Gov't: Ambassador in Peru instructed not to return to guerillas
NEWS IN DETAIL
Simitis to meet with farmers on Monday
The government announced today that Prime Minister Costas Simitis would
meet on Monday with the presidiums of the country's three biggest farmers'
labour unions.
''Within the framework of dialogue concerning the problems facing Greek
agriculture, which must be held with the broadest possible participation,
the prime minister will meet on Monday with the presidiums of the
Panhellenic Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives (PASEGES), the
General Confederation of Agricultural Associations (GESASE) and the
Democratic Confederation of Agricultural Associations (SYDASE),''
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said.
The spokesman said that the meeting would take place at 14.30 local time,
adding that Simitis would also meet at 18.00 local time with the coordinating
committee representing farmers of Macedonia and Thrace.
Simitis has persistently refused direct dialogue with the farmers for the
past three weeks, as their protests have blocked road and rail links
throughout the country, saying that dialogue was not possible under the
pressure of the blockades.
In recent days however, farmers in numerous places around the country have
de-escalated their protest action, culminating yesterday in the decision of
the farmers of Macedonia and Thrace to lift all blockades until mid-January
when they will review the situation.
In contrast, the Panthessaly Farmers' Coordinating Committee decided after
a four-hour meeting yesterday to ''continue the struggle'' and the
blockades of national and provincial highways in the greater region.
Farmers in the Peloponnese are also continuing their blockade of the Patras-
Athens national road at Aigio.
The Panthessaly committee meanwhile was expected today to decide whether to
allow people travelling on the occasion of the Christmas holiday to pass
the roadblocks or to harden their stance.
Parliament to vote on 1997 budget at midnight
Parliament will take a vote tonight on the 1997 state budget in a session
expected to be addressed among others by Prime Minister Costas Simitis and
the opposition party leaders.
Voting on the budget will begin at midnight.
Yesterday evening's budget debate in Parliament was marked by a renewed
clash between National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and main
oppositon New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert on the issue of
absorption of European Union funds.
Mr. Evert produced national economy ministry figures, claiming that funds
amounting to 1.85 trillion drachmas had been lost in the last three years.
The minister replied, acknowledging that funds had indeed been lost during
the first six months of the initiation of programmes, chiefly due to the
lack of planning by the previous New Democrcy government.
He added that there was an upward rate in the absorption of funds, which
was 45 per cent in 1994, 70 per cent in 1995 and 100 per cent this year. He
reiterated that all available funds would be absorbed and that the
Thessaloniki metro and the Aheloos River diversion projects would be
implemented.
PNO calls off strike, ferry boats scheduled to sail
More than 15 passenger ferry boats were expected to sail from Piraeus until
the early morning hours, carrying more than 5,000 passengers and 2,000
trucks with goods to Aegean islands, Crete and the Dodecanese, after a
decision by the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) last night to call
off their strike.
PNO members had begun their strike on Monday, which affected all Greek-
flagged vessels throughout the world.
Earlier, the finance ministry announced that it had committed itself to
finding a commonly acceptable decision with the seamen's union, the General
Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Piraeus Labour Centre on
merchant marine issues, which will provide the basis for a debate in
Parliament.
The announcement came after a meeting between Merchant Marine Minister
Stavros Soumakis, Finance Undersecretary Giorgos Drys, and other bodies
involved.
The PNO originally called a 48-hour strike in support of their demand that
the government not proceed with plans to abolish seamen's special fiscal
status, according to which their income is taxed.
It was subsequently extended for two days and then, yesterday, for a
further 24 hours.
In a related development, a Piraeus court ruled Thursday that the strike
was illegal and asked the PNO to immediately call off all protest
action.
"We do not accept coercion from the shipowning companies which are asking
Greek captains not only to carry on sailing vessels but also to impose
sanctions on striking seamen," PNO general secretary Yiannis Halas
said.
Civil aviation strike suspended
Airport employees suspended a 24-hour nationwide strike scheduled for
yesterday, and all domestic and foreign flights were carried out normally.
The strike was called by the Federation of Civil Aviation Employee
Associations (OSYPA) demanding that four employee benefits be excluded from
the new scalary sale, an 8.0 percent salary increase and legislation of
overtime and holiday remuneration.
More aggressive economic policy for Balkans, E. Europe considered
Development Minister Vasso Papandreou held a business summit at her own
initiative at the industry ministry yesterday, which was attended by
business leaders Vardis Vardinoyiannis, Sokratis Kokkalis, Dimitris
Kopelouzos and Spyros Latsis.
The meeting focused on the government's plan to implement an aggressive
economic cooperation policy with Balkan and eastern European countries in
the sectors of industry and energy. In the framework of promoting the
government's plan, more meetings will be held with business representatives
and finalised decisions will be announced after an enlarged meeting
ischaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis.
Gov't: Ambassador in Peru instructed not to return to guerillas
The government said yesterday that its ambassador in Peru had been
instructed "to use the opportunity given to him to escape" from the Tupac
Amaru guerrillas, who are still holding about 200 people hostage at the
Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima. " This was the message given to
(Ambassador Alcibiades) Karokis, when he was a prisoner, through his wife,"
government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said in reply to press questions. The
Greek envoy was released by the guerrillas along with three other ambassad
ors to negotiate with the Peruvian government on their behalf. Mr. Karokis,
like the ambassadors of Germany and France, did not return to the
embassy. Only the Canadian ambassador returned. Diplomatic sources said
all the European diplomatic mission s in Lima agreed with the decision
on the European ambassadors' getaway. Asked why Mr. Karokis did not
play the role of mediator as requested by the guerrillas, Mr. Reppas
replied that ambassadors are representatives of their respective countries
and "the Greek government did not assign the role of mediator to our envoy
in Lima."
WEATHER
Scattered showers and moderate winds in Attica, temperature 10-16C. Similar
weather in Thessaloniki with light winds, temperature 6-13C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Closing rates (Friday) - buying U.S. dlr. 245.351
Can. dlr. 179.373 Australian dlr. 195.300
Pound sterling 409.478 Irish punt 407.117
Cyprus pd 519.598 French franc 46.721
Swiss franc 183.837 Belgian franc 7.657
German mark 157.867 Finnish mark 52.969
Dutch guilder 140.695 Danish Kr. 41.291
Swedish Kr. 35.940 Norwegian Kr. 37.976
Austrian Sh. 22.439 Italian lira (100) 16.072
Yen (100) 215.076 Spanish Peseta 1.875
Portuguese Escudo 1.564
(S.S.)
