presidency.
Striking diplomats to meet finance undersecretary today
Finance Undersecretary Nikos Christodoulakis is to meet with the Union of
Diplomatic Employees today in an effort to find a solution to financial
demands made by diplomats, who have been striking since last week after the
government decided to tax overseas bonuses. The diplomats are expected to
turn up for work as normal today in view of the meeting.
In a recent statement, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos stressed his
understanding for the diplomats' demands, saying that Greek diplomatic
employees are paid less than their European colleagues.
The outcome of the meeting will determine whether the strike will continue.
With all diplomats participating in the strike, the Greek delegation for
the Dublin summit risks being without diplomatic support if no solution is
found during today's meeting.
Greek issues to be promoted in Congress
The American Hellenic Institute Public Affairs Committee (AHIPAC) announced
three one-day conferences focusing on promoting Greek issues in Congress.
The three conferences will be held immediately after the opening of the new
Congress in early January and will be organised by AHIPAC in cooperation
with AHEPA and the Hellenic American National Council (HANC), with support
by the Cypriot, Panepirotic, Pancretian and Panchian Federation of
America.
The first conference will be held in New York on January 11, the second in
Los Angeles on January 25 and the third in Chicago on February 8.
The conferences will discuss issues concerning the Greek-American community
and will adopt common positions on individual issues which will then be
forwarded to Congress.
GSEE to stage rally outside Parliament on December 17
The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) yesterday decided to
call a rally outside Parliament on December 17, the day the new state
budget is to be ratified.
The Confederation also decided to hold a three-hour work stoppage in the
Athens region and in nearby towns at the end of the morning shift.
The decisions taken were based on votes by the PASKE union (affiliated to
the ruling socialists) and the Autonomous Intervention (affiliated to the
Coalition of the Left and Progress party). The ESAK union group, affiliated
to the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), supported an escalation of
mobilisations with a 24-hour nationwide strike and a rally on January
17.
The farmers' mobilisations were discussed in a tense atmosphere, with PASKE
unionists criticising the policy of blockading national roads.
Unionists affiliated to opposition parties said that a defeat of the
farmers would have negative consequences for the labour union movement.
EIB approves funding for Rio-Antirrio bridge
The European Investment Bank(EIB) has approved 370 million ECU for the Rio-
Antirrio bridge project, which will connect the Peloponnese with mainland
Greece, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou announced yesterday.
This brings the total amount approved by EIB for projects in Greece this
year to 2.500 million ECU, compared to amounts up to 500 million in past
years.
The other most important projects approved are the new Athens airport at
Spata (1,000 million ECU), natural gas (300 million) and the Stavros-
Elefsina east-west highway north of Athens (875 million).
WEATHER
Overcast with rainfalls in most parts of Greece and rainstorms in the west.
Same weather in the Ionian and northern Aegean sea and the mainland with
backed by strong winds. Athens will be overcast with rainfall later in the
day and temperatures ranging from 11-15C. Same in Thessaloniki with
temperatures from 6-12C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
(Closing rates -buying) U.S. dlr 242.971, Can. dlr.179.373, Australian dlr.
194.427, Pound sterling 401.859, Irish punt 402.752, Cyprus pd 517.526,
French franc 46.223, Swiss franc 183.183, Belgian franc 7.584, German mark
156.329, Finnish mark 52.266, Dutch guilder 139.386, Danish Kr. 40.851,
Swedish Kr. 35.527, Norwegian Kr. 37.494, Austrian Sh. 22.220, Italian lira
(100) 15.877, Yen (100) 214.441, Spanish Peseta 1.859, Portuguese Escudo
1.549.
(C.E.)
