NEWS IN DETAIL

Premier to meet with farmers today as last roadblocks lifted

But farmers warned they would resume their blockades in mid-January if the government did not review their demands.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis is scheduled to meet with the leadership of the three main agricultural groups today.

The final dismantling of the long army of 10,000 tractors parked on roads and railway tracks came after the Pan-Thessaly farmer's committee voted to lift the barricades in a gesture of Christmas good will. "We have a deep religious feeling and it never occured to us that we would cause trouble to the Greek citizen these days since Christmas is one of the greatest feasts of Christiandom," a representative of the farmers' coordinating committee said.

But as public clean-up crews moved in to clear the roads in various regions, the representative warned that the farmers had not abandoned their demands and would review the situation after the Christmas holidays.

"Our stance will depend on the government," the representative said.

The farmers want lower fuel prices, higher price support, lower Value Added Tax (VAT) on equipment and the rescheduling of $1.3 billion in debts.

Mr. Simitis had stood firm in his position that he would not meet with farmers' representatives as long as the barricades were in place and had made clear that he would rather "go home" instead of bowing to the farmers' demands.

Parliament approves, 1997 budget

The budget was passed with 160 votes in favour and 136 against. Four deputies were absent from the vote.

Main opposition New Democracy party and Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) party deputies, however, voted in favour of the national defence ministry's budget. Closing a five-day parliamentary debate on the government's economic plans for 1997, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said that the government's budget was the "only conclusive proposition" to the economic problems of the country.

"Participation in Economic and Monetary Union is a matter of national survival, development and security," the premier said stressing that Greece is last on the list of EU member-states to qualify for EMU membership.

"The dilemma is clear," he said. "Either Greece will play the ostrich, raising protective walls to international competition, a road amounting to national catastrophe ... or it will get on the road for international competition."

Stressing that the proposals put forward by the opposition parties would lead nowhere but, rather, would worsen problems, the premier reiterated that "all Greeks should contribute accordingly to the national effort... in order to strengthen those weaker financially."

"Greece is one of the very few EU countries to give real increases in incomes while also increasing social policy funds," the premier said.

Accusing the opposition of being overwhelmed by "an atmosphere of misery and barren reaction," the prime minister said that since ruling PASOK took office, inflation has fallen to 7.7 per cent from 12.3 per cent while the deficit came down to 7.6 per cent from 14.2 per cent. He admitted, however, that problems do exist, but expressing the conviction that a huge step towards resolving them will be made in 1997.

Main opposition New Democracy party leader, Miltiades Evert, described the budget as "a document of political deceit" and a "monument of non- credibility" and "inconsistency."

Mr. Evert said the government's economic measures were "cruel" and "unfair, " adding that "the low inflation target forecast by the budget is to deceive employees regarding the government's income policy and limit pay increases and pensions."

"This," Mr. Evert said,"is political deceit."

New Democracy extraordinary congress for February-March

The Committee rejected two proposals by leadership contender George Souflias for discussion and agreement in the party's Political Council on enlarging the representation at the congress from the party base.

Christmas wishes to expatriate Greeks

"Your compatriots, relatives and all Greeks are proudly mindful of your achievements, because, indeed, with your spiritual and material progress, you do justice to the name of Greece everywhere," he said.

Tsovolas predicts New Democracy split

Speaking in Thessaloniki on the first anniversary of his party's founding yesterday, he said DHKKI must form a broad social-developmental front with the forces of labour and production, which would have to be activated in the framework of a new Europea n progressive movement.

WEATHER

SPORTS

Xanthi - Panathinaikos 1 - 3
Edessa - OFI           1 - 2
AEK - Veria            3 - 1
Kavala - Ionikos       2 - 0
Panahaiki - Heraklis   0 - 0
Aris - Kastoria        2 - 0
Athinaikos - Kalamata  1 - 1
Olympiakos - PAOK      1 - 0

Pyrogos-Apollon match to be played today.

Standings (points)

Olympiakos    32
Panathinaikos 29
OFI           29
AEK           26
Kavala        22
Pyrgos        21
Panahaiki     20
Veria         19
Kalamata      18
PAOK          15
Ionikos       15
Xanthi        13
Aris          13

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(C.E.)

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